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National
Indigenous
Australians
Agency
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Brand Guidelines 2021
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Contents
Welcome ........................................................................................................................03
Sub-brands and Programs ............................................................................................34
Artwork – Symbolism and Meaning .............................................................................04
01 Introduction ...................................................................................................35
Typography ....................................................................................................................06
02 Artwork Symbolism and Meaning ...............................................................37
01 Primary ...........................................................................................................07
03 Sub-brand and Program Overview .............................................................40
02 Secondary .....................................................................................................08
04 Sub-brand and Program Visual Language ...............................................42
03 Hierarchy .......................................................................................................09
04a Visual Languages Overview ...................................................................... 43
04 Incorrect Application ...................................................................................10
04b Education.....................................................................................................44
Colour Palette ................................................................................................................11
04c Health and Wellbeing .................................................................................46
Brand Marks Corporate ................................................................................................13
04d Employment and Economic Development ............................................. 48
01 Introduction to our Brand Mark ...................................................................14
04e Land and Sea ..............................................................................................50
02 Primary Logo and Brand Mark Variations ...................................................16
04f Culture and Heritage ...................................................................................52
03 Primary Logo, Sub-brands and Programs ...................................................22
04 Visual Hierarchy, Usage and Restrictions ...................................................24
04a Primary NIAA Acronym Brand Mark Visual Hierarchy ............................. 26
04b Primary National Indigenous Australians Agency
NIAA
Brand Mark Visual Hierarchy .............................................................................27
arrangement
04c Usage and Restrictions ...............................................................................28
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Welcome
Welcome to the National Indigenous Australians
Agency Brand Guidelines. This document is
to be used to maintain consistency across all
communication touch points and to inspire
creativity when using the brand.
Using the NIAA brand correctly is very important
to us, please refer and adhere to this guide
whenever you create any brand assets.
The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) is committed to
implementing the Government’s policies and programs to improve
the lives of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The NIAA
recognises that each community is unique. Our team includes people
across Australia who work closely with communities to make sure
NIAA
policies, programs and services address these unique needs.
arrangement
The NIAA works to influence policy across the entire Australian
the
Government. We liaise closely with State and Territory governments,
by
Indigenous peak bodies, stakeholders and service providers to ensure
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that Indigenous programs and services are delivering for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples as intended.
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Artwork – Symbolism and Meaning
“Working together for a future of equality”
An artwork by Jordana Angus for the
Australian Government.
This artwork tells the story of the NIAA’s vision
to better the lives of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Australians in a sustainable and
meaningful way; promoting that Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people deserve the
same education and economic opportunities,
health and wellbeing of non-Indigenous
Australians. The artwork also tells the story
of how working together can create positive
community led change for all.
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Artwork – Symbolism and Meaning
In the top left of the work, symbols were used to
The centre piece of the work features a combination
Also, in the lower left and upper right section of the
represent access to economic opportunities.
of these symbols to represent an emphasis on
work symbols have been used to represent working
The centre circle represents financial opportunities
how important it is to empower First Australians.
in and with the community to improve safety and
and the outer circles with the lines attached
Overlaying this section of work is a centre line with
well-being of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous
symbolise Indigenous and non-Indigenous people
dot work which depicts the pathways available
people. Finally, the four large orange and sand
accessing these opportunities.
to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to
coloured intersected lines that run though the work
create equality for all.
symbolise pathways that connect everyone to
The top right corner of the artwork uses the symbol
everything and everyone around them; promoting
for health surrounding a community gathering
The upper left and lower right sections of work
the vision that through respect and community led
symbol representing good health and health
represent working together with the line work being
change we can create equality and empowerment
promotion opportunities available to all.
pathways towards sustainability and the dots inside
for all.
symbolising the people travelling these paths and
The bottom left corner uses symbols for mental
gathering together. The dots have been created in
and physical wellbeing surrounding a community
different colours and sizes to symbolise the diversity
gathering symbol represent the well-being of
of people.
Indigenous and non-Indigenous people being
equal. The blue lines with white dots in this section of
Also, in the upper left and lower right section of the
work symbolise the pathways available to promote
work symbols for community gatherings connected
mental and physical wellbeing.
by pathways have been used to represent the
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Indigenous and non-Indigenous community working
In the bottom right corner there is Aboriginal
the
together to create community led change.
symbols for elders passing on knowledge to children;
by
surrounding a community gathering symbol
The lower left and upper right sections of the work
access
which represents education opportunities being
feature a symbol in the centre representing an
available to all and the positive outcome of sharing
elder or important ancestor surrounded by dot work
knowledge and skills with others.
symbolising people acknowledging and celebrating
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as our
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First Australians.
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Typography
01 Primary
02 Secondary
03 Hierarchy
04 Incorrect Application
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Typography
Primary
01
Our primary typeface is ‘Century
Gothic’, and should be used on
all NIAA brand touch points.
Century Gothic Regular
Century Gothic Regular
Used on body copy and some
sub-headlines.
Century Gothic Italic & Bold Italic
Century Gothic Italic
Used to differentiate important
and/or unique information.
Century Gothic Bold
Century Gothic Bold
Used on headlines, content
sub-headlines and some
sub-headlines where required.
Century Gothic Bold Italic
by the NIAA   access arrangement
*  Please refer to Page 9 of this
document for guidance on more
specific usage.
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Typography
Secondary
02
Our secondary typeface is ‘Helvetica’
and should be used only when
‘Century Gothic’ isn’t availble.
Helvetica Regular
Helvetica Oblique
Helvetica Bold
Helvetica Bold Oblique
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Typography
Hierarchy
03
Typography is a pillar of our brand
and should be used correctly.
This is an example
Always aim for contrast across all
Headline example
typographic hierarchies.
All type is to be set in Century Gothic.
of a headline.
Headline
Headlines are to be set in Century
Gothic bold.
This is an example of a sub-headline.
Sub-headline
Sub-headline examples
Sub-headlines can be set either
This is an example of a sub-headline.
in bold or regular depending on the
application. They are to be regular if
sitting directly under a headline,
Content sub-headline
Content sub-headline
and bold when they appear away
from a headline.
Ligent ut iditibusa veni volest, acest eos eum que solest harumquis
Content sub-headline
eos atet ea nobit autatem a volorem lant, comnimet fugias eniipsa
Content sub-headlines are to be set in
consect endantibus del minvendam rehenistiae nimus sum quia dis
bold at the same text size as the body
maionsequi dolorectur aciistis core denihitassi occab iusa ad qui tia
copy it sits with.
dem laccupt atiunt ipsapientur sitem aliciisqui dolorerro demporp
Body copy example
Body copy
orionet paris audit, se samust adis et ullorib eaquid quid ut pereptis

