SunSmart website first to achieve WriteMark

Inez Romanos | November 2, 2017

The Health Promotion Agency has achieved the WriteMark® for its SunSmart website, furthering its goal to reduce rates of skin cancer and save lives.

The website is the first to achieve the WriteMark — a landmark, says Lynda Harris. Lynda founded the WriteMark, and is Write Limited’s chief executive.

The WriteMark is an internationally recognised quality mark awarded to content that’s written to a high standard of plain English. ‘It tells readers that the writers care about making information easy to understand and use,’ Lynda says.

Clarity can help save lives

‘SunSmart’s commitment to website clarity can help save lives’, Lynda says. ‘Displaying the WriteMark shows the site’s users that the Health Promotion Agency is committed to making the information easy to understand and act on.’

Plain, clear, and accessible communication helps any organisation to achieve its goals. The website project was an example of health literacy in action, Lynda said. ‘Health information that’s accessible and easy to understand is a cornerstone of effective health promotion.’

Independent assessors compared the SunSmart website with 28 WriteMark criteria. The criteria meet internationally recognised benchmarks for plain language and clear online communication. They include plain language, usability, suitability for the target audience, and design.

Find out more about the WriteMark
Learn to write quality web content
Learn effective plain English writing