DEWR wins award for redesigning accessible employment platform
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) has received recognition for its efforts in digital inclusion and accessibility, winning the 2025 Qlik ANZ Digital Transformation Award for Excellence in Digital Inclusion and Accessibility.
Platform redesign
This award was granted for DEWR's work in redesigning the Qlik Analytics Platform on the Employment Services Reporting website, a project undertaken in collaboration with analytics provider Qlik and digital transformation consultancy Notitia.
Rhianna Anderson, DEWR Qlik Engagement Lead, stated that the award highlights the ongoing commitment to accessibility in public service delivery.
"The solution enables users to locate relevant Employment Service program reports based on their organisation, employment program and reporting needs," Ms Anderson said.
She further explained, "This project redesigned the experience to prioritise usability, accessibility, and modern relevance from the ground up."
Outcomes and impact
Ms Anderson noted the tangible effects of the platform redesign, particularly on Australians seeking employment support services.
"This is a live solution, actively improving how Australians access employment support services. It is already reducing barriers to government service access and sets a precedent for how Qlik can serve frontline users in public-facing environments."
Central to the redevelopment was the integration of accessibility standards aligned with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The previous system's less intuitive interface was replaced by a responsive service designed to ensure ease of use across devices and user abilities.
Ms Anderson said, "With embedded WCAG-aligned design, Qlik analytics, dynamic filters, and interactive mapping, the tool helps Employment Service providers monitor and analyse their related data to assist in connecting diverse Australians to the support they need quickly, easily, and on any device."
Key results
The redesign has produced several benefits: information is now more easily accessible through a clear interface, greater inclusion is ensured for users with varying digital experience, efficiency has improved for both DEWR staff and call centres, and the platform's modular foundation supports scaling for future additions.
Industry response
Alex Avery, Managing Director at Notitia, congratulated the DEWR team and emphasised the outcomes of their collaborative efforts.
"Huge well done to the deserving DEWR team, their project demonstrates the power of combining human-centred design with Qlik's analytics capability," he said.
He also remarked, "This website shows how government services can be transformed when accessibility is built in from day one.
"The result is a platform that reduces barriers, supports diverse users, and delivers clear, consistent information."
Mr Avery highlighted the platform's scalability and sustainability.
"The platform architecture is modular and scalable, so DEWR can add new programs or filters in future without needing to rebuild the site."
"This ensures the tool continues to deliver value as DEWR evolves its employment services strategy. The project was delivered through collaboration between designers, developers, policy teams and analysts, showing how cross-disciplinary expertise can solve real challenges at scale."
Technology partnership
Charlie Farah, Qlik Field CTO for Analytics and AI, remarked on DEWR's use of analytics technology for accessible web platforms.
"DEWR's innovative use of Qlik to power an accessible website is a model for how analytics can drive real-world impact," Mr Farah said.
He added, "By focusing on usability and inclusion, they have ensured that data is a tool that benefits everyone, from government to communities."
Mr Farah detailed how the approach extends Qlik's typical use cases.
"It's a practical example of using Qlik as the engine for real-world, user-centred digital transformation in government," he said.
"The partnership between DEWR, Notitia and Qlik showcases the potential of cross-functional collaboration, combining design, data, and technology to meet community needs at scale."
Awards context
The Qlik ANZ Digital Transformation Awards recognise organisations that have used Qlik's solutions to implement digital transformation and effect positive change. DEWR's recognition for excellence in inclusion and accessibility marks a focus on both technical improvement and end-user experience in the government sector.