The Shark Cage® — Live to eLearning Conversion
How we translated a 2-day live practitioner training into a scalable, self-paced eLearning course on LearnWorlds – built for trauma-informed practice.
The client
Ursula Benstead is an Australian psychologist, clinical supervisor, and trainer with over 30 years of experience in complex trauma, family violence, and sexual assault. She is the creator of The Shark Cage®, a five-step, evidence-informed framework that helps practitioners support women who have experienced repeated family, domestic, and/or sexual violence.
Ursula has trained thousands of helping professionals across Australia and internationally.
Websites:
The challenge
The two-day Foundational Practitioner Training had a strong reputation but a structural ceiling. Live delivery capped capacity, geography limited attendance, and every session required Ursula’s direct time. Zoom expanded reach but time zones remained a barrier. Demand was outpacing capacity, and agencies needed faster access to skill up their staff.
The goal was to build an online version that preserved the depth and personal voice of the live experience while making it available on demand, globally.
Our approach
We partnered with Ursula to translate the two-day training into a self-paced online course on a custom-configured LearnWorlds platform, built to feel like an extension of The Shark Cage® brand.
Using our ADDIE process, we mapped the live program against learning objectives and audience needs, then designed the course to follow the proven arc of the live training. We leaned into Ursula’s natural facilitation style with direct-to-camera video rather than heavily produced content. Each section includes short video introductions, practical demonstrations, guided reflections, and knowledge quizzes. On completion, learners receive a downloadable CPD certificate.
We set up the LearnWorlds LMS and handed over with training so Ursula can manage enrolments and operations independently.
The outcome
The Shark Cage® Foundational Practitioner Training is now live and globally accessible at thesharkcage.learnworlds.com.
The project delivered:
- An 8-hour self-paced eLearning course equivalent to the 2-day live training
- A professional LearnWorlds platform ready for immediate enrolments
- SCORM-ready content owned outright by Ursula
- A CPD completion certificate for practitioners
The course is a scalable commercial asset that extends the reach of 30 years of expertise to more practitioners, and ultimately more clients, than live delivery alone could reach.
Duration
This project spanned over a 4-month period.
Tool
LearnWorlds LMS, Articulate Rise, Adobe Creative Suite, CANVA
Delivery Method
eLearning (self-paced)
Objective
To convert the 2-day Shark Cage® live practitioner training into a self-paced, 8-hour online course accessible to counsellors, social workers, and family violence practitioners worldwide.
Learning Strategies
Short video demonstrations; Guided reflections; Section knowledge quizzes
Deliverables
Self-paced eLearning course (8 hrs); Completion certificate; LearnWorlds LMS setup and configuration
Testimonial
“I knew I needed to create a learn on demand option for The Shark Cage Foundational Practitioner training. Agencies wanted to access the training immediately to skill up staff to deliver Shark Cage interventions in group and individual contexts in a timely way. After spending a considerable amount of time trying to create an e-course myself, I realised I did not have the skill set needed to build a professional, polished and engaging product. Fortunately, the talented folk at Hungry Minds did. I would highly recommend Hungry Minds to anyone considering developing an e-course”
