Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL)

Where it all started

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When AITSL first approached us, they believed a straightforward digital refresh: to their website, alignment of their branding, and creation of a better digital experience for educators was 'the project'. But as we began our discovery process, it quickly became apparent that the real challenges went much deeper. Behind the website was an organisation grappling with internal silos, disconnected platforms, unclear workflows, and inconsistent communication.

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We realised that AITSL's true potential was limited not by technology, but by how the organisation operated internally and with teachers.

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‍Identifying where the Real Opportunities were

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AITSL's core mission is essential and ambitious-to elevate teaching quality across Australia. However, the digital tools and processes intended to support that mission were inadvertently causing friction for the educators they served and confusion for internal teams.

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While foundational research by a partner agency had identified these issues, AITSL needed more than insights. They needed a strategic partner who could translate those insights into meaningful, lasting change.

Together, we recognised the opportunity to reimagine not just the digital landscape but the entire organisational approach.

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Our Collaborative Approach

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Our proposal was bold but clear: reshape AITSL's ways of working around their most critical stakeholder-the teachers themselves.

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Embedding Human Centred Design

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From day one, we embedded Human Centred Design deeply into the fabric of AITSL's culture. This was never simply a methodology-it became a new organisational mindset. Every decision, design, and solution was tested against a single critical question: “Will this genuinely improve the experience and impact for educators?”

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Creating a True Partnership

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To ensure genuine collaboration, we integrated our teams closely. We established an on-site war room, turning it into a vibrant space for continuous dialogue, co-design, and iteration. AITSL's staff-from executives to frontline team members-were fully engaged throughout the entire journey.

Our joint efforts included interactive workshops, rapid prototyping, continuous feedback loops, and agile development practices. This was not simply about delivering a project; it was about building trust, shared ownership, and a commitment to ongoing improvement.

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Agile and Scalable Delivery

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Our approach to delivery was agile in every sense. We didn’t just talk about sprints-we lived them, prioritising work based on real user value rather than internal politics. Leveraging service design and atomic design principles, we developed modular and scalable solutions that grew alongside AITSL's evolving needs.

Importantly, we also developed an early headless digital asset, ensuring AITSL could maintain flexibility, consistency, and relevance across all platforms, now and into the future.

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The Lasting Transformation

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Immediate and Powerful Results

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The partnership quickly yielded tangible results:

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• Internal administration was reduced significantly freeing up resources.
• Content publishing became faster, smoother, and more consistent.
• Educators enjoyed personalised digital journeys, leading to increased engagement and satisfaction.
• Brand cohesion was strengthened across all touchpoints, building trust externally and internally.
• Cross-team collaboration and alignment replaced departmental silos, fostering a cohesive organisational culture.

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Strategic and Cultural Growth

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Perhaps even more importantly, the work sparked lasting strategic and cultural change at AITSL. Human Centred Design principles became embedded into their DNA, shaping every new project, initiative, and strategy.

Today, digital delivery at AITSL is proactive and strategic. Teams are collaborative and aligned, working together toward clearly defined outcomes. AITSL now launches initiatives confidently and clearly, fully committed to delivering genuine value.

"You didn’t just help us deliver-you changed how we think and work.”

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A Lasting Partnership for Ongoing Success

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This case study isn’t just about a moment in time-it’s about an enduring partnership that continues to evolve. Today, AITSL is an organisation clearly aligned with its mission, strategically equipped to lead and deliver outstanding educational experiences.

Our partnership remains strong, grounded in shared purpose, mutual respect, and an ongoing commitment to excellence.

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This is the kind of transformative partnership we believe in-built on collaboration, trust, and a genuine passion for meaningful change.

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If your organisation is ready for real transformation, we’re here and ready to partner with you.

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