Read time: 1 minute 30 seconds
Captions and transcripts benefit everyone. Transcripts mean easier production of subtitles in a number of languages and also improve the indexing of online content.
Improved indexing means improved search engine optimisation and discoverability of government online content.
- Sudo is hearing-impaired and cannot rely on audio.
- Mia is a non-native English speaker and has difficulty understanding video.
- Lyla-Mae is watching a video but cannot listen to the audio due to being in a teleconference.
Transcript and caption guide
Such as a podcast or radio interview: provide a transcript.
Such as training videos: provide a transcript and captions.
- Include in the transcripts and captions the spoken information and sounds that are important for understanding the content.
- For example, [the Minister's phone starts ringing].
- Also include a description of important visual content.
- For example, [the Minister's enters the room].
For example, health and safety and compliance information, or situations.
The Australian Government recommends the inclusion of Auslan.
Steps to take
- Start with the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) video captions perspective page, it provides a great guide to best practice layout for embedded video, captions and an HTML transcript. W3C use Able Player for their embedded videos, YouTube is also a good option. Speak with your developer if you need help.
- Read the Australian Government Style Manual on video and audio.
- Make sure video captions synchronise to appear around the same time that they would be heard in the audio. Accurate captions must be provided so don’t rely 100% on auto-captioning or auto-transcript options. A good starting point is a production script or transcription services.
- To make video or audio transcripts available, link to it from the same place you link to or display your video or audio file.
- Learn more about why captions are so important for everyone. Watch World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) short video about captions (48 seconds):
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWO5N3n1DXU
Supporting resources
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Page last updated: 24 September 2020