Using jargon can make what we are trying to say difficult to understand.
It can also alienate people and create feelings of isolation and confusion.
Ridiculous as it may sound, we now have a piece of legislation called the Plain Language Act to force government agencies to use plain language when communicating with the public.
The new Act came into force on 21 October and makes using plain language mandatory for all government agencies that produce material to inform the public about: their services and how to access them; what people need to do to comply with the requirements; and people’s rights.
While some agencies are already communicating well, many fall short. In fact, Work and Income won the ‘Worst Brainstrain Communication Award’ at the 2022 Plain Language Awards for its brochure on the ‘COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme - who can get it’.
Now change is afoot, government agencies will have to think carefully about how they communicate to ensure their messages are easily understood.
New laws can move the dial on thinking and behavior, and this Act may help pave the way for better communication across the board. We hope that other professionals who use their own type of jargon will follow suit and embrace the purpose of the new rules too.
So, here’s to positive change and inclusiveness in our community.