Role of Accessible E-commerce Forum
The role of the Forum is to identify and promote a range of activities designed to address the recommendations in the HREOC report Accessibility of electronic commerce and new service and information technologies for older Australians and people with a disability.
Specifically to:
- Act as a forum for identifying and discussing developments in Australia and overseas that have an effect on the accessibility of e-commerce or new information technologies
- Encourage the consistent use of best practice and non-discriminatory solutions to accessibility barriers throughout relevant industries
- Establish partnerships between service providers, service users, Government and solutions providers to ensure the so-called digital divide is addressed
- Encourage the formation of a range of sector specific or issue specific Working Groups to focus on particular recommendations and work towards the elimination of barriers.
The Forum recognises the importance of identifying and implementing solutions to accessibility barriers in close consultation with the disability and older people sectors.
Membership
The Forum will consist of representatives from organisations with a particular interest in the issues addressed by the recommendations in the HREOC report into e-commerce accessibility. It is not intended that the Forum would include representatives of all interested groups, rather that the membership is representative of a range of interests and expertise. It is expected that core membership will include representatives from the banking and financial service industries; retailers and service providers; consumer groups; specific community advocacy groups from the disability and older people sectors; Government Departments and regulatory bodies; the internet industry and technical solutions providers.
Forum members will seek to achieve a consensus on decisions to invite new participants to attend the Forum meetings.
Invitations may also be extending to organisations or individuals, who may bring a particular knowledge or perspective, to be members of any Working Group established to address specific recommendations. Comments and suggestions from any organisation or individual will be welcomed through any member of the Forum or through the contact points listed on the Commissions Homepage on e-commerce accessibility at www.hreoc.gov
Reporting
Members are responsible for reporting back to their organisations on developments and discussions in the Forum and for obtaining organisational support, where appropriate, for any initiatives proposed by the Forum. Members are responsible for providing information and briefings to the Forum on initiatives taking place in their particular industries or organisation that are relevant to the work of the Forum.
HREOC will maintain an active site on its Homepage to provide ongoing public information on developments in relation to the recommendations of the report. The Forum does not have the authority to commit members to particular actions. At the request of Forum members HREOC will act as Chair at Forum meetings and provide secretariat support.
See main ecommerce page for links to forum meeting minutes and other resources