by the NIAA
Body copy is to be set in Century
et parum eatinve lenempore quae volupta aut prestec epudam ad
access arrangement
Gothic regular. At a minimum the text
maio coreper erferibusam qui quibusantios reptatiant aut idus renimus
size if to be 9pt with 14pt leading and
mossunturem as debit, ut quat. Ximpor autem comnient, utem rerrovi
-7 tracking.
tisciae poreperit as dolumquis de mos quia nem etur, quis quunt qui.
Important information
Other important information, can be styled in multiple ways.
Important information
Important information can be styled
in different ways to help differentiate
it from other information. Using italics
and bold italics are preferred.
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Typography
Incorrect application
04
These rules apply to all other variations of this logo.
DO NOT USE ALL CAPS
DO NOT USE ALL CAPS
DO NOT USE ALL CAPS
Do not recolour
Do not adjust
kerning or tracking
DO NOT USE ALL CAPS
Do not recolour typography
Do not use all caps.
to colours not specified.
Do not adjust kerning or tracking.
NIAA   arrangement
Bold
the
Headline
by
Bold bold bold
Do not use other
Sub-headline
access
Bold bold bold bold bold bold Bold bold bold
typefaces
Body copy
Bold bold bold bold bold bold Bold bold bold
Bold bold bold bold bold bold Bold bold bold
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Do not use any other typefaces that
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Do not make hierarchy levels the same weight.
Do not make hierarchy levels the same size.
aren’t specified in this guideline.
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Colour palette
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Colour Palette
Corporate
The National Indigenous Australians
Agency brand uses the following
brand colours making up our
primary colour palette. They are to be
used across all corporate collateral.
Navy
Gold
Teal
C 65 | M 43 | Y 26 | K 78
C 30 | M 34 | Y 51 | K 0
C 89 | M 10 | Y 47 | K 10
R 28 | G 43 | B 57
R 184 | G 162 | B 132
R 0 | G 148 | B 141
#1C2B39
#B8A284
#00948D
PMS 539
PMS 2324
PMS 2234
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Orange
Black
White
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C 0 | M 60 | Y 100 | K 10
C 0 | M 0 | Y 0 | K 100
C 0 | M 0 | Y 0 | K 0
R 221 | G 118 | B 28
R 0 | G 0 | B 0
R 255 | G 255 | B 255
#DE761C
#000000
#FFFFFF
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PMS 152
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Brand Marks
Corporate
01 Introduction to our logo
02 Primary Logo and Brand Mark Variations
03 Primary Logo, Sub-brands and Programs
04 Usage and Restrictions
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01
Introduction to
our Brand Mark
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Introduction to our logo
01
The logo represents a pathway, available to both
Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, creating
equality for all.
The brand mark was inspired by and designed from
the Indigenous artwork by Jordana Angus, ‘Working
together for a future of equality’.
Both the logo and the artwork represent how
important it is to not just provide equality but also
empowerment for First Australians.
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02
Primary Logo and
Brand Mark Variations
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Brand Marks Corporate
Primary Logo and Brand Mark Variations
02
Australian Government National
Stacked – Positive
Inline – Positive
Indigenous Australian Agency Lockup
In most cases, this logo must only
be used in the Primary NIAA Acronym
and Australian Government lockup
(see page 19).
National Indigenous
This logo is only used apart from the
Australians Agency
National Indigenous Australians Agency
Primary NIAA Acronym and
Australian Government lockup when
specifically instructed.
Strip – Positive
National Indigenous Australians Agency
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Strip – Reversed*
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*Note - Reversed rule applies to all other
Australian Government variation.
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Brand Marks Corporate
Primary Logo and Brand Mark Variations
02
Australian Government Logo
Stacked – Positive
Inline – Positive
The Australian Government logo is
primarily used to accompany
the Primary National Indigenous
Agency logo.
Strip – Reversed*
*Note - Reversed rule applies to all other
Australian Government variation.
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Brand Marks Corporate
Primary Logo and Brand Mark Variations
Primary NIAA Acronym brand mark
Primary – Gold
and Australian Government lockup.
The Primary NIAA Acronym brand mark
and Australian Government lockup is
to be used when the National
Indigenous Australians Agency
logo and Australian Government
logo isn’t in use.
Secondary – Navy
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Reversed
Mono
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Brand Marks Corporate
Primary Logo and Brand Mark Variations
02
Primary National Indigenous
Primary Horizontal – Gold
Australians Agency logo.
The Primary National Indigenous
Australians Agency brand mark is
to be used when the Primary NIAA
Acronym brand mark and Australian
Government lockup isnt in use.
*  This brand mark must always be
accompanied by the Australian
Government logo on all
Secondary Horizontal – Navy
communications unless
instructed otherwise.
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Reversed Horizontal
Mono Horizontal
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Brand Marks Corporate
Primary Logo and Brand Mark Variations
02
Primary National Indigenous
Primary Stacked – Gold
Secondary Stacked – Navy
Australians Agency brand mark
continued.
Mono
Reversed
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Brand marks Corporate
‘In support of’ logo guidance
External organisations (service
Stacked - Agency logo
NIAA brand mark
providers and grant recipients) can
acknowledge the NIAA funding by
using the Agency Logo with one of the
following text acknowledgments.
•  Proudly supported by the National
Indigenous Australians Agency.
•  Funded by the National Indigenous
National Indigenous Australians Agency
Australians Agency in partnership
with (insert other funded parties).
The agency logo, comprises the
Commonwealth Coat of Arms, the
words ‘Australian Government’ (Times
New Roman Bold), an underline,
Inline - Agency logo
and the agency name, National
Indigenous Australians Agency
(Times New Roman Bold).
NIAA
The Agency logo is not to be confused
arrangement
with the NIAA logo, shown left. This
National Indigenous
the
logo is only used on official documents
Australians Agency
by
produced within the department.
access
These include departmental
publications, correspondence,
policy and programme promotional
materials and departmental websites.
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*  The Australian Government Branding
Design Guidelines need to be
followed when applying the logo.
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03
Primary Brand Mark,
Sub-brands
and Programs
NIAA   arrangement
Guidelines showing how to typeset the
the
addition of Sub-brand and Program
by
names with the primary brand mark.
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Brand Marks Corporate
Primary brand mark, Sub-brands and Programs
Primary National Indigenous
Australians Agency brand mark,
Sub-brand and Program Lockup
National Indigenous
X
When introducing a Sub-brand
Australians Agency Primary NIAA brand mark
or a Sub-brand and Program to
2X
the Primary NIAA brand mark,
the type should be set in Century
Sub-brand name to
Level 1 –
Sub-brand name
Gothic Regular.
go in this section
75% of Primary
logo name
Level 1 – Sub-brand name
2X
The Sub-brand name should
Program name to go in this section
Level 2 –
be 75% the size of the primary
Program name
logo name.
50% of Primary
Level 2 – Program name
logo name
The Program name should
be 50% the size of the Primary
logo name.
NIAA
Spacing in between each level should
arrangement
Example with Sub-brand and Program
Example withe Sub-brand only
be the height that ‘2X’ equals.
the
Important information
by
When adding a Sub-brand, Program
National Indigenous
National Indigenous
access
or both to the Primary NIAA brand
mark, only use the horizontal variation.
Australians Agency
Australians Agency
Employment and
Culture and Heritage
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Indigenous Procurement Program
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04
Visual Hierarchy,
Usage and Restrictions
Guidelines on visual hierarchy, clearance space, minimum
size and incorrect usage of the corporate brand marks.
04a Primary NIAA Acronym Brand Mark Visual Hierarchy
04b Primary National Indigenous Australians Agency Brand Mark Visual Hierarchy
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04c Usage and Restrictions
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The Australian Government
logo is our primary logo.
The National Indigenous
Australian Agency and
acronym brand marks are
used with and in support
of it.
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Brand Marks Corporate
Primary NIAA Acronym Brand Mark Visual Hierarchy
04a
All elements play a role in
3. Clear Space: Enough space
Primary NIAA Acronym brand mark hierarchy
presenting the brand clearly
should always be left in between
without confusion. This visual
messaging and the logo. This space
hierarchy is a guide only to
is a guide to demonstrate hierarchy.
demonstrate the relationship
Important Information: Information
between elements.
regarding correct logo usage can be
found in the Usage and Restrictions
1
Primary NIAA Acronym
section on page 16 of this document.
brand mark hierarchy
Information regarding correct
1. Primary NIAA Acronym brand mark
3
typography usage can be found in
placement: The logo should always
the Typography section on page 6
appear clearly and at the correct
of this document.
size at the top of a communication.
2
This is an example
The logo should always appear at the
of a headline.
top left of a communication at the
correct size. The brand mark should
This is an example of a sub-headline.
never be used at large scale (unless
specified), drawing attention away
NIAA
Ligent ut iditibusa veni volest, acest eos eum que solest harumquis
arrangement
from and making messaging difficult
eos atet ea nobit autatem a volorem lant, comnimet fugias eniipsa
consect endantibus del minvendam rehenistiae nimus sum quia dis
to understand.
maionsequi dolorectur aciistis core denihitassi occab iusa ad qui tia
the
