Providing strategic communication for a major Defence workforce transformation
Strategic communication
Change management
Video production
Graphic design
Challenge
When Military Personnel Division (MPD) was established, it undertook a major workforce transformation overhauling systems, processes and policies simultaneously, across four service cultures and an intergenerational ADF workforce the internal team needed two things from the outset: a robust communications strategy and the surge capacity to deliver it.
Approach
RD Consulting partnered with MPD from the beginning of the transformation, working alongside the Division’s team. We started with strategy collaborating with senior leadership to build the communication plan that served as the backbone of the entire program and connected six workstreams into a coherent, prioritised and adaptable communications effort.
Then we delivered across every workstream it covered: intranet redevelopment, animated explainer videos, a live-streamed webinar series, a new visual identity and a digital transformation communications campaign and more.
Impact
The program delivered across every workstream over two years and delivered 29 videos, an 80%+ intranet content reduction reducing pages from 700+ to 135, 400+ live webinar attendees and process infographics, fact sheets and quick reference guides being accessed on average 200 times a week. It gave MPD the capacity and the strategy to communicate through a complex period of change consistently, credibly and at scale.
Our lead on this project Madeline Bonfini was recently recognised with an Australian Defence Magazine 30 Under 30 Award for her leadership on the program.
It gave MPD the capacity and the strategy to communicate through a complex period of change consistently, credibly and at scale.
More of our work with MPD
Facilitating two-way engagement through a live-stream webinar series for the Australian Defence Force
As the Military Personnel Division (MPD) introduced new policies, processes, and systems to an ADF workforce of 80,000 people, one-way communication wasn’t enough.
Driving digital adoption through strategic change communication
As the Military Personnel Division (MPD) introduced new policies, processes, and systems to an ADF workforce of 80,000 people, one-way communication wasn’t enough.
Creating a visual identity for a new Division within the Department of Defence
When the Military Personnel Division (MPD) was established in July 2023, it brought all human resources functions across Navy, Army and Air Force together under one roof for the first time. It was a landmark change, and it needed to look like one.
Six branches. One new Division. No single source of truth.
When the Military Personnel Division (MPD) was established in July 2023 bringing Navy, Army, Air Force and enabling support HR branches together under one Division, its intranet didn’t reflect the change.
Simplifying complex processes into content the workforce can understand
The Military Personnel Division (MPD) manages complex career management processes for Australia’s entire ADF workforce. As those processes changed and evolved, the Division faced a persistent challenge: how do you help thousands of sailors, soldiers, and aviators and their commanders genuinely understand multi-step, policy-heavy processes without relying on the lengthy documents?
Simplifying complex processes with animated videos
Australian Defence Force personnel needed a clear and engaging way to communicate new human resources processes to a diverse, multigenerational workforce. These processes were often complex, involved multiple stakeholders and were prone to misunderstandings.