Customer Story: Dream Big Australia

Dream Big Australia was founded on a deeply personal insight. Jessica Kahl was the sole female graduate in her civil engineering cohort. That experience — and the challenges that came with it — led to a mission: create a more inclusive STEAM environment for women, particularly those from regional or disadvantaged backgrounds.

The STEAM Ahead Program was already delivering. But the team identified a gap between the potential of their model and what the delivery infrastructure could actually support. Online content, live webinars and mentoring sessions were happening — but not in a connected, trackable way that could scale.

A program built around connection

Working with Tribal Habits, Dream Big Australia restructured the STEAM Ahead Program around a weekly blended model with three connected elements: an online module for foundational knowledge, a live webinar for deeper exploration, and tailored mentoring for personalised growth.

A different industry expert was introduced each week, bringing fresh perspectives and diverse content to the cohort. The platform consolidated this into standardised online modules that participants could work through at their own pace before coming together for the live sessions.

Shared polls and anonymous discussion features were built into the program to foster community and give participants a safe space to share experiences — a deliberately designed element for a cohort navigating industries where they were often underrepresented.

Tracking was built in from the start — event bookings, feedback collection, behavioural shift measurement and certification all managed through the platform.

Results that went beyond the numbers

The outcomes were exceptional. Participants’ self-assessed capability scores improved dramatically across the board. 96% reported heightened capability and confidence after completing the program. 95% felt they had built strong industry connections — a figure that had been significantly lower before the program began.

Beyond the data, participants moved. Several secured job interviews during the program. A notable number landed roles in STEAM fields they had previously felt inaccessible to them.

The program won gold at the 2022 LearnX Design Awards — recognition of what a genuinely well-designed blended learning experience can achieve.

Built to keep improving

Feedback from the 2022 cohort directly shaped the 2023 program. Video resources were expanded, content focus was refined, and a new introductory Module 0 was added to set expectations and prime participants from day one. A forum feature was incorporated for deeper collaboration between sessions.

The 2023 cohort of 116 STEAM students reflected the breadth of the program’s reach — over 73% bilingual, 33.6% with prior STEM sector experience, and 54.1% mature-age learners. Modules covering conflict management and team dynamics were standouts, with 93% of participants feeling equipped to handle workplace conflict — skills many immediately applied to university team projects.

For Dream Big Australia, the platform isn’t just a delivery tool. It’s the infrastructure that lets a small, purpose-driven organisation punch well above its weight.