The First Lift: Redefining Performance in the Construction Sector

Mike Shipton: Aubrey, congratulations on wrapping up the pilot cohort. Reflecting on where we started, what were the biggest lessons from the pilot in terms of what you expected—and what surprised you?

Aubrey Stothers: Thanks, Mike. Going into the pilot, we knew we had to be prepared to pivot. Buildsafe had a fantastic high-level concept, but we needed to test how it actually landed on the ground with the crews.

We built a foundational framework across 12 weeks, but as I got to know the participants across different branches, we adjusted the tail end of the delivery in real-time. We teased out the topics that had high engagement, like crew communication, practical safety ownership, and financial literacy, and trimmed back elements that weren’t hitting the mark.

The biggest surprise was how different each branch culture was. Running three back-to-back cohorts across different locations showed us that leadership styles heavily influence how quickly a team adopts new ideas. Some branches embraced it on day one; others needed more trust-building.

Key Pilot Insight:

• Initial Duration: 12 Weeks ➔ Refined to: 10 Weeks
• Delivery Style: Shifted from manual-based reading to 80% interactive scenarios & micro-learning
• Primary Outcome: Accelerated installer sign-offs in under two weeks of the official rollout

Mike Shipton: What was the immediate feedback from the team members who completed that first run? Where did you see the most significant personal growth?

Aubrey Stothers: Increased ownership, accountability, and practical safety awareness. The guys told us directly that they felt far more confident in their daily duties and understood how their individual roles connected back to the broader Buildsafe systems.

Beyond safety compliance, we saw huge jumps in crew culture and communication. They learned how to give constructive feedback, look after their mates, and run an efficient truck. When you give workers clear pathways and show genuine interest in their growth, the penny drops.

Mike Shipton: Scaling a program across a national business with over 600 staff isn’t easy. How did you ensure the rest of the branches didn’t feel left out while nine specific trucks participated in the pilot?

Aubrey Stothers: That was an unexpected challenge early on. You had senior crew members looking over the fence asking, “Hey, what about me?” We realised quickly that the messaging had to be fully inclusive.

To fix that, I initiated weekly mentoring sessions with the Branch Managers to build their capacity to coach, mentor, and offer pastoral care. I also started running whole-of-branch toolboxes. We shared snippets of First Lift with the remaining crews so everyone understood that this capability roadmap was coming for them too.

That combination – mentoring managers, training the First Lift crews, and engaging the wider branch – created what I can only describe as a “halo effect.” The entire branch atmosphere shifted. Smiles came back, communication opened up, and crews started backing each other up across job sites.

“Rather than one crew staying until 6:30 PM to finish a tough scaffold install, another crew that finished early would remote over to assist. They finished together as a team, and everyone went home safely on time.” – Aubrey Stothers, Program Facilitator

Mike Shipton: That cross-truck collaboration is a massive win for site productivity and worker well-being. How did you adapt the learning materials to suit how our installers actually learn?

Aubrey Stothers: Traditional classroom education simply doesn’t work for this cohort; these people learn by doing. They don’t want to sit behind a desk looking at spreadsheets or dense manuals.

We shifted to a multi-tiered, interactive approach:

• Micro-learning via SMS: We sent three short text messages weekly—a Monday morning empowerment message, a mid-week core takeaway, and a Friday appreciation message acknowledging their hard work.
• Gamified physical warm-ups: We introduced dynamic movement drills using rugby balls before shifts. While having fun, they are actually mobilising their spines, warming up their hamstrings, and preventing manual handling injuries.
• On-site peer instruction: Instead of lecturing on manual handling, I ask a leading hand to instruct their crew on safe lifting techniques in real time, followed by immediate feedback.

Mike Shipton: Now that we’ve launched the refined 10-week program with the second cohort, what are the primary KPIs and metrics you are tracking?

Aubrey Stothers: We’ve tightened the program duration from 12 weeks to 10 weeks, allowing us to continue building momentum and delivering more cohorts in Queensland. 

We also introduced Individual Development Plans (IDPs) from Day 1. Every participant gets a clear visual map detailing their skill set, installer manual progress, truck license eligibility, and assessment pathways.

The acceleration has been mind-blowing. During the entire 12-week pilot, we had two team members complete their installer manuals. In just the first two weeks of this new 10-week cohort, we’ve already had six team members complete their installer manuals and signed off our first new accredited installer!

Mike Shipton: Looking ahead over the next 12 to 24 months, what is your long-term vision for First Lift as Buildsafe continues its national expansion?

Aubrey Stothers: The ultimate goal is total integration across every branch in Australia. We want a 100 per cent completion rate for installer manuals (competency progression) and to ensure every eligible team member is supported to obtain their medium rigid truck licence.

Cycle 1 taught us an enormous amount about what works, what needs refining and how different teams respond to the program. Cycle 2 is another important opportunity to capture those learnings, strengthen the toolkit and really nail the framework.

Our ambition is not to create something that generates excitement for a few months and then loses momentum. We want to build something robust, repeatable and scalable, something that can stand the test of time and ultimately be rolled out across the business with confidence.

We are also exploring future technologies, such as short, 40-second video modules sent directly to smartphones and interactive AI-driven learning tools, to support onboarding for new hires from Day 1.

First Lift isn’t just about preparing people for work; it’s about preparing them for life. When you teach people how to communicate clearly, manage their finances, and stay calm under pressure, they take those skills home to their families. That is how Buildsafe continues to lead the construction industry from the front.