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About

G'day, I'm Matthew.

I work in Learning and Development.
When I'm not working, I like to hike and camp in the Australian bush.  Animals and I get along, too.
Good for the soul. Hiking that is; not this face.
An ancient, enchanted world. The Australian rainforest.
You can keep your Niagara and your Igauzu. Give me this every day.
All hikes are rewarding; some bring spiritual relief.
The 'Swag'. Great for stargazing. Not great in storms.
Yes, that's a Macaw. And yes, he drew blood with those claws.
One of the great joys - being friends with magpies.

Where it began...

...I can't begin to know when.

(Apologies to Mr Neil Diamond).

The year is 1999.

The story of how I started in L&D is not particularly unique. Like many others, my L&D journey began out of necessity. I found myself in a role that required I 'train' others in a new business system and process.
Of course, I knew nothing about training. Or about the system and process come to think of it.
And so, I did what I thought all 'trainers' do - I started building a PowerPoint deck. I thought it was shit hot. Participants just thought it was shit.
A PowerPoint does not equal 'training'.
Yours truly in retrospect

The year is 2006.

I started developing eLearning because the 'training department' didn't want to help me.
I was a Subject Matter Expert (SME) responsible for ensuring that new staff understood a key business process.
I grew tired of delivering the same training in-person every week.
I had heard about this thing called Computer Based Training (CBT) and thought "Yep, that's the answer."
A PowerPoint with buttons does not equal 'training'.
Yours truly in retrospect

Career timeline

A walk down memory lane.

First training gig

1999
New company undergoing a transformation. New systems, new processes, new people. I had no idea what I was doing, but people needed training, so that's what I did. By the 12th training session, I'd stopped crying.

Document it!

2002
Around this time I started actively translating my subject matter experience into guides and playbooks. Procedures and work instructions. Learning aids and infographics. Capturing knowledge and sharing it effectively became a foundation of my work.

Have passport, will train

2005
Another company undergoing transformation on a global scale. For three years, I travelled Australia and internationally designing and facilitating training in document management and project management. A truly transformational experience that changed many lives.

Instructional Design is a thing?

2009
It may sound strange, but I only learned proper Instructional Design (ID) about 10 years after I needed to! I took an opportunity to be mentored in the craft, a decision which accelerated my skillset development beyond my imagination.

The conference session

2012
Having thoroughly enjoyed my time at a major eLearning conference (eLearning DevCon) in Salt Lake City the previous year, I submitted a proposal to speak at the next one - which was accepted. 'Will you marry me?' was the result - a 45 minute exploration of learner engagement through personal storytelling.

Intro to freelancing

2013
A redundancy forced my hand into the delightfully unstable world of freelancing in 2013. I have fond memories of working collaboratively with clients in the two years that followed, delivering some of the most creative work of my career.

The Refresh Guy is born

2014
I joined a certain financial services organisation, providing specialist eLearning design experience (and a shitload of resilience) in refreshing dozens of products in their massive compliance catalogue. Unlike other designers who prefer to work 'greenfield', I like the challenge and opportunity of 'brownfield' refresh work - hence the moniker 'The Refresh Guy'.

Simulation stimulation

2016
A stint with a certain iconic aeromedical organisation provided me with great opportunity to immerse myself in simulation. This learning has proven valuable ever since, enabling me to think differently about adult learning and the importance of psychological safety.

The pandemic years

2020
The pandemic forced L&D teams to rethink everything. I was working in the public service at the time and spent the next few years creating opportunities to help clients deliver better learning experiences for their teams. So much facilitation...so many rewarding moments.

The Refresh Guy returns

2023
Hired to do something completely different in 2023, I somehow found myself once again living in Refreshland, transforming a catalogue of eLearning products into contemporary learning solutions. Come to think of it, in 2026, nothing much has changed other than the logo on the products...

[Your name here]

2026
I would love to work with a new client in creating something that makes us proud. Let's do it.

Frequently asked questions

If you don't find the answer to your question here, contact me.

General

I offer my services in different ways depending on project scope and client need:

  1. Hourly rate - where the scope is uncertain or the work is ad-hoc or on-demand.
  2. Fixed price - where the scope is clearly defined and the risks are known.
  3. Staff engagement - engaged as a PAYG employee or contractor, embedded within an organisation as 'staff'.

I have worked for clients where a combination of all three have applied at different times.

I do NOT offer my freelance services on a retainer basis. I've found this isn't effective for either myself or the client.

My hourly rate is very competitive in the Australian marketplace.

Yes. The fundamentals of good learning design apply whether you are in Brisbane, Boston or Budapest.

Yes, I can (and have throughout my career) but I only accept one such engagement at a time.

I am open to roles based in South-East Queensland and prefer to work remotely at least 50% of the time.

Yes I can, depending on the terms of the engagement.

Yes, I can. I have spent my career mentoring and developing others. 

I have previously delivered bespoke training in:

  • Instructional design
  • Authoring tools (e.g. Storyline)
  • Presentation skills
  • Facilitation skills
Design

The short answer is: "it depends".

The longer answer is: "let's talk about what you need."

I've been designing learning solutions for over 20 years.  That experience has given me a strong appreciation for how long things take, and the risks associated with product design.

My estimating skills are battle-tested.  Organisations have built teams and programs based on my advice.

Yes, I practice what I term 'ethical use of AI' in learning design.

I wrote a blog post about it.

Essentially, when it comes to AI:

  • I'm transparent about how I use AI
  • I verify AI outputs
  • I maintain accountability for decisions and outcomes

AI is a tool in my kit, and my skill is knowing when to use it.

View the product list on the Services page.

If you're thinking of a product that is not listed, please get in touch.

If I don't design it myself, I probably know someone who does.

The short answer to this question is that my process is based on a single word - clarity.

I have developed a range of design processes during my career to suit different contexts, product types, constraints and outcomes. My skill is knowing when to use each one.

Let's talk about what you need first, and then I'm happy to discuss the best process for your requirements.

Every project starts with a conversation about what you need.

If we decide to work together, I will lead you through a process.

Everyone involved will know who, what, when, where, why and how.

Matthew Searle

My mission is simple – to leave people more confident and capable than how I find them.
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Yes, I am currently available for freelance work.
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