Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) plays a crucial role in managing the risks associated with pests and diseases in Australia's agricultural and veterinary chemicals sectors. Tasked with protecting national health and safety, the APVMA required a significant digital transformation to enhance its online presence and ensure compliance with the latest cybersecurity and digital service standards. 

Project Scope
Drupal 9 GovCMS
Sector
Federal government

The Challenge

The APVMA faced several challenges with its existing website:
•    Unknown Website Scope: The exact size and complexity of the website were not initially known, with page views exceeding 100,000 in a single month.
•    Tight Deadline: Less than three months were available to complete the migration.
•    Custom Module Compatibility: Several custom modules were incompatible with the new GovCMS environment.
•    Stakeholder Considerations: The website needed to cater to a broad range of stakeholders, from industry professionals to the general public.

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The Solution


CRE8IVE adopted a strategic and innovative approach to address these challenges:
•    Strategic Planning and Coordination: Close collaboration with APVMA ensured alignment with their vision and requirements.
•    Innovative Use of Civic Theme: The selection of Civic Theme allowed for rapid deployment of a WCAG-compliant, public-facing website.
•    Comprehensive Sitemap and Media Audit: These tools ensured all content and assets were accurately accounted for and migrated.
•    Efficient Migration Process: A clear plan for URL and redirect management protected SEO rankings and ensured user accessibility.

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Implementation

The project execution included several key steps:
•    Project Management: Agile methodologies facilitated efficient progress and adaptability.
•    Content Migration: Over 10,000 pages and 5,000 documents and media items were migrated.
•    SEO Optimization: The migration strategy emphasized maintaining SEO rankings and enhancing content relevance.
•    Stakeholder Engagement: Regular updates and workshops ensured APVMA's needs were met.

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Results and Impact


The migration project was a resounding success, achieving all its objectives:
•    On-Time and On-Budget Completion: Despite the ambitious timeline, the project was completed ahead of schedule.
•    Enhanced User Experience: The new website features a fresh look, improved navigation, and accessibility compliance, catering to a diverse user base.
•    Compliance Achieved: The website now meets the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) Essential 8 Framework and the Digital Transformation Agency Digital Service Standard.
•    Preserved SEO Integrity: The careful migration strategy ensured that the APVMA's digital presence remained strong and accessible.
 

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Lessons Learned

The project highlighted the importance of thorough planning, stakeholder engagement, and flexibility in addressing unforeseen challenges. The successful migration also demonstrated the effectiveness of choosing the right tools and technologies to meet compliance and user experience objectives.


Conclusion

The collaborative effort between CRE8IVE and the APVMA resulted in a modern, compliant, and user-friendly website that stands as a testament to both teams' dedication and expertise. This project not only enhanced the APVMA's digital footprint but also set a new standard for website migrations within regulatory environments. The success of this project paves the way for future digital transformations, ensuring the APVMA remains at the forefront of digital excellence in regulatory oversight.

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