‘Easy read’ simplified English writing
CLIENT
Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare)
PROJECT BRIEF
Write an ‘easy read’ summary of Forensicare’s strategy document intended for patients.
Context
The Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health, known as Forensicare, is the only agency in Victoria that provides clinical forensic mental health services which span all components of the mental health and criminal justice sectors.
Forensicare had previously engaged Red Pony to copyedit and proofread the refresh of their strategic plan. This 24-page document, called Redefining possibilities, explains the organisation’s functions under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022, along with an exploration of its work across the 3 strategic domains of society, system and service.
Shortly after the conclusion of that project, Forensicare again commissioned Red Pony, this time to produce a range of supporting materials to accompany the launch of the strategic plan.
Execution
The supporting materials included fact sheets and a PowerPoint slide deck, along with an easy read document that used simplified English to explain the purpose and role of Forensicare.
The easy read document was designed to be presented in brochure format as part of an information pack given to hospital patients that addressed the reader directly.
Red Pony worked closely with the project lead at Forensicare to ensure each item was written at the appropriate level of English for each audience it was addressing.
Outcome
We liaised on the wording and readability, particularly on the easy read brochure, to ensure that it accurately conveyed all necessary information to the intended readership. Crucially, in providing patients with an understandable explanation of the role of Forensicare in relation to their care, the brochure also plays an important role in supporting their recovery.
“Red Pony worked closely with the project lead, liais[ing] on the wording and readability.”
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