dem laccupt atiunt ipsapientur sitem aliciisqui dolorerro demporp
orionet paris audit, se samust adis et ullorib eaquid quid ut pereptis
2. Typography: Typography
by
et parum eatinve lenempore quae volupta aut prestec epudam ad
should be used correctly and
maio coreper erferibusam qui quibusantios reptatiant aut idus renimus
access
mossunturem as debit, ut quat. Ximpor autem comnient, utem rerrovi
work in harmony with other elements
tisciae poreperit as dolumquis de mos quia nem etur, quis quunt qui.
ensuring clear and easily read
communications. Ensure there is
released
always enough clear space in
3
between any typography and
other brand elements.
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Brand Marks Corporate
Primary National Indigenous Australians Agency Brand Mark Visual Hierarchy
04b
All elements play a role in
communications. Ensure there
Primary National Indigenous Australians Agency hierarchy
presenting the brand clearly
is always enough clear space in
without confusion. This visual
between any typography and other
hierarchy is a guide only to
brand elements.
demonstrate the relationship
4. Clear Space: Enough space
between elements.
should always be left in between
messaging and the logo. This space
1
Primary National Indigenous
is a guide to demonstrate hierarchy.
Australians Agency brand
mark hierarchy
General logo and brand mark rules
(applicable for both): Both the logo
4
1. Australian Government Logo
and brand mark should never be
placement: The Government logo
used at large scale (unless specified),
must always appear when using
3
This is an example
drawing attention away from
the National Indigenous Australians
and making messaging difficult to
of a headline.
Agency logo. The logo should
understand. One logo/brand mark
always appear at the top left of a
should never overpower the other.
This is an example of a sub-headline.
communication at the correct size.
If specified placement isn’t optimal,
Where possible, text or images must
the logo/brand mark can swap
NIAA
Ligent ut iditibusa veni volest, acest eos eum que solest harumquis
arrangement
not be placed above or to the left of
their orientation from top to bottom
eos atet ea nobit autatem a volorem lant, comnimet fugias eniipsa
consect endantibus del minvendam rehenistiae nimus sum quia dis
the logo.
or visa versa.
maionsequi dolorectur aciistis core denihitassi occab iusa ad qui tia
the
dem laccupt atiunt ipsapientur sitem aliciisqui dolorerro demporp
orionet paris audit, se samust adis et ullorib eaquid quid ut pereptis
2. National Indigenous Australians
Important Information:
by
et parum eatinve lenempore quae volupta aut prestec epudam ad
brand mark placement: The brand
maio coreper erferibusam qui quibusantios reptatiant aut idus renimus
Information regarding correct logo/
access
mossunturem as debit, ut quat. Ximpor autem comnient, utem rerrovi
mark should always appear at the
brand mark usage can be found in
tisciae poreperit as dolumquis de mos quia nem etur, quis quunt qui.
bottom of a communication at the
the Usage and Restrictions section on
correct size.
page 16 of this document.
4
released
3. Typography: Typography
Information regarding correct
should be used correctly and work
typography usage can be found in
2
in harmony with other elements
the Typography section on page 6
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ensuring clear and easily read
of this document.
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Brand Marks Corporate
Usage and restrictions – Clearance space
04c
Australian Government Logo – Stacked
Primary lockups using the Australian
Government logo.
1.5X
The clear space around the logo is
determined by ‘X’. ‘X’ is the distance
from the top of ‘A’ in Australia to the
bottom of the horizontal line between
both lines of words. The total amount
‘X’= Distance from the top of
of clear space is 1.5 the height of ‘X’.
National Indigenous Australians Agency
‘A’ in Australia to the bottom of
the horizontal line between both
lines of words.
1.5 X HERE AND 2 X THROUGHOUT
THE REST OF THE DOCUMENT
Australian Government Logo – Inline
1.5X
‘X’= Distance from the top of
National Indigenous
‘A’ in Australia to the bottom of
NIAA
Australians Agency
the horizontal line between both
arrangement
lines of words.
the
by  access
NIAA Acronym and Australian Government Lockup
1.5X
released
‘X’= Distance from the top of
‘A’ in Australia to the bottom
of the horizontal line between
administrative
both lines of words.
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Brand Marks Corporate
Usage and restrictions – Minimum Size
04c
National Indigenous Australians
Agency and Australian Government
Print
Digital
Lockup – All variations – Print
The minimum size of the logo is
measured by the width of the
‘Coat of Arms’. The coat of arms is to
be no smaller than 20mm wide.
National Indigenous Australians
Agency and Australian Government
National Indigenous Australians Agency
National Indigenous Australians Agency
Lockup – All variations – Digital
The minimum size of the logo is
measured by the width of the
20mm wide
75px wide
‘Coat of Arms’. The coat of arms is to
be no smaller than 75px wide.
Primary Horizontal National
PLEASE NOTE: THIS RULE APPLIES TO ALL OTHER LOGO VARIATIONS
PLEASE NOTE: THIS RULE APPLIES TO ALL OTHER LOGO VARIATIONS
Indigenous Australians Agency Logo
– All Variations – Print
The minimum size is measured from
Print
Digital
the basline of ‘Australian Agency’ to
NIAA
the capital height of the ‘N’ and ‘I’
arrangement
in ‘National Indigenous’. In total this
Cap Height
the
equates to 4.5mm which is equivalent
to 7pt text size.
by
4.5mm high
50px high
access
(equivalent to
Primary Horizontal National
Baseline
7pt text size)
Indigenous Australians Agency Logo
– All Variations – Digital
The minnimum size is measured from
released
the baseline of ‘Australian Agency’ to
PLEASE NOTE: THIS RULE APPLIES TO ALL OTHER
PLEASE NOTE: THIS RULE APPLIES TO ALL OTHER
the capital height of the ‘N’ and ‘I’ in
BRAND MARK VARIATIONS
BRAND MARK VARIATIONS
‘National Indigenous’. In total equates
administrative
to 50px high.
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Brand Marks Corporate
Usage and restrictions – Incorrect Application
04c
These rules apply to all other variations of this logo, including the Australian Government logo.
National Indigenous Australians Agency
gency
Australians A
National Indigenous Australians Agency
National Indigenous Australians Agency
National Indigenous
National Indigenous Australians Agency
National Indigenous Australians Agency
Do not enlarge or alter in proportion
Do not tilt the logo.
any part of the design.
Do not rearrange any part of the logo.
NIAA   arrangement
the
by  access
National Indigenous Australians Agency
National Indigenous Australians Agency
released
Do not reduce the logo
Do no use any part of the logo as a
Do not use the logo in a
administrative
below the specified amount.
separate graphic element.
low contrast manner.
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Brand Marks Corporate
Usage and Restrictions – Clearance space
04c
Primary National Indigenous
Australians Agency brand mark.
Horizontal
The clear space around the logo is
determined by ‘X’. ‘X’ is the capital
2X
height of the letter ‘N’ in the word
‘National’. The total amount of clear
‘X’= Cap height of ‘N’ in National
space is double the height of ‘X’.
Stacked
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2X
the
‘X’= Cap height of ‘N’ in National
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Brand Marks Corporate
Usage and restrictions – Minimum Size
04c
Primary Stacked National
Indigenous Australians Agency Logo
Print
– All Variations – Print
The minimum size is measured from
the basline of ‘Agency’ to the capital
height of the ‘N’ in ‘National
Indigenous’. In total this equates
to 9.5mm which is equivalent to
9.5mm high
7pt text size.
(equivalent to
7pt text size)
Primary Stacked National
Indigenous Australians Agency Logo
– All Variations – Digital
The minimum size is measured from
the basline of ‘Agency’ to the capital
height of the ‘N’ in ‘National
Indigenous’. In total this equates
Digital
to 110px which is equivalent to
7pt text size.
NIAA   arrangement
the
by
110px high
access
released
administrative
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Brand Marks Corporate
Incorrect Application
04c
These rules apply to all other variations of this logo.
Do not enlarge or alter in proportion
Do not tilt the logo.
any part of the design.
Do not rearrange any part of the logo.
NIAA   arrangement
the
by  access
released
Do not reduce the logo
Do not use the logo in a
administrative
below the specified amount.
Do not recolour the logo
low contrast manner.
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Sub-brands
and Programs
01 Introduction
02 Artwork Symbolism and Meaning
03 Sub-brand and Program Overview
04 Sub-brand and Program Visual Language
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01
Introduction
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An applicable piece
of the master artwork
is used to visually
define each Sub-brand,
creating a unique brand
language for each.
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02
Artwork Symbolism
and Meaning
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Sub-brands and Programs
Artwork Symbolism and Meaning
1. This section of the artwork represents
6. This section of the artwork represents
access to economic opportunities with
the Indigenous and non-Indigenous
the centre circle representing financial
community working together to create
opportunities and the outer circles
community led change.
1
11
with the lines attached symbolise
7. This section of linework represents
Indigenous and non-Indigenous
pathways that connect everyone to
people accessing them.
everything and everyone
2
2. This section of the artwork represents
around them.
good health and health promotion
8. This section of the work represents
opportunities available to all.
acknowledging and celebrating
3. This section of the work represents
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
the well-being of Indigenous and
people as our First Australians people.
non-Indigenous people being equal.
9
9. This section of the artwork is a
10
7
4. This section symbolises education
combination of other symbols in the
opportunities being available to all
artwork to emphasise the message
and the positive outcomes of sharing
and aim of the work.
5
knowledge and skills with others.
10. This section work emphasises
8
NIAA
5.
arrangement
This section of the work represents
the pathways available to both
working together with the line
