Ensuring high-quality national and international policy and reporting

Biotext works with complex content at the highest level, delivering content, structural and presentation expertise and quality assurance for national and international policies and reports.

Content experts can improve outcomes for critical content by providing analysis and advice throughout development. Biotext works with policy and reporting teams to structure, write, edit and design high-level content.

Our role:

  • Client partnerships to ensure business, stakeholder and user needs are met
  • Content analysis to fully understand complex content
  • Content design for robust frameworks
  • Content development to provide clear messaging
  • Content layering to tailor content for different audiences
  • Editing and proofreading for quality assurance
  • Information architecture to support user understanding
  • Information design for user engagement
  • Infographics to support understanding of key concepts
  • Data visualisation to ensure accurate data presentation
  • Accessibility for WCAG requirements

    Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade policies

    Biotext has worked closely with the department to develop key national policies, including:

    • International Gender Equality Strategy, which sets out Australia’s efforts to support and advance gender equality, with a particular focus on the Indo-Pacific region. The strategy was developed by DFAT through extensive consultation and input from numerous stakeholders. Biotext worked with the department to structure, write and edit the strategy for national and international audiences, to ensure the aims and actions were clear and stakeholder views were accurately represented. We are continuing work to finalise the strategy, which will be released in 2024.
    • Humanitarian Strategy, which provides a framework for Australia to prevent, mitigate and respond to global humanitarian crises, which are compounding in frequency and intensity. The strategy aims to take a holistic approach that addresses the links between humanitarian action, development, human rights, peace and stability. Biotext worked with the department to restructure the report and develop overarching infographics. We are continuing work to finalise editing and proofreading for the strategy, which will be released in 2024.
    • Australia’s International Development Policy, which is a key document for government and international partners and organisations. In 2023, DFAT, in consultation with jurisdictions and stakeholders, developed the first major development policy in 10 years. Australia’s International Development Policy: for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific lays out the aims, framework and impact of the policy. Biotext worked closely with the department to structure, edit and finalise the document for an international audience.

    The eighth National Communication and fifth Biennial report, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

    As a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Australia is required to report on greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation and adaptation efforts. The eighth National Communication and fifth Biennial report were developed in 2022 by a dedicated department team, with input from stakeholders and across government. Biotext worked with the department to edit the reports to ensure a consistent voice and clear messages, and to reduce repetition. The reports were produced within a very tight timeframe to meet department and UNFCCC requirements.

    Connecting Australian healthcare: National Healthcare Interoperability Plan 2023–2028, Australian Digital Health Agency

    Interoperability in digital health systems is complex and technical, but has real-world consequences for healthcare delivery and consumer health outcomes. The Australian Digital Health Agency developed this plan to improve and standardise interoperability requirements in Australian health systems. The plan and its technical supplement were written by many authors over a long period of time, which had resulted in repetition, inconsistencies and varying tones of voice. We comprehensively edited the plan and supplementary information to improve the structure and language, making this complex information easier to understand.

    Australia 2030: prosperity through innovation, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

    This strategic plan explores the government’s role as a catalyst for innovation; how to improve the effectiveness of research and development; ambitions for enhancing the national culture of innovation; and, finally, a roadmap for action. Working with a dedicated taskforce, we helped shape the strategy and aims of the report, identify primary audiences, and write and edit each section. Biotext planned the report to be as engaging as possible. We designed and laid out the 120-page report with a focus on clear, compelling graphics, high-quality images and an uncluttered flow of text. Biotext then provided WCAG 2.0 AA–compliant accessible PDF files.

    Compliance with International Health Regulations, Department of Health

    The first stage of Australia’s voluntary engagement with a Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of its compliance with the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) International Health Regulations was self-evaluation. The Department of Health partnered with Biotext to write the self-assessment report. The report was based on consultation conducted across different levels of government, and with a range of agencies and experts. Our team wrote the 250-page self-assessment report, condensing diverse information about Australia’s health security and biosecurity into a logical and engaging structure. The self-assessment report was to be read by an international evaluation team, and needed to be clear, thorough and easy to read. We provided the strong project management necessary to streamline content development, and our technical writing and editing expertise ensured Australia gave clear and detailed responses for all 19 indicators outlined in the JEE tool, for submission to WHO.