Accessibility at CareLocate
Most of the people who use CareLocate are people with disability, their families and their carers. A directory that is hard to use would be failing at the one job it has.
Where we stand
CareLocate substantially conforms to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA.
We say substantially on purpose. Automated testing covers only about a third of the WCAG success criteria, and we have not yet completed a full audit with screen readers and other assistive technology. We would rather tell you exactly what we have checked than claim more than we can stand behind.
Last reviewed: 19 September 2026.
What we have tested and fixed
In September 2026 we audited the home page, search results, provider profiles and the Find Care form using axe-core against WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 at Levels A and AA, alongside manual keyboard testing. Every issue it found has been fixed:
- Every page starts with a "Skip to main content" link, so you do not have to tab through the whole navigation to reach the page.
- Text and buttons meet the 4.5:1 contrast minimum. Our brand green did not, so we darkened it wherever it carries text.
- The search box announces itself correctly to screen readers, including when its suggestion list opens.
- Every page has one main heading, correctly ordered subheadings, and proper landmarks for navigation, content and footer.
- The whole site can be operated by keyboard, and the focused element is always visibly outlined.
- Images carry alternative text, and form fields carry labels.
- The site is set to Australian English so screen readers pronounce it correctly.
What we know is not right yet
Being straight about the gaps is more useful to you than a clean bill of health:
We have not done a full screen reader audit
Our testing has been automated plus keyboard. We have not yet worked through the site with NVDA, JAWS or VoiceOver, so there may be barriers that only assistive technology reveals.
Photos uploaded by providers have generic descriptions
A photo on a provider profile is described using the business name rather than what the photo actually shows. It is not wrong, but it tells you less than it should.
Provider-written content is not under our control
Providers write their own descriptions. We cannot guarantee their formatting or plain-language quality, though the page structure around it is ours and is tested.
Payment pages are handled by Stripe
Provider subscriptions and paid job posts are taken on Stripe, which is outside our control. No participant or family ever needs to use those pages.
Tell us if something blocks you
If any part of CareLocate is hard or impossible for you to use, please tell us. You do not need to know the technical reason, or use the right words for it. Describing what you were trying to do and what happened is enough, and it is genuinely useful.
Email us
hello@carelocate.com.au
We aim to reply within five business days, and we will tell you what we intend to do about it and roughly when.
If you would rather not email, you can use our contact form.
Getting help another way
If you need help finding a provider and our site is not working for you, the Disability Gateway offers a free phone service on 1800 643 787, staffed by people who can help you find information and services.
The Translating and Interpreting Service is available on 13 14 50, and the National Relay Service on 133 677.