Government
How government accessibility requirements affect creative production
Published 22 October 2025·Last reviewed 19 September 2026
Accessibility in Queensland Government creative work means WCAG conformance for digital content, closed captions and audio description for video, and plain language across every format.It's a legal and policy requirement, not a nice-to-have, and it needs to be built into production from the brief stage rather than bolted on afterward.
- WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the current minimum for digital content, with WCAG 2.2 increasingly expected
- Government digital platforms typically require closed captions; broadcast requires them under ACMA obligations
- Audio description is required wherever essential visual information isn't already covered by dialogue or narration
- Auto-generated captions rarely meet accuracy requirements without manual review and correction
What the requirements actually are
Queensland Government agencies are required to meet accessibility standards across their communications. For digital content, that means conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, currently WCAG 2.1 Level AA as a minimum, with the newer WCAG 2.2 increasingly expected on current projects. For video content, this includes captions, audio description where required, and transcript availability.
Broadcast content, television commercials and cinema advertising, is governed by ACMA captioning obligations and relevant broadcast standards. Plain language requirements apply across every format: content should sit at a reading level accessible to a broad audience, avoid jargon, and be structured to support comprehension rather than demand it.
Captioning, in practice
Captioning is the most commonly encountered accessibility requirement in government creative production. Open captions are burned into the video file. Closed captions are delivered as a separate file the viewer can turn on or off. Government digital platforms typically require closed captions, and broadcast television requires them for most content.
Captions need to be accurate, synchronised with the audio, and formatted to meet relevant standards. Auto-generated captions from editing software rarely meet government accuracy requirements without review and correction. Budget for captioning as a production line item, not an afterthought.
Audio description, and when it's actually needed
Audio description is required for video content where visual information isn't conveyed through dialogue or narration and that information is essential to understanding the content. A video that shows a process without describing it audibly needs audio description for audiences who are blind or have low vision. Plan for this at the scripting stage, not the post-production stage, because retrofitting a script to describe visuals it was never written to explain rarely works cleanly.
Plain language and Easy Read
Easy Read versions of key communications are increasingly expected for content directed at audiences that include people with cognitive disability or low literacy. This affects written content more than video, but for campaigns with significant print or digital text components it's worth planning for at the brief stage rather than adding it once the primary asset is locked.
Photography, print and representation
Photography for government communications should reflect the diversity of the Queensland community. That's both an accessibility consideration and a representation one. Images that only show a narrow demographic range fail a meaningful share of the audience the communication is meant to reach. Print materials need to meet contrast ratio requirements for text and background, minimum font legibility, and screen-reader-friendly structure for anything distributed digitally.
What it costs to get this wrong
Adding captions to a finished video is straightforward. Redesigning a campaign concept because the visual approach doesn't support audio description is expensive. Reshaping a photography library because the talent selection didn't reflect the audience is more expensive still. Every one of these gets cheaper the earlier it's raised in the brief.
What to ask a creative supplier about accessibility
- Which WCAG version are they building to, 2.1 or 2.2
- Do they budget captioning and audio description as line items, or as an afterthought
- At what stage do they plan for audio description, scripting, or post-production
- Can they show a government project with genuine accessibility compliance, not just a caption file
- How do they handle representation in photography and casting across a diverse audience
Where Welcome to the Fold sits
Welcome to the Fold has been producing accessible government communications for more than twenty years. Captioning, audio description, plain language and WCAG conformance are built into our production workflow from the brief stage, not added at the end. Our Biosecurity Queensland Torres Strait campaign and BreastScreen Queensland work both required exactly this kind of planning: content that had to work for the full breadth of the audience it was made for.
For government production more broadly, see the government sector page or government video production in Queensland.
Questions people ask about government accessibility requirements
What accessibility standard do Queensland Government agencies need to meet?
Conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), currently 2.1 Level AA as a minimum for digital content, with WCAG 2.2 increasingly expected on newer projects. For video, that means captions, audio description where required, and transcript availability.
What's the difference between open and closed captions?
Open captions are burned into the video file and always visible. Closed captions are delivered as a separate file the viewer can turn on or off. Government digital platforms typically require closed captions, and broadcast television requires closed captions for most content under ACMA obligations.
When does a video need audio description?
When visual information isn't conveyed through dialogue or narration and that information is essential to understanding the content. A video that shows a process without describing it audibly needs audio description for audiences who are blind or have low vision. Plan for it at the scripting stage, not in post-production.
Do auto-generated captions from editing software meet government requirements?
Rarely, without review and correction. Captions need to be accurate and synchronised with the audio to meet relevant standards, and platform auto-captioning tools consistently fall short of that bar on their own.
What happens if accessibility isn't planned in from the start?
Adding captions to a finished video is straightforward. Redesigning a campaign concept because the visual approach doesn't support audio description is expensive. Reshaping a photography library because the talent selection didn't reflect the audience is more expensive still.
Jason Henry
Director, Welcome to the Fold
Jason has been leading commercial photography, video and strategy production from Brisbane since 2001. Welcome to the Fold is an approved supplier on seven federal and state government creative services panels, including the Queensland Government Creative Advertising Panel (GGS0120-25).