Zoë Rose

How do you write alt-text that meets the needs of a diverse audience? How do you balance information when some users prefer brevity and others want detail? Vision Australia provides an alt text framework. The framework ensures your alt text is meaningful and concise. #ContentDesign #Accessibility https://lnkd.in/gB4uc8hr

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Reflections on Building a Strategic Design Culture #2 Having identified a powerful link between a strategic Design Culture and organisational resilience – how do you actually create such a culture?  Doesn't having a team of designers do this automatically? The answer lies in how you leverage your Design capability. There’s a real cost to the business when Design teams are used as executors of unproven ideas about what customers will buy or adopt. Because while they may want to interrogate assumptions, they're not given time - being pushed instead to just deliver. So on the surface it looks like things are working, the true cost is initially hidden, because scale it over time or across multiple squads and as adoption falters, growth is harder to achieve. The classic mistake is to add more people …yet that causes progress to slow more - due to Brooks’ law, quoted in the book ‘The Myth of Man Hours’… which states that "Adding manpower to a late software project makes it later…” Leaders know the opportunity cost of Design teams working this way is that they’ll almost never be able to integrate a series of value propositions into a coherent ecosystem (such as Amazon's exponential 'flywheel', where each proposition accelerates the other) so that despite costs climbing, growth is elusive and competitors seem to move faster. Leaders who value a strategic Design Culture understand this. It’s why they act to do the opposite. They constantly work to make the design of the whole greater than the sum of its parts. They apply Human-Centred Design to critically assess and ensure services they create are truly valuable before executing them, rather than taking a tech-first (or Hippo-first) approach. Because every minute spent ensuring it's going to be adopted saves days, weeks, or months, fixing it. It's how you avoid things like this: https://lnkd.in/gzd62ase Strategic leaders seek to create an environment that integrates design into every aspect of the business - not because they love 'design' but because clarity and customer-centricity comes from data and real world evidence to create true agility. And as the accuracy and velocity of their decision-making increases, the enterprise can confidently and quickly invest in developing services it knows will be adopted and paid for, before they even launch – and that every value proposition is clear and interlinked in the minds of customers. So outcomes change. Waste and duplication cut, tech is integrated and risk reduced. Savings are made. Value exponential. Yet if this is all so clear, why do so few enterprises actively embrace this approach? Why are they missing an opportunity to apply Design to reimagine ‘how it works’ as Steve Jobs put it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments - and feel free to tag a colleague who might enjoy this discussion! #StrategicDesign #Leadership #Innovation #BusinessGrowth #Enterprise #Resilience #innovation #cx #ux #designleadership #digitaltransformation

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Enjoying a webinar on the NSW Government approach to improving access to public services. I often find it hard to explain why the 4Ps are relevant in health and care services. (I've given it a go here: https://lnkd.in/e5ajajpU) But people still say, what does "Price" have to do with a service that's free? This slide explains it beautifully. Even services you don't have to pay for involve a cost. And if that cost is greater than the value you expect to receive, you will not use it! So the key to increasing access is providing better value. Reduce the costs or increase the benefits. Ideally both.

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🚲 What can building a cycle lane or deciding on a congestion charge teach us about learning design? Working at NZTA Waka Kotahi, I’ve come across a concept that is changing the way I think about consultancy in learning design. It’s called intervention hierarchy : https://lnkd.in/gWJvBP3q: 📈 "The intervention hierarchy is used to help drive value for money by promoting low cost investment ahead of more costly physical infrastructure and technological investment. It promotes integrated planning, demand management and best use of the existing system ahead of new infrastructure solutions." Why is it important? In my experience, some learning teams default to promoting what I’d call our heaviest products- the ones that make splash for their depth, heaviness and technical novelty. This makes sense- but it can also feed into a perception that learning work is slow, expensive and complicated. We know we can use approaches like action mapping, and rules of thumb like 70/20/10, to identify lighter touches that can be delivered with greater speed. But when we’re pulled away from that by expectations we create for ourselves, it can lead to vicious circle, where our partners expect heavy, elaborate work from us. In one sense, this observation is nothing new- but the hierarchy helps me think backwards from our own highest-cost ‘new infrastructure’ category- and ask: 🌲 Could “best use of existing system” look like… Helping teams we partner with to rediscover lost or poorly indexed learning resources, and redesign them into a simplified and updated version? 🌴 Could “manage demand” look like… Setting up a “see-one, do-one, teach-one” peer learning process where motivated seniors share skills with newer staff in their existing roster patterns, rather than setting up time-away-from-task training sessions? 🌳 Could “integrated planning” look like… Putting on our OD hats and partnering with BPs and other people-professionals to improve the systems or platforms people are using- so we don’t have to train people to use ones that are confusing or broken? In any situation, the answers will vary- but this tool challenges me to think about how I can make a difference faster (and only do the work that’s needed): - What are the 'lower-cost' approaches that have succeeded in your practice? - Do you agree that our discipline can fall into a rut of overengineering solutions? - When do you think more resource intensive interventions are actually worthwhile?