Indigenous and non-Indigenous
the
work being pathways towards
people to create equality for all.
by
sustainability and the dots inside
11. This section of the work
6
access
symbolise the people.
represents working in and with
4
the community to improve safety
3
and well-being of both Indigenous
released
and non-Indigenous people.
administrative
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Sub-brands and Programs
Sub-brand Artwork Pillars
Education
Health and Wellbeing
Land and sea
Employment and
Culture and Heritage
economic development
Section 4 of artwork
Section 2 of artwork
Section 7 of artwork
Section 8 of artwork
Section 1 of artwork
This section symbolises
This section of the work
This section of linework
This section of the work
education opportunities
represents the well-being
represents pathways that
This section of the artwork
represents acknowledging
NIAA
being available to all and
of Indigenous and
connect everyone to
represents access to
and celebrating
arrangement
the positive outcomes of
non-Indigenous people
everything and everyone
economic opportunities
Aboriginal and Torres
the
sharing knowledge and
being equal.
around them.
with the centre circle
Strait Islander people as
skills with others.
representing financial
our First Australians people.
by
opportunities and the outer
access
circles with the lines attached
symbolise Indigenous and
non-Indigenous people
released
accessing them.
administrative
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03
Sub-brand and
Program Overview
The National Indigenous Australians Agency
comprises ‘sub-brands’ and ‘programs’.
Attached to certain sub-brands are ‘programs’.
Programs are specialised areas linked directly
NIAA
to that sub-brand.
arrangement
the
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administrative
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Sub-brands and Programs
Sub-brand and program overview – Brand schematic
National Indigenous Australians Agency
Sub-brand:
Sub-brand:
Sub-brand:
Sub-brand:
Sub-brand:
Employment and Economic
Education
Health and Wellbeing
Land and Sea
Culture and Heritage
Development
Program:
Indigenous Procurement
Program
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the
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Program:
access
Employment Parity
Initiative
released
Sub-brands
Program:
Community Development
Programs
Program
administrative
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04
Sub-brand
and Program
Visual Language
4a Visual Languages Overview
4b Education
4c Health and Wellbeing
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4d Employment and Economic Development
the
4e Land and Sea
by
4f Culture and Heritage
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Sub-brands and Programs
Visual Languages Overview
4a
Each sub-brand has a different
purpose, tone and audience that
National Indigenous
National Indigenous
Australians Agency
it is communicating to. We can use
Australians Agency
Employment and eco-
nomic development
Education
the sub-brand artwork to create a
dynamic and flexible language.
This ‘visual stretch’ shows how
Education
graphics can be used in different
Employment
ways to achieve different tones.
and economic
Sophisticated/Corporate
development
Example of artwork being used in a
more sophisticated and corporate
way —to be used on applicable
sub brands like ‘Employment and
economic development’.
Friendly/Engaging
Example of artwork being used
NIAA
in a more engaging, friendly and
arrangement
bold way—to be used on applicable
the
sub-brands that involve more
community based projects
by
i.e. ‘Education’.
access
released
Sophisticated/Corporate
Friendly/Engaging
administrative
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04b
Education
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Sub-brands and Programs
Sub-brands – Education
4b
The section of artwork chosen is
Artwork and elements
Example of artwork elements usage
representative of the Education
sub-brand. Elements from it can be
The tone of this example is fun and engaging, therefore
used in a flexible way creating a
graphics have been used in a playful and bold way.
unique visual language.
Usage tips:
National Indigenous
•  Always be mindful of the
Australians Agency
Education
communications tone and how the
graphics should be used in context.
i.e. A more fun and engaging tone
could call for a more bold usage of
Education
graphics. A serious or corporate tone
could call for graphics to be used in
a minimal and paired back way.
•  Make sure there is balance
between all elements when
applying graphics. Never let one
NIAA
element take over another and
arrangement
compromise important information
the
such as the logo and messaging.
by
•  Use the artwork elements
access
with purpose, in a way that
supports the information being
communicated.
released
•  If more elements are needed they
can be extracted from the artwork.
•  Colours can be changed for
administrative
different applications.
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04c
Health and
Wellbeing
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Sub-brands and Programs
Sub-brands – Health and Wellbeing
4c
The section of artwork chosen is
Artwork and elements
Example of artwork elements usage
representative of the Health and
Wellbeing sub-brand. Elements from it
The tone of this example is positive, therefore
can be used in a flexible way creating
graphics have been used in a bold and bright way.
a unique visual language.
Usage tips:
National Indigenous
•  Always be mindful of the
Australians Agency
Health and Wellbeing
communications tone and how the
graphics should be used in context.
i.e. A more fun and engaging tone
could call for a more bold usage of
Health and
graphics. A serious or corporate tone
wellbeing
could call for graphics to be used in
a minimal and paired back way.
•  Make sure there is balance
between all elements when
applying graphics. Never let one
NIAA
element take over another and
arrangement
compromise important information
the
such as the logo and messaging.
by
•  Use the artwork elements
access
with purpose, in a way that
supports the information being
communicated.
released
•  If more elements are needed they
can be extracted from the artwork.
•  Colours can be changed for
administrative
different applications.
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04d
Employment
and Economic
Development
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Sub-brands and Programs
Sub-brand – Employment and Economic Development
4d
The section of artwork chosen is
Artwork and elements
Example of artwork elements usage
representative of the Employment
and Economic Development sub-brand.
The tone of this example is corporate, therefore
Elements from it can be used in a flexible
graphics have been used in a sophisticated way.
way creating a unique visual language.
Usage tips:
•  Always be mindful of the
communications tone and how the
graphics should be used in context.
i.e. A more fun and engaging tone
could call for a more bold usage of
graphics. A serious or corporate tone
Employment
could call for graphics to be used in
and economic
a minimal and paired back way.
development
•  Make sure there is balance between
all elements when applying graphics.
Never let one element take over
NIAA
another and compromise important
arrangement
information such as the logo and
the
messaging.
by
•  Use the artwork elements with purpose,
access
in a way that supports the information
being communicated.
•  If more elements are needed they
released
can be extracted form the artwork.
National Indigenous
•  Colours can be changed for different
Australians Agency
Employment and
Economic Development
applications.
administrative
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04e
Land and Sea
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Sub-brands and Programs
Sub-brand – Land and Sea
4e
The section of artwork chosen is
Artwork and elements
Example of artwork elements usage
representative of the Land and Sea
sub-brand. Elements from it can be
The tone of this example is professional, therefore
used in a flexible way creating a
graphics have been used in a refined way.
unique visual language.
Usage tips:
•  Always be mindful of the
National Indigenous
Australians Agency
communications tone and how the
Land and Sea
graphics should be used in context.
i.e. A more fun and engaging tone
could call for a more bold usage of
Land and Sea
graphics. A serious or corporate tone
could call for graphics to be used in
a minimal and paired back way.
•  Make sure there is balance between
all elements when applying
graphics. Never let one element
NIAA
take over another and compromise
arrangement
important information such as the
the
logo and messaging.
by
•  Use the artwork elements with
access
purpose, in a way that supports the
information being communicated.
•  If more elements are needed they
released
can be extracted form the artwork.
•  Colours can be changed for
different applications.
administrative
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04f
Culture and
Heritage
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Sub-brands and Programs
Sub-brand – Culture and heritage
4f
The section of artwork chosen is
Artwork and elements
Example of artwork elements usage
representative of the Culture and
Heritage sub-brand. Elements from it
The tone of this example is engaging, therefore
can be used in a flexible way creating
graphics have been used in a vibrant way.
a unique visual language.
Usage tips:
•  Always be mindful of the
communications tone and how the
graphics should be used in context.
i.e. A more fun and engaging tone
could call for a more bold usage of
Culture
graphics. A serious or corporate tone
and heritage
could call for graphics to be used in
a minimal and paired back way.
•  Make sure there is balance
between all elements when
applying graphics. Never let one
NIAA
element take over another and
arrangement
comprimise important information
the
such as the logo and messaging.
by
•  Use the artwork elements
access
with purpose, in a way that
supports the information being
communicated.
released
•  If more elements are needed they
can be extracted from the artwork.
National Indigenous
Australians Agency
Culture and Heritage
•  Colours can be changed for
administrative
different applications.
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For more information regarding
the National Indigenous
Australians Agency brand,
please contact:
xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx
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Document 2

