Case study

National Training Register (NTR) Enhancement

Overview

From 200+ stakeholder conversations and 400+ survey responses, I translated pain points into a clear and functional user experiences. I developed search patterns and implemented a WCAG-aligned design system for the new National Training Register. The result was faster discovery and consumption of NRT data, clearer workflows for authors, and a scalable foundation for the CMS, consultation and web services.

Client

Department of Education and Workplace Relations (DEWR)

Partner

HSD/Atturra

Role

Lead Product / UI/UX (IC + Strategy)

Scope

New NTR Website

Replacement for training.gov.au with modern UX/UI, responsive (mobile friendly) and WCAG accessible.

Enhanced TPCMS

Improved trainging package management & workflow for training packages through Training Package Central administration dashboard.

Consultation Portal

Created new portal + integrated workflow (requirements gated by policy).

Downstream Data Support

Improved technical support and data consistency for web services.

Discovery & research

Inputs included 200+ stakeholder conversations, 400+ survey responses, DEWR stakeholder mapping, and the draft TPOF.

Website users (TGA)

  • Confused about purpose and navigation
  • Non-intuitive search; outdated UI
  • Limited tool/file functionality
  • No mobile support

TPCMS & VETNet

  • TPCMS: inefficient, error-prone processes
  • VETNet: difficult to find files

Web Services & Consultation

  • Data errors/inconsistencies
  • Opaque consultation processes

Users & stakeholders

Industry Clusters RTOs Regulators Policy Teams Data Consumers

UI Design

Early UI focuses on modernising TGA: streamlined look & feel, improved navigation and search, clearer content layout, and on-screen explanations (alerts/flags). As the project progressed, the following phases were to enhance the TPC (Training Package Central) administration dashboard to manage the authoring of training packages.

Foundations

  • Figma with DEWR EDS (Enterprise Design System) UI kit
  • Custom components where EDS lacked parity
  • Responsive + WCAG 2.1 AA

Artefacts

Constraints

  • 3rd-party UIs (AuthorIT, Qualtrics, SharePoint) limited visual styling
  • Consultation Portal visuals pending policy clarity

Challenges & tensions

Policy & governance

  • TPOF reforms limited consultation on workflow design
  • Unclear integration path with whole-of-government platforms vs. federated VET responsibilities
  • Data scope depends on States/Territories and regulators

Discovery recommendations highlighted

  • Co-design TP development processes on TGA with stakeholders
  • Define NTR purpose, data scope, and public availability up-front

Outcomes

The design phase delivered foundations that modernise training.gov.au and set up the broader NTR ecosystem (TPC) for scale, accessibility and transparency, while reducing cognitive load for key user groups.

Website (training.gov.au)

  • Modern responsive UI; clearer UX and navigation
  • Improved search, filters and comparison
  • Status indicators for products under review
  • Expanded help, alerts/flags and on-screen tips
  • Downloadable reports; direct Companion Volumes

Data & web services

  • Structured training product data (codified fields)
  • Pathway to RESTful APIs for downstream systems
  • Improved reliability and technical support

Authoring & governance

  • Enhanced TPCMS workflow foundations
  • Consistent patterns; WCAG 2.1 AA alignment
  • Clear roles/permissions & authentication paths

User-centred evidence

  • 200+ stakeholder conversations; 400+ survey responses
  • User Journey (8 groups), personas & function overview
  • Lo-fi wires, sitemap and 347+ UI artefacts (Figma)

Delivery

Design delivered

EA principles & requirements, User Journey + personas, function overview, sitemap, lo-fi wires and 347+ UI artefacts.

What this enabled

Consistent, accessible patterns (WCAG 2.1), scalable IA, and clear auth/roles to support integration and policy-aligned workflows.

Services delivered

Build modernised site, enhance TPCMS flows, define consultation workflows post-TPOF, and modernise web services/APIs.

Links

National Training Register enhancement project
Contact the project