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It's been almost a year since completing my Masters of Design Futures at RMIT and my project on creating trauma-informed design organisations. Since this time, I've often been asked to share resources to support people on their journey to becoming trauma-informed in their design practice (or perhaps why this is something they may like to consider).   I had started to pull together a library of resources, and then to my delight, discovered one already existed, alongside a community of practioners who meet monthly to reflect on and discuss practice. This website and collection of resources is maintained by the volunteer organizers of the Trauma Informed Design Discussion Group. You can find it here https://lnkd.in/gYCytWtq.   I have been immersed in this intersection of design, trauma-informed practice, and organisational change for over seven years and it is heartwarming to see the number of resources now available to support people on their path. However, with this, I appreciate it might now feel a little overwhelming to know where to start. So here are three I'd recommend:   1️⃣ Cultivating Resiliencies for All: The Necessity of Trauma Responsive Research Practices by Matthew Bernius and Rachael Ditekus. Link https://lnkd.in/gMMHC_Uy 2️⃣ Practicing Without a License: Design Research as Psychotherapy by Tad Hirsch. Link https://lnkd.in/gmXkKA-7 3️⃣ A Trauma Lens for Systems Change by Patsy Carter and Andrea Blanch. Link https://lnkd.in/gP9xXpsK   I'll be sharing more of my thoughts on trauma-informed design, organisational change, and leadership over the next few months. I'm currently sitting with thoughts on the adaptive challenge of trauma-informed organisational change in design contexts and why trauma-informed design cannot be a solo endeavour. If this has sparked your interest, please reach out as thinking partners and rich dialogue are always welcome.   #traumainformed #design #rmitmdf #socialdesign #leadership #change

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In the context of increasing attention regarding the role of social media in Australian society The Conversation Australia + NZ reached out for comment on the Australian Internet Observatory and the critical role it will play in providing much needed data and insights into the role of social media in the lives of everyday Australians. In this piece I outline the case for observability but that we also still need governments to legislate comprehensive platform data access provisions for critical, independent, public-interest research. A central concern here is that many regulatory efforts are proceeding without a full understanding of the activities and interactions taking place online. For instance, while many inquiries are rightly attempting to hold platforms accountable for harmful and illegal content, there is insufficient independent insight into how content is currently moderated, how algorithms prioritize certain posts over others, and how users experience these platforms in their daily lives. Without this knowledge, regulations risk being either too broad, impacting legitimate expression and access, or too narrow, failing to address the root causes of online harms. A recent example of acute policy failure is the News Media Bargaining Code (NMBC). As we have argued, the idea of finding mechanisms to support public-interest journalism are laudable, but the NMBC was based on faulty assumptions regarding the value and volume of news on these platforms. In the case of the NMBC it would be far simpler to levy a tax on the very large online platforms, and use proceeds to fund public-interest news and journalism. See this piece from Axel Bruns for more on this: https://lnkd.in/d8wEE3iz In any case, have a read of the piece for more, and I'm really looking forward to working with my wonderfully talented colleagues as we fully establish the Observatory. Look out for more on this soon. https://lnkd.in/djEewjBk QUT (Queensland University of Technology) QUT Digital Media Research Centre ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC)

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10 top tips for aspiring writers 10.   Join your local writing organisation.  These are a brilliant source of practical assistance and writing community. Two great Australian examples are Writers Victoria and Writing NSW. 9.      Join an informal writing group (or form your own) comprising half a dozen writers who are keen to meet regularly to workshop short excerpts from each other’s works. It’s often best if you all write in the same genre: all non-fiction writers, for example, or all crime writers. But there are no rules and if you find a group that works for you, stick with it. 8.      Apply for grants, fellowships, residencies. Many are available for emerging writers with great ideas but little or no publication history. Your local writing association (which you’ve already joined because of point 10, right?) can help you to find them. 7.      Enter writing competitions. Having a deadline works wonders. And each piece you enter will be an improvement on the last one. You might even win, or be shortlisted – bonus! 6.      Build up your writing CV in the same way you would your day-job CV. Aim for publication in obscure or specialist little magazines. List your grants, fellowships, residencies, competition wins. Even if you only get shortlisted, you can still list them on your CV. Why? Because getting small runs on the board makes it easier to get the big ones. Publishers and agents are risk averse: they’ll be much more willing to read your work if they can see that someone else has read and liked it first. 5.      Back up your work. Hard drive, cloud, email, photos on your phone. Choose your own tech adventure but always BACK UP YOUR WORK. 4.      Learn, learn, learn. Attend as many workshops and seminars and courses as you can afford. Learn how to write. Learn about the pathways to publication. Learn how to improve your words on the page. 3.      Read. The best writers read widely and often. Read for enjoyment; read to expand your horizons; and read to see how they’ve done it – how they achieved that voice, that atmosphere, that narrative tension. 2.      Don’t feel obliged to only write about what you know. Irish/New York writer Colum McCann puts it best. “Don’t write about what you know, but towards what you want to know.” 1.      Write. Doesn’t matter when. Doesn’t matter where. Just apply your arse to the ergonomic chair and get on with it. If you found this post helpful, please like and share it. And if you have more tips of your own, feel free to add them in the comments. #writing #writers #writingtips