Editorial and writing
style guide
Version 1.2
March 2024
Communications and Media Branch

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Document 2
Document information
Document name: Editorial and writing style guide
Location: https://niaa-intranet.ssp.pmc.gov.au/ES/communications/Pages/writing-resources.aspx
Business owner: Strategic Communications, Communications and Media Branch
Approved by: Susan Kibukamusoke, Communications and Media Branch on 12/03/2024
Revision history
Version
Date
Author
Comments
1.1
August 2022
James McPherson

1.2
March 2024
Alex Cleary

Related documents
Document name
Location
Australian Government Style Manual
stylemanual.gov.au
Macquarie Dictionary
macquariedictionary.com.au
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Purpose
This guide provides advice and guidance to National Indigenous Australian Agency (NIAA) staff.
It should be used for drafting internal and external written materials. This is to ensure a consistent and
professional presentation of information that reflects our corporate voice.
Applicability
This guide applies to all NIAA staff as well as contractors, consultants, service providers and their agents
performing work for, and on behalf of, the Agency.
Advisory bodies, committees and other entities that receive support from NIAA are not bound by this guide, but
are encouraged to follow its principles.

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Introduction
The products we write are our primary point of engagement with our stakeholders. Correspondence to our
Minister, the Prime Minister, other departments and agencies, jurisdictional partners, stakeholders, providers,
NIAA staff, grant applicants and the public, al  shape our reputation.
What you write matters, and how you write is just as important.
This guide gives staff quick access to useful tips on effective writing and accurate editing. It covers general advice
that is good to follow for all writing. It sets out a consistent editorial style, highlighting areas of style, grammar,
spelling and punctuation that are particularly relevant to NIAA.
This quick guide complements other departmental and APS style guides including:
•  The Australian Government’s Style Manual
•  Macquarie English Dictionary – the definitive source for Australian spelling
•  Hemmingway app – a free and useful editing tool.
Getting the message right
Tone and voice
Using the right voice and tone in all our communications is an important part of the NIAA brand:
•  NIAA voice — write in an active voice, use first and second person pronouns (you, we and us).
•  NIAA tone — we are polite, engaging, warm, inclusive, respectful, trustworthy and professional.
Use clear and succinct language. Check for assumed knowledge, jargon, inappropriate use of acronyms and
appropriate use of capitalisations.
Be clear
Make sure your writing:
•  uses plain English. Write like you speak – if it sounds like writing, rewrite it.
•  is inclusive and avoids jargon, pretentious language and bureaucratic terms
•  persuades with purpose. Good writing helps convince your reader to take action, increases knowledge or
chal enges them to change their point of view
•  is brief, to the point and respects the reader’s time
by the NIAA
•  is accurate and free of typos, spelling mistakes and errors.
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Frame your message
Who am I writing for and why?
•  Know your audience and write for them. Whether you are writing for an audience of one – such as the
Minister for Indigenous Australians – or a broader audience, adapt your writing for your reader.
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•  Start off with a clear purpose for communicating with your audience. Your writing should convince your
reader to take action, change their attitude or consider an alternative point of view. Otherwise why
bother? Write clearly for persuasion, impact and influence.
What type of document am I writing and what format do I need to use?
•  Think about how to structure your writing to make it easy for your reader to read.
•  There are a number of NIAA guides to help you write anything from the perfect tweet to a detailed cabinet
submission. Here are some guides:
‒  Briefing and Correspondence Guidelines
‒  Speechwriting tips

For advice regarding Cabinet submissions, refer to the cab sub template in MS Word (File > New > Shared >
Cabinet) or contact the xxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx team.

