Interim Report for the National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention
In 2020 the Prime Minister announced a new National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention, with a commitment to ensure all actions are taken to support the prevention of suicide among Australian Defence members and veterans. We had the honour of working with the Office of the National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention to proofread, design and provide accessibility services for the Interim Report.
In the first stage, our team of editors proofread the content. As part of this process, we developed an editorial style sheet to ensure we applied a consistent style throughout the lengthy report.
After the proofreading work, we moved to the design stage. We initially liaised with the client to establish an agreed look and feel for the report. We developed a range of design concepts. Once a concept was chosen, we progressed to typesetting the content. In our design process, we thought critically and creatively about how to approach brand development and image selection for the sensitive subject matter, with the needs of the audience in mind. We created a trauma-sensitive, neutral colour palette and collection of images. We also incorporated accessibility into our design.
We produced three versions of the Interim Report – a print version for tabling in Parliament, downloadable accessible PDF and Word versions, and an HTML version. When we sent the final, print-ready file to the printers we immediately commenced work on the accessible PDF, Word document and HTML. Having such a large and important document in an accessible HTML format broadens the target audience and makes this content more inclusive and accessible.
Throughout the project, we worked collaboratively with the client and adhered to the tight, urgent deadlines.
The Interim Report documents the findings of the Interim National Commissioner on the risks, protective factors and systemic issues relevant to Australian Defence Force member and veteran deaths by suicide. These findings and recommendations will serve as a foundation for the Royal Commission’s work.
You can view our work on the Interim Report on the National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention website.
