Transforming Forensic Medicine Education with Moodle Workplace

Monash University

Overview

The Department of Forensic Medicine (DFM) at Monash University, based at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) in Southbank, is a world-leading centre that blends education, research, and casework. As part of the School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, DFM prepares future forensic practitioners through undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD programs, including the region’s only Master of Forensic Medicine.

In partnership with Victoria’s primary forensic service provider, the department contributes to vital casework such as aged care deaths, post-mortem CT, and coronial investigations.

This case study explores how DFM at Monash University partnered with mylearningspace to implement Moodle Workplace as a scalable, program-wide learning platform.

““Course administration used to take hours of our week. With the streamlined tools now in place, I can focus more on teaching and mentoring students rather than managing spreadsheets and manual enrolments. It has changed the way we teach and interact with learners. The customisation capabilities have been a game-changer. We’ve been able to retain DFM’s unique identity across our courses, which has made the transition seamless for both staff and students.””

Samuel Gillard, Education Designer

From Campus to Continuity

Before 2020, DFM’s learning culture was predominantly campus-based, with face-to-face teaching forming the core of its delivery. While effective, this model faced significant disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing a rapid pivot to online learning.

Critical Challenges

Despite a strong commitment to learning, the organisation faced several challenges with their previous systems:

Continuity at risk: Without an online-first model, course delivery could be severely compromised during events such as pandemics.
Accessibility gaps: Reaching practitioners in rural and remote communities was difficult under a campus-focused model.
Scalability concerns: DFM needed a robust digital platform that could safeguard teaching against future disruptions while supporting growth

Moodle Workplace Implementation

DFM’s collaboration with mylearningspace was marked by hands-on support and a phased approach:

1. Developement environment

Courses were customised to align with DFM’s identity and teaching priorities.

2. integration and setup

Moodle Workplace was seamlessly connected with existing systems for smooth operations.

3. Staff Onboarding & Training

mylearningspace provided comprehensive onboarding, training, and a dedicated support ticket system to ensure staff confidence.

4. Testing & Refinement

A sandbox environment allowed staff to explore new versions before release, minimising disruption and encouraging feedback.

results and impact

Staff reported saving 2–3 hours per course per week through streamlined course administration.
Students in rural and remote locations now have equal access to high-quality forensic medicine education.
A centralised platform ensures unified standards of knowledge across all stakeholders.
Reporting tools enabled educators to make evidence-based decisions, boosting engagement, retention, and satisfaction.

Looking ahead

Looking forward, DFM plans to build on this foundation with advanced learning analytics dashboards, giving educators real-time insights into student engagement and outcomes. The team is also actively researching AI to streamline course development and enhance student learning experiences.

By embracing innovation with Moodle Workplace and mylearningspace, DFM has secured not only teaching continuity but also the flexibility and reach required to deliver world-leading forensic medicine education into the future.

Create your own learningspace

We combine deep Moodle expertise, comprehensive services, and a commitment to sustainable growth to empower your organisation and your learners. Our team partners with each organisation to meet their unique needs, improve outcomes, and provide support at every step.  We are focused on creating unique learner-centric platforms backed by learning science that increase adoption, retention, engagement and deliver on learning outcomes. As a Certified Premium Moodle Partner, we have a successful proven track record of implementing Moodle solutions for both small and multi-national organisations.