When do you need to write? Good writing takes time so be clear on your timelines, including the number of
drafts you wil  need to produce and the number and timing of clearance points.

Tip: The spel  check function of Microsoft Word can be turned off on an individual document and can
sometimes happen without you knowing it. If Word is not picking up errors, click File > Options > Proofing
and make sure the tick boxes hiding errors are clear. Note: spell check is not active with text written in ALL
CAPS.
The NIAA editorial style
Drafting culturally appropriate correspondence
Some tips for drafting culturally appropriate correspondence:
•  Always use Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the first instance. You can then use ‘First Nations
peoples’ thereafter, if you choose to. You are able to use a combination of both terms for the sake of
avoiding long sentences.
•  ‘Indigenous Australians’ is not a preferred term, unless referring to the name of an organisation/program
etc. E.g. National Indigenous Australians Agency.
•  Whichever term you are using, always capitalise to indicate these terms are the short form for a proper
noun, i.e. Aboriginal person, First Nations person, Torres Strait Islander.
•  Do not use the acronym ‘ATSI’, ‘TI’ or ‘TSI’ verbally or in writing when referring to Aboriginal and Torres
by the NIAA
Strait Islander peoples. It is, however, acceptable in recognised acronyms, such as AIATSIS.
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•  When referring to Elders, always capitalise the word, Elder, to indicate that this is a short form for a proper
noun and identify the people group they belong to, e.g. Wiradjuri Elder or Tiwi Elder, accompanied by their
full name.
•  When referring to communities, verbally or in writing, use the name of the Aboriginal or Torres Strait
Islander nation where known, or refer to the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community in the context
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of place (e.g. “the Aboriginal community in Melbourne” or “the Torres Strait Islander community in
Cairns”).
•  When referring to organisations, corporations or businesses, verbally or in writing, use the name of the
organisation in full in the first instance, followed by the acronym in brackets. For example – The
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE). Thereafter, referring to the organisation
by an acronym is only acceptable if the organisation itself uses that acronym.
•  When providing a point of contact to a member of the public, preference a general office number rather
than a direct line so someone is available even if you’re away or leave the Agency.
Traditional spel ing
Where possible, use the spelling of a First Nations nation, community, country, language group and place that is
in common use by recognised or official organisations, such as the registered representative body, local council or
state government. If unsure, contact the relevant regional office for clarification, additionally you can visit the
AIATSIS virtual map.
Sorry Business
Sorry Business is the period of mourning in the community following the death of an Aboriginal and/or Torres
Strait Islander person. In some communities the name of the deceased person is not to be spoken for a certain
period of time.
When writing to the family of a deceased person it is important that you act in a respectful and culturally safe and
sensitive way. Contact the relevant Regional Office or an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person you know
is connected to the community to understand the local cultural protocols around addressing someone during
Sorry Business and to ensure that writing to the family is appropriate during this time.
NIAA First Nations Cultural Protocols Guide
You’re encouraged to familiarise yourself with the First Nations Cultural Protocols Guide when writing to, about,
or for, First Nations peoples. The Guidelines provide more detailed, general information on how you can write in a
culturally safe way.
Our name
The Australian Government
As a general rule, use ‘the Australian Government’ when referring to the national government of Australia rather
than ‘the Federal Government’ or ‘the Commonwealth’.
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There are other circumstances where you wil  need to use ‘Commonwealth,’ e.g. when differentiating between
Commonwealth and state funding.
Commonwealth and Federal are mainly used in official titles like the Commonwealth of Australia or the Federal
Court of Australia.
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Our Agency’s name and abbreviated name
•  We are the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
•  The Agency’s abbreviated name is the NIAA, pronounced N-I-double-A
•  ‘The’ NIAA should be the standard reference, except where it does not make sense to do so in the context
of readability.
Punctuation and grammar guide
Attachments
Reference to attachments should be rendered as ‘refer to Attachment A’.
Apostrophes and contractions
Apostrophes sometimes indicate possession. For example:

•  The Prime Minister’s official residence (singular)
•  The Ministers’ Offices (plural)
•  For words or names ending in ‘s’, current standards are to include the second ‘s’. For example: That is
James’s laptop – not James’ laptop.
Apostrophes are also used in contractions:
•  It’s as a contraction of it is. Not to be confused with the possessive its For example: ‘The dog ran after its
ball’.
Capitalisation
Capital letters should be used for:
•  The beginning of a sentence
•  Proper nouns
•  Capital ‘G’ for Government when referring to the Australian Government. Lower case ‘g’ should be used for
governments or government programs
•  Capital ‘A’ for Agency when referring to NIAA
•  Capital ‘D’ when referring to another Department, however when using the term general y, use the lower
case ‘d’ when referring to government departments or departmental funds
•  Acronyms but not necessarily expanded acronyms. For example, DTA and Digital Transformation Agency
are correct, but KPI expands to key performance indicators not Key Performance Indicators. Most acronyms
are upper case with the exception those recognised as a proper noun in their own right, for example Anzac.
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•  Check your usage each time and, if unsure, strive for consistency.
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Capitalisation
Capitalisation of the fol owing should be observed:
•  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people(s)
•  Indigenous
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•  Elders
•  Traditional Owner(s)
•  Custodians
•  Country (referring to the Country of particular Indigenous Nations)
•  Indigenous Australians
•  Aboriginal Australians
•  Torres Strait Islander Australians
•  Culture (referring to Indigenous Culture or the Culture of particular Indigenous Nations)
•  Native Title.
Colons
Colons are mainly used to lead into a list but can be used to separate 2 main clauses. For example:
The Australian Government is considering: developing policies, implementing new programs, and introducing new
services for local communities.
Semi Colons
Semicolons are stronger than commas but weaker than ful  stops. Use them to link clauses in a sentence or to
separate phrases if you absolutely need to have a longer sentence. Don’t use them at the end of dot points (see
Lists and dot points).
Commas and the Oxford comma
Commas can help with readability and clarity, as they add a natural pause and delineate sub-clauses. Too many
commas is a sign that your sentence is too long. Try re-writing into shorter sentences – no more than 23 words
per sentence.
The Oxford comma should only be used where it helps clarify meaning when listing items or people in a sentence.
For example:
•  I love my parents, dog and cat. Without the Oxford comma, this sentence could be interpreted as saying
you love your parents, and that your parents are a dog and a cat.
•  Here's the same sentence with the Oxford comma: I love my parents, dog, and cat.
Citation and referencing
The Australian Government Style Manual recommends the author—date system of citation (also known as the
‘Harvard system’) to reference source materials in documents, reports or publications.
Hyphens/Em dashes/En dashes
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•  Hyphens are used to make double adjectives and adverbs, for example ‘high-quality’.  Use the minus key (-)
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to make a hyphen.
•  Em dashes are used to indicate a sudden break in a sentence. For example:  What the community wants —
above all else — is an opportunity add their voice to the policy development process. To add an em dash:
‒  Laptop: Go to insert>symbol>more symbols>Special characters>em rule.
‒  Keyboard/windows: hold down Ctrl + Alt keys and type - (minus) on the numbers pad.
‒  Mac: hold Option + Shift keys and type – (minus).
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•  En dashes are used to indicate a span between numbers or dates. For example: ‘The 2019–20 financial year
is almost upon us.’ Don’t use an en dash to mean ‘to’, e.g. ‘The trial ran from 2015 to 2017’ not ‘The trial
ran from 2015-17. To add an en dash:
‒  Laptop: Go to insert>symbol>more symbols>Special characters>en rule.
‒  Laptop/keyboard: type a word>space>hyphen>space>word>space.
‒  Keyboard/windows: hold down Ctrl keys and type - (minus) on the numbers pad.
‒  Mac: hold Option key and type – (minus).
Italics
Avoid using italics as a general rule. Screen readers interpret italics in different ways and people with dyslexia can
find it hard to read.
Use italics for:
•  titles of books, periodicals, plays, movies, TV and radio programs, and works of art
•  legislation and legal cases
•  names of ships, aircraft, and other vehicles
•  the scientific names of plants and animals
•  technical terms or terms that are being defined
•  letters, words, or phrases being cited
•  words or phrases in languages other than English that aren’t well-known to English speakers.

