Access and Equity

Access and Equity is the Australian Government policy framework that requires federal departments and agencies to ensure their programs, services, and information are accessible to all Australians, regardless of cultural background, language spoken, or country of origin. The policy is the primary mechanism through which government translation and multilingual communication obligations are established and enforced.

The framework originated in the 1985 Access and Equity Strategy and has been updated several times, most recently through the Multicultural Access and Equity Policy. Under this policy, Australian Government agencies must identify the linguistic and cultural diversity of their client base, provide services that are responsive to the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, ensure that information is available in languages other than English where there is a demonstrated need, and report annually on their access and equity performance.

In practice, Access and Equity is the policy rationale behind most government translation procurement in Australia. When a department commissions translated materials, multilingual campaigns, or in-language community consultation, the underlying driver is typically their Access and Equity obligations. The policy also informs the use of the Free Translating Service and other language services funded by the Commonwealth.

State and territory governments have their own multicultural policies and language services frameworks, many of which echo the principles of the federal Access and Equity approach. For example, the Victorian Government's Getting Full Value report and the NSW Multicultural Policies and Services Program both establish language access expectations for state agencies.

LEXIGO works with government clients across all levels to deliver translation and multicultural communication services that support compliance with Access and Equity obligations.

Access and Equity is the policy language that government procurement teams use when scoping and justifying translation and multilingual communication projects. Understanding this framework is essential for any organisation working with or selling to government, because it defines the obligation, the compliance requirements, and the reporting standards that drive purchasing decisions.

For community engagement professionals and CALD service providers, Access and Equity is also the accountability mechanism through which communities can advocate for better language access from government services.