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The eSafety Commissioner's directive to X and Meta to remove violent videos after the horrific Sydney events over the last few days is a wake-up call. Kudos to Julie Inman - Grant for getting on the megaphone and taking decisive action to protect users and uphold community standards. However, these incidents highlight the need for proactive strategies to prevent the spread of harmful material in the first place. As individuals and organisations committed to fostering a safe online environment, let's amplify our efforts to raise awareness, advocate for policy reforms, and support initiatives that promote digital well-being for all. Together, we can build a safer, more inclusive internet where everyone, especially children, can thrive without fear of exposure to violence or exploitation. #onlinesafety #digitalwellbeing #digitalsafety #responsibletech

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SSI welcomes the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute’s Mapping Social Cohesion 2024 Report released today that shows while Australia’s social cohesion remains stable, it is under strain due to ongoing cost-of-living pressures and economic concerns.  From the programs and services we deliver at SSI, we have anecdotally observed newcomers feeling less welcome. This insightful report helps to capture evidence of these trends on a broader scale. The report shows that while Australians continue to support multiculturalism, with 85% believing immigration is generally beneficial for the country, this support has declined from 89% last year, which was already a record low in almost 20 years. The findings suggest that the shifts in sentiment are likely not due to opposition to diversity, with 71% of Australians still agreeing that accepting immigrants from various countries makes Australia stronger. Rather, this change in public opinion is likely driven by economic and cost-of-living concerns. Through our work, we know that migrants in Australia are part of the solution to these challenges, not the problem or the cause.  Earlier this year, we commissioned research from Deloitte Access Economics that found that Australia could unlock $9 billion annually by fully harnessing the skills of migrants already living in Australia. Migrants are 1.7 times more likely than the Australian-born workforce to hold a university-level qualification. A better match between migrant talent and employment outcomes would transform Australia’s economy – increasing employment, boosting productivity at the industry level and lifting wages for migrant and non-migrant workers alike. SSI’s Activate Australia’s Skills campaign is leading a diverse coalition of Australian organisations calling to activate over 600,000 highly skilled migrant workers living in Australia who are blocked by our complex skills and recognition skills from contributing to their full potential. The Mapping Social Cohesion 2024 Report reveals that the public trusts and values the support provided by frontline community services and has high levels of active engagement locally with their communities.  Many Australians are participating in social, community, religious, civic, and political groups. While we have also observed this anecdotally, these findings provide useful insights into broader trends. The more people can participate in the economy, the more they can also participate in social and community initiatives, fostering stronger connections, trust and overall social cohesion. Learn more about Activate Australia’s Skills campaign: https://lnkd.in/gZ3MCYJR  Read the Mapping Social Cohesion 2024 full report: https://lnkd.in/gWfrQcvC Violet Roumeliotis AM, Dane Moores, Sharon Lanyon, Sandy Fitter, Lily Jiang, Brad Chilcott AM, Peter Stahel, Hannah Gartrell

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Do you or don't you? Should you or shouldn't you? Where do you sit on compensating individuals for their role in community engagement? I've heard this mentioned a few times over the last few months as more organisations explore when and when not to do it and the biggest question how. I personally have been involved in a few big projects where compensation of some format was key to ensuring a representative group can work together over a long period of time. Whether it was covering travel, accommodation, payments for care and even a living wage for weekend work. It worked really well. But what are your thoughts? #communityengagement #compensation #blogpost

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📣 Read all about it! Our APM 2024 research report, "The case for change: Why employing people with disability benefits all" is now available on our website. APM has been publishing the Disability Diversity and Inclusivity Index of Australian Workplaces since 2019, focusing this year on 'disability confidence' for employers. Gain insights into job seekers with disabilities, tips for employers, and more via link below. #research #disabilitydiversity #disabilityemployment #disabilityconfident #socialimpact #enablingbetterlives

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I know I recently shared some insights on the Paralympics, but I think this is too good not to share. Paralympics Australia has released a new guide aimed at providing more accessible, inclusive, and equal opportunities for people with disabilities in sports and recreation. The Universal Design Guide for creating Inclusive Sport in Australia is encouraging sports’ representatives to think about the ‘who, what, when, where, why and how’ of inclusivity — including using the right language, accessible documents, and sharing motivating case studies. This is a strong step forward for true inclusivity in sports — it’s all about challenging those preconceived notions and adopting new mindsets and perspectives. Visual Description: The Australian Paralympics team playing wheelchair basketball. #DisabilityEmpowerment2024 #Paralympics #Inclusivity #Sports

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Please consider taking part in this research on the lived experience of people who are neurodivergent in public spaces - a still significant gap in knowledge and practice.