Do not use italics in headlines.
Lists and dot points
A list using dot points should form a complete sentence or a series of sentences. The standard practice is to not
use semi-colons on the end of each dot point, but to finish to series of points with a full stop. For example:
•  If you are using sentence fragments for each dot point your dot points should read as one sentence starting
with a colon:
‒  first dot point
‒  second dot point
‒  your final dot point should end with a ful  stop to complete the sentence.
•  Or use dot points to list a series of sentences starting with a colon:
‒  The first dot point sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a ful  stop.
‒  This is another full sentence here.
‒  And so on.
•  Strive for consistency throughout your document.
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Numbers
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•  Numbers greater than one (2 and higher) should be presented as digits. Zero and one are still written out
due to the likelihood they can be confused with letters.
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Note: Previous guidance that numbers from one to nine should be spelt out and numbers 10 and above are
written numerical y has been superseded. When in doubt, refer to the Australian Government Style Manual.
•  At the beginning of a sentence, numbers should be spelt out. Compound numbers are hyphenated. For
example:
‒  Forty-five.
‒  Forty-five thousand (no hyphen between forty-five and thousand).
•  It may be more suitable to rearrange a sentence rather than start with a number so that digits may be used.
•  When providing a phone number ensure the information is framed within a sentence i.e. my point of
contact on this matter is Joan Smith on xxxx.
•  Use commas to break up large numbers and make it easier to read 1,234 and 10,000.
•  Use the words million, billion and trillion wherever possible to reduce the number of zeros, e.g. 3.5 million,
not 3,500,000.
•  Numbers should be limited to 3 decimal points, however rounding to 2 is preferable. When we’re talking
multi-million dollar programs, the last $18 doesn’t matter.
•  In body text use per cent not percent or %. In a table use %.
Dates
•  Dates should be written Wednesday 1 July 2019. No commas are used.
•  Do not write the 17th of July or July 17.
Titles
•  Titles such as ‘Mr’, ‘Mrs’ or ‘the Hon’ (when referring to the Honourable) do not require a full stop.
•  Titles may break across a line if they are particularly long, however first and last names should never break
across a line.
Tip: Use a ‘non-breaking space’ to force titles or first and last names to stick together and not beak across
lines. In Microsoft Word, this is CTRL-SHIFT-SPACE. This also works for hyphens.s also works for hyphens.
Latin shortened terms
The most common Latin shortened forms are:
•  e.g. (exempli gratia, for example)
•  etc. (et cetera, and so on)
•  i.e. (id est, that is).

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For e.g. and i.e. it is preferable to use shortened forms in parentheses, rather than in running text.
Post nominals
•  Post nominals are letters used after a person’s name to indicate rank qualification, status, decoration or
honour. There is a hierarchy for the order in which they are presented, detailed on the PM&C website.
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•  NIAA has adopted the practice of presenting post nominals without commas or ful  stops, in line with the
Commonwealth Style Manual and the Governor-General who is the issuing authority of most decorations.
Single spacing should be used to separate two or more sets of post nominals: e.g. His Excellency General
the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd). However, Ministerial preferences sometimes deviate from this
form.
•  Post nominals are only ever written, not spoken. So in talking points or speeches, they are generally not
included.
Dates
•  1 June 2019
•  1/6/2019 – using forward slash not ful  stops between numbers
•  Saturday 1 June 2019 not Saturday, 1 June 2019
•  Don’t use ‘th’ and ‘of’, e.g. 17th of June. While that is how it is spoken, it crowds writing. It is better to just
write that an event wil  occur on 17 June.
•  Financial years:
‒  Use an en dash between numbers: the 2018–19 financial year. The 2019–20 Federal Budget.
Quotation marks and punctuation
•  Direct speech: Use single quotation marks when directly quoting a spokesperson. For quoting speech, keep
punctuation inside the quotation marks. For example: ‘This is the best brief I’ve ever read,’ the Minister for
Plain English said today. ‘It deserves a gold star.’ (Note the comma and full stop are inside the quotation
marks. This is different from using quotation marks to refer to phrases, in which case the punctuation
comes after the quotation mark).
•  Double quotation marks: are used to indicate a quote within a quote. For example: ‘Australia is country of
“droughts and flooding rains” so we must do all we can to support those affected by natural disasters.’
•  Using quotes in media releases: Before you begin writing a media release, research the preferred style of
the Minister or spokesperson.
-  Direct statement: This style of media release is written in the first person as a direct statement.
You don’t need quotation marks.
-  Media releases with spokesperson quotes: This type of media release is written in the style of a
news article and will include a series of direct quotes from the spokesperson. To improve
readability, quotation marks and punctuation will differ for the opening, subsequent and closing
quotes. For example:
-  The opening quote is usual y written like this:
“The Australian Government is today launching an important initiative to promote plain
English,” the Minister for Plain English said.
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o  Subsequent quotes start with a double quotation mark but is left open without a double
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quotation mark at the end of the sentence:
“This is a very important initiative.
o  The final quote has a double quotation mark at the beginning and end of the sentence.
“It will increase the use of plain English across the APS.”
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State and territory references
•  When referring to state and territory governments use lower case.
•  Use capitals when referring to individual state and territory governments e.g. the Queensland Government.
•  In an address block, state and territory abbreviations should always be in upper case and without a ful
stop.
•  The correct abbreviations are:
‒  ACT
‒  NSW
‒  NT
‒  Qld
‒  SA
‒  Tas
‒  Vic
‒  WA
Titles
•  The Prime Minister – use capitals.
•  Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia or the Governor-General – note the hyphen.
•  MLA.
•  Don’t mistake Senators and MPs.
•  Australian Government Ministers take the title of Honourable, which can be abbreviated to the Hon. For
example:
‒  The Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Linda Burney MP
‒  The Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher
‒  Note there isn’t a full stop after Hon as a contraction of Honourable.
•  Refer to ministers in the Australian Government by their full title in the first instance, and then simply as
the Minister.
•  Refer to senators by their full title in the first instance, and then by ‘Senator’ and their surname.
•  In the instance a Minister is a Senator, the correct title is Minister.
•  For members of parliament who have never been ministers, refer to them by their full title in the first
instance, and then by using Mr or Ms and their surname.
NIAA templates
The NIAA's corporate brand helps to identify the work of the Agency. It provides consistency to stakeholders who
may interact with the Agency, and ensures work produced in the Agency has a common look and feel.
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Using the templates also ensures your work meets mandatory accessibility guidelines.
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The templates are available on the NIAA intranet.
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Signature blocks
Email signature blocks assist the people you are corresponding with to know who you are, where you are from
and how to contact you.
Signature blocks are prescribed and should not be expanded upon without approval from the Communications
team. You may delete sections that are not relevant to you.
You can update your signature block by copying the text in the NIAA Signature Block Policy.
Spel ing and common language errors
English is a complicated language and for every rule there is an exception. If in doubt refer to the Macquarie
Dictionary but here are some common errors to watch out for.

