Excellence in Accessibility Award Finalists

Recognises an individual or team who have made an outstanding contribution to demonstrating excellence in accessible practice, supporting the equitable opportunity and meaningful inclusion of students or staff with disability at the University of Newcastle.

Auslan Curriculum Innovation

Mali Webb, Patrick Nichols, Tom Doe, Sarah Dearlove, and Kim Coleiro

This cross-faculty team transformed the University of Newcastle’s Auslan courses into a model of accessible, inclusive education. The redesigned courses set a new benchmark for inclusive curriculum design of enhanced cultural understanding and professional confidence, which students have described as “life-changing”. Recognising barriers faced by Auslan learners and Deaf academics, the team reimagined the Auslan curriculum to deliver innovation in inclusive teaching and learning practice, creating lasting impact for students, staff, and the wider community.

Brand Identity Accessibility Project Team

Dean Robinson, Stephanie Venz, Tina Imig, Ben Collis, and Mark Rogan

The Brand Identity Accessibility Project Team improved accessibility across the University’s brand identity. They redesigned the logo for legibility and updated the colour palette to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards, supporting users with vision impairments and colour vision deficiency. Their Accessibility Type Guide ensures consistent, readable communications across all channels. These changes, now embedded in brand guidelines, have positively impacted staff, students, and the wider community, demonstrating the University’s commitment to accessibility.

Website Accessibility Improvements

Dean Robinson, Ashley Coleman, and Mark Rogan

The Web Team led a large-scale accessibility optimisation project, updating more than 35,000 webpages to meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. The project improved digital inclusion and enhanced the user experience for all visitors to the University’s website.