1. Preamble EFIC is committed to maintaining its leading position in the use of information technology and electronic commerce to conduct its business and has made substantial progress towards meeting the Government's online requirements. 2. Key Commitments EFIC remains committed to providing all appropriate services on-line. Our new web site, launched in October 2003, has been designed to implement, where practicable, NOIE Web Site Standards and we are substantially compliant in the main criteria. EFIC has placed all practicable common use forms on our web site available for on-line completion. Annual reports and recent newsletters are available on-line, along with comprehensive information about EFIC, our products and services in line with On-line Information Services Obligations (OISO's). Australian Government Service Locator (AGSL) metadata and a harvest control list (HCL) have been applied to the appropriate sections of the web site and processes are in place to ensure the proper archiving of web site changes. EFIC 's Privacy Statement is compliant with the requirements of the Privacy Commissioner and appropriate statements regarding use of data and security appear prominently on the web site where personal information is collected. EFIC is working to ensure its web site is, at a minimum, Priority 1 W3C compliant. All existing and new pages are tested using the Centre for Applied Special Technology's (CAST) "Bobby" software to identify accessibility issues. We endeavour to provide alternative, accessible, versions to PDF files, though with large documents provide details as to how the information can be alternatively sourced. On-line forms, for the purposes of managing policies and enquiries, are hosted on a secure site and forwarded to EFIC using 128-bit SSL encryption. Authentication standards will be implemented when and where appropriate. The overseeing of EFIC 's compliance with Government On-line objectives is ultimately the responsibility of the Managing Director. Compliance with Government On-line objectives is the responsibility of Marketing and Management Information Systems (MIS). 3. EFIC and Our Environment Information about EFIC can be sourced from our web site. To assist readers in accessing relevant information, we provide the following hyperlinks:
4. Products and Services
Information about EFIC 's products and services can be found on our web site in the small business and large business sections. 5. Appropriate On-line Services EFIC does not provide any services fully on-line. At present, various forms are available on our web site and, in most cases, these can be completed and submitted by our clients via our secure site, on-line. We have not linked web site forms to our legacy systems. eProcurement and payment is well established with around 50-60% of suppliers paid electronically. With regard to on-line supply, one of our most significant expenditures is in the acquisition of credit information - this information is provided on-line. With regard to information on our web site, EFIC is committed to providing content that allows users access to information about our organisation, services and eligibility. In determining this content, EFIC will continue to use the OISO's provided by AusInfo as a benchmark, keeping in mind our obligations under the EFIC Act and other legislation (see particularly the client confidentiality provisions imposed under the EFIC Act). 6. Enhancement of Existing Services EFIC provides on its web site all practicable common use forms so as to provide increased access to users to documentation and processes. We also plan to continue extending eProcurement and payment with this option having been available to all suppliers since 30 June 2001. 7. Services Inappropriate to Provide On-line EFIC is a commercial business and subject to certain confidentiality provisions in our Act. As a consequence, it is envisaged that some OISO's will not be appropriate for inclusion on-line. Additionally, some transactions require the provision of detailed financial data that is best-managed offline due to its complexity and associated security issues. 8. Implementation EFIC is largely compliant with Government standards. The area requiring refinement relates to accessibility guidelines (providing alternatives to PDF files on-line). In this regard EFIC endeavours to provide alternatives on-line, where practicable. 9. Compliance with Standards EFIC has reviewed its compliance with regard to the minimum standards and reports the following: - Online Information Service Obligations
EFIC is largely compliant.
EFIC, however, does not provide online (or in any other form) its manuals and documentation used in decision-making, as this information is commercial in confidence.
- Metadata (data labelling)
Compliant.
- Electronic publishing, electronic record keeping and archiving
Compliant.
- Accessibility of resources to special groups
W3C Priority 1 - compliant. - Authentication
Not yet applicable.
- Privacy
Compliant.
- Security
Not yet applicable, though on-line forms, for the purposes of managing policies and enquiries, are hosted on a secure site and forwarded to EFIC using 128-bit SSL encryption.
10. Areas of Non-compliance See above. 11. Evaluation and Continuous Improvement EFIC relies on user feedback to ensure our forms and information resources are meeting their needs. It is envisaged that as on-line facilities develop they will be tested in the yearly client satisfaction survey and monitored on a regular basis for use. In addition to this, it is planned to incorporate compliance with NOIE standards within the internal audit programme in calendar year 2003. EXPORT FINANCE AND INSURANCE CORPORATION
September 2003 Comments and enquiries can be addressed to the Marketing Manager.
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