A or an
•  A is used before a consonant sound, e.g. a cat, a dog.

•  An is used before a vowel sound, e.g. an animal. That’s why you ride a
unicorn but you hold up an umbrella. Similarly, you refer to an honour
but a historic occasion. It’s the sound not the letter that determines
which article you use.
Adviser
•  Not advisor.
Advise or advice
•  Advice (noun) = information, opinions or suggestions given to someone

to help guide an outcome.
•  Advise (verb) = to give information, opinions or suggestions.
Affect or effect
•  Affect (verb) = to change or influence.

•  Effect (noun) = the result.
Altogether or all
•  Altogether (adverb) = completely, entirely, in total.
together
•  Al  together (phrase) = with each other, in a group of people or things.

Among or amongst
•  While both ‘among’ and ‘amongst’ have the same meaning when used
in the same context, ‘among’ is preferred in modern Australian English.

Assure/ensure/insure
•  Assure (verb) = to make certain of, make a promise or commitment.

You assure another person or people.
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•  Ensure (verb) = to make sure something is undertaken or is going to
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happen.
•  Insure (verb) = to take out an insurance policy.
Compliment or
•  Compliment (noun) = praise.
complement
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•  Complement (noun) = when something adds to or enhances something
else.
Complimentary or
•  Complimentary (adjective) = praising or given something free of charge.
complementary
For example: I like complimentary drinks.

•  Complementary (adjective) = two different things that are useful or
attractive when used together. For example: Complementary colours
go well together.
Canvas or canvass
•  Canvas (noun) = material, as in a canvas bag.

•  Canvass (verb) = to solicit, to survey or to discuss.
Dependant or dependent
•  Dependant (noun) = a person who relies on another person for support.

•  Dependent (adjective) = relying on. For example: she is dependent on
her insulin.
Discreet or discrete
•  Discreet (adjective) = careful and circumspect. For example: It’s not

discreet if it’s in a tweet.
•  Discrete (adjective) = individually separate, distinct, detached. For
example:  The taskforce is examining a discrete body of work.
Fewer than or less than
•  Fewer than is for plural numbers of people or things. For example:

Fewer young people listen to ABBA these days.
•  Less than is for uncountable things or things that don’t have a plural.
For example: Editing is a great job but it pays less money than being a
rock star.
Focused
•  Not focussed.
Honour (Aus)
•  Not honor (US).
Imply or infer
•  Imply (verb) = to suggest or hint.

•  Infer (verb) = to deduce or conclude from evidence.
Is or are
•  Make sure the subject and its verb are both singular or plural. For

example:
•  The Government (singular) is aware….
•  Departments (plural) are aware….
•  This is harder to keep track of in long sentences so keep an eye out for
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subjects and verbs that are not close together.
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It’s or its
•  It’s is a contraction of it is.

•  Its shows possession. For example: The lion stalked its prey.
Lead/lead/led
•  Lead (noun) = a metal.
•  Lead (verb) = to show the way or go before.
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•  Led (verb) = past tense of lead.
Licence or license
•  Licence (noun) = as in Driver licence.
•  License (verb) = to grant a licence to or authorise/permit someone to
do something.
Labor
•  When referring to the Australian Labor Party not Labour Party
Maximise/minimise
•  No ‘z’ (US).
Moneys
•  Not monies.
Panellists (AUS)
•  Not panelists (US).
Practice or practise
•  Practice (noun) = To become an accomplished pianist takes years of

practice.
•  Practise (verb) = The Minister for Plain English practised her speech.
Principle or principal
•  Principle (noun) = a fundamental rule, law or truth.

•  Principal (noun/adjective) = A school principal (noun), chocolate was
her principal reason for living (adjective).
Program
•  Not programme – unless programme is part of an official name or
title, e.g. the Community Development Programme.
Stationary or stationery
•  Stationary (adjective) = not moving.
•  Stationery (noun) = envelopes, pens and other writing materials.
Thank you
•  Not thankyou
Their, they’re and there
•  Their – possessive pro-noun
•  They’re – contraction of they are
•  There – refers to a location
Which or that
•  Which and that are usually a sign your sentence is too long. Try re-

writing and get rid of them.
•  Failing that, if removing the words that follow would change the
meaning of the sentence, use "that". For example:
o  The flights that I booked online were cheaper, or, The flights,
which I booked online, were cheaper.
•  In the second example, you can take out the clause ‘which I booked
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online’ because it’s incidental. In the first example, the clause ‘that I
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booked online’ is essential to the meaning of the sentence. Better yet,
it can be rewritten as ‘I booked cheaper flights online.’
While/whilst
•  While both ‘while’ and ‘whilst’ have the same meaning when used in
the same context, ‘while’ is preferred in modern Australian English.

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Document Outline

NIAA Editorial and Writing Style Guide.pdf
- Document information
  - Revision history
  - Related documents
- Purpose
- Applicability
- Introduction
- Getting the message right
  - Tone and voice
  - Be clear
  - Frame your message
- The NIAA editorial style
  - Drafting culturally appropriate correspondence
    - Traditional spelling
    - Sorry Business
    - NIAA First Nations Cultural Protocols Guide
  - Our name
    - The Australian Government
    - Our Agency’s name and abbreviated name
  - Punctuation and grammar guide
    - Attachments
    - Apostrophes and contractions
    - Capitalisation
    - Capitalisation
    - Colons
    - Semi Colons
    - Commas and the Oxford comma
    - Citation and referencing
    - Hyphens/Em dashes/En dashes
    - Italics
    - Lists and dot points
    - Numbers
    - Dates
    - Titles
    - Latin shortened terms
    - Post nominals
    - Dates
    - Quotation marks and punctuation
    - State and territory references
    - Titles
- NIAA templates
- Signature blocks
- Spelling and common language errors
NIAA Editorial and Writing Style Guide.pdf