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What is NDIS Web Design? In simpler words, NDIS web design is all about building websites that are easy to use for people with disabilities. These websites are part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) program. Imagine it like building ramps or having wider doorways for people who use wheelchairs. NDIS web design does the same thing, but for websites. It makes sure everyone can find information, use the website's features, and connect with others in the NDIS community. This helps people with disabilities be more involved and take advantage of what the NDIS program offers. https://lnkd.in/gyrmyHnG

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This should be interesting for anyone in Australia. I was one of many to submit to the process. Based on the depth and inclusion of the findings, I think the report will be interesting. #Disability #ActuallyAutistic #Autism #Inclusion #DisabilityRights

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NDI’s website is getting a revamp! We are seeking proposals from web design firms for a 508-compliant, responsive website redesign that draws on the strengths of our existing site and corrects its limitations while modernizing the overall look and layout of the website. Learn more at bit.ly/ndirfp. Please note: Companies must be based in the United States. Image description: Square teal graphic with white text reading: NDI Requesting Proposals from Qualified Web Design Firms for Website Redesign. The NDI logo is centered above the text. In the background is a photo of a laptop displaying NDI’s current home page. #RFP #WebDesign #Redesign

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A sure-fire way of expanding your growth: Build inclusive and accessible websites, apps, and products. I’m researching my next talk and masterclass, and this is what I found. – Disability inclusion champions realise 1.6 times more revenue – Disability inclusion champions realise 2.6 times more net income – Disability inclusion champions realise 2 times more economic profit Disability inclusion means both: – Building accessible and inclusive working environments – Building accessible and inclusive digital products – Hiring persons with disabilities (Source: Accenture’s report “The disability inclusion imperative”, download from this page: https://lnkd.in/dczyAHpm) Want more hard facts?  Here’s the value of the disabled market in a few countries: Globally: USD $8 trillion in collective spending power – growing to USD 13 trillion when including family and friends Canada: CAD $55.4 billion in collective spending power USA: USD $1.9 trillion in collective spending power UK: GBP £274 billion collective spending power (various sources) How is that even possible, you may ask? Easy: the rough estimate of the number of disabled people is 25% of the population. Wild, isn’t it? But not that so implausible, when you consider that we are all only ever temporarily abled. Examples of temporarily abled people: – Person on crowded public transport (can’t listen to audio)  – Person in the very bright sun (can’t see a digital screen) – Person who left glasses at home (can’t see clearly) – Person holding a child (can only use one arm) – Person with a bad cold (can’t hear properly) Do you still think that no disabled person visits your website or uses your products? They do. Oh yes, they do. Are you sure you want to shut them out? Moreover, governments are listening: over the next 3-4 years, more laws will come into force to make sure that all businesses treat all their customers equally, giving everyone the same access to products, services, and information, regardless of abilities. Overwhelmed? Don’t be. The great accessibility opportunity is easier to take on than you think. Here’s what you can do today: start from my free Accessibility Primer course, outlining what accessibility is, who is for, and why we need it. I’m adding new lessons to it soon, on how new legislation will change things for most of us, wherever we’re based. https://lnkd.in/dJmjqM3P Aren’t you excited? You’re about to grow your audience, and that of your clients, by as much as 25%! Remember: accessibility is an opportunity, not a limitation. #accessibility #a11y #AccessibleDesign #Don’tBeADick #AccessibilityMatters Image description: a hand holding a smartphone with the words “opportunity knocks” on the screen. Accessibility is an opportunity, not a limitation! Photo by Dylan McLeod on Unsplash.

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Interesting and well-timed report on AI in public services from Joe Hill and Reform Think Tank. I'd really recommend reading the detail as there's a lot of nuanced sensible thinking and explaination here - particularly imo about the need for gov processes like business cases, hiring and project governance to join us all in the modern world. Perhaps we're starting to move into a better discussion of 'how' we do AI and public services rather than the 'wow' of it all? This tech is useful and has real potential to deal with stubborn public service backlogs and drudge admin work. But of course its not magic and it needs to be deployed proactively but carefully to avoid the many possible downsides and risk losing public (and civil service) trust

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