YEAR
2018
CLIENT
Australian Army
INDUSTRY
Defence
SERVICES
Research, Learning strategy, instructional design, blended learning development, VR integration, ADELE deployment, instructor engagement, change management
The challenge
For over a century, land range safety had been taught the same way through instructor-led sessions, thick manuals, and repetition. And for generations, it worked. But following the tragic death of a soldier during training, Army recognised that the system needed to change. Not just to tick more boxes but to ensure that critical knowledge was retained, understood, and applied under pressure.
Army engaged Spinifex to help reimagine how this essential training could be delivered more clearly, more accessibly, and with more emphasis on capability, judgement and safety.
Discovery
In response, the Director General -Training & Doctrine collaborated with Spinifex to pilot a transformative blended learning solution We rethought how knowledge was shared, retained and applied.
Working closely with Army subject matter experts, instructors, and training leads, we mapped the flow of learning from classroom to field. The insight was clear:
- Dense theory needed to be made clearer, faster
- Trainees needed tools that matched how they learn today
- Instructors needed more space to focus on building capability, not just repeating content
Design
Together, we designed a blended model that freed up residential time for practice without losing the precision and discipline Army requires.
Aligning with the Army’s safety objectives, Spinifex crafted a comprehensive blended learning model. This included online modules, redesigned instructor-led activities, and immersive VR simulations. The design process emphasised a cultural shift, transitioning instructors from traditional “sage on the stage” roles to facilitators and mentors, fostering a more interactive and supportive learning environment.
Delivery
Spinifex worked side by side with Army teams to prototype, test and refine the new approach. We:
- Embedded ongoing feedback loops to support adaptation and scale
- Developed online learning modules mapped to real-world outcomes
- Created VR simulations for key decision points
- Coached instructors on delivering in the new model
- Delivered all learning via ADELE, ensuring easy access and updates
Results
The initiative achieved a 29% improvement in learning outcomes and reduced training time compared to traditional methods.
Instructors embraced their new roles, enhancing the overall training experience. The blended learning approach proved sustainable, offering flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness for future training programs. Spinifex’s partnership bridged the training gaps revealed by the fatal accident and fostered a lasting cultural shift towards more effective and empowering educational practices within the ADF.
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Spinifex provided exceptional support in transforming the Army training system with high energy, strong customer engagement and innovative learning methodologies.
Spinifex are super responsive, get to the heart of issues quickly and are particularly adept at learning as they go. They were a partner in every sense of the word in kick-starting Army’s Training Transformation.
– Ben James (Brigadier)
DG TRADOC 2018-19
Australian Army
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