Beyond the build: the value of ongoing digital partnerships

At Spark Digital, we believe the best digital products are built on strong, lasting relationships. While we’re always open to one-off projects, the real value—and impact—comes from long-term collaboration.

Ongoing partnerships give us the opportunity to truly understand your organisation, your users, and your goals. That insight leads to smarter decisions, better solutions, and alignment that grows as your needs evolve.

Digital products don’t stand still—they grow, adapt, and improve. Whether it’s refining user experience, rolling out new features, or keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes, we’re there every step of the way. Not just as a service provider, but as a strategic partner.

With time comes efficiency. We get to know your systems, your preferences, and your roadmap—so things move faster, run smoother, and deliver more consistent results.

Ultimately, long-term partnerships build trust, alignment, and shared ownership of success. In an industry defined by change, that kind of stability is a serious advantage. We’re here for the long game—ready to help you launch, grow, and keep evolving.

Re-engaging with long-term clients: a case for smarter, future-ready digital strategy

The case studies below highlight the impact of long-term partnerships with our clients. From first launches to ongoing improvements, these collaborations show what’s possible when we work together over time: smarter strategy, stronger results, and digital products that keep evolving with the business.

Learning with FASD: secondary school expansion

In 2021–2022, Spark Digital partnered with The University of Sydney’s the Matilda Centre to create the Learning with FASD website—an initiative of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Education Resources project. Targeted at primary school teachers and principals, the site was developed to raise awareness of FASD and provide practical resources to support educators in the classroom. Over the next two years, we continued to collaborate with the team, expanding the site to include additional content such as communication strategies, factsheets, and webinar pages.

In early 2024, the Matilda Centre secured new funding to extend the website’s reach to secondary schools. This next phase aims to equip secondary educators with tailored resources that help them better understand and support students with FASD. As part of this expansion, seven new resources—from videos to factsheets and teaching guides—were developed and launched to the public in March 2025.

Our long-standing relationship with the Matilda Centre and deep familiarity with the Learning with FASD platform allowed us to hit the ground running. Rather than starting from scratch, we built on existing knowledge, leveraging experience to inform smarter decisions and future-proof solutions. This kind of continued collaboration not only streamlines development, it also creates space for innovation and long-term impact.

Re-engaging with clients who know and trust our work reinforces our belief in building partnerships, not just projects. These ongoing relationships offer valuable insight into evolving needs, helping us craft digital products that adapt and grow over time.

Phoenix Australia – Solar

Recognised as the Australian National Centre for Excellence in Post-traumatic Mental Health, Phoenix Australia identified a critical need for a specialised tool to support the mental health of firefighters. With funding secured for this initiative, the goal was to develop a mobile app based on the Skills fOr Life Adjustment and Resilience (SOLAR) program. Phoenix Australia initially approached Spark Digital to co-design an independent mental health mobile app in May 2021.

With monitoring and an integrated stepped care approach to early intervention and treatment, this program is tailored for survivors of disasters or traumatic events who are grappling with distress or adjustment challenges.

The app’s development leveraged the expertise of practitioners in trauma and disaster mental health, focusing on providing firefighters with a resource to effectively manage stress and gain control after distressing events.

 Spark Digital developed an app with stress and physical health modules tailored for firefighters post-trauma.

Its innovative design includes internal randomisation to main or control versions of the app, enabling a double-blind Randomised Control Trial (RCT). Integration with REDCap via unique participant codes streamlined data collection and progress tracking to assess impact and effectiveness.

 After the original app’s success, a new project began in late 2021 to trial a mobile version designed for female military veterans. The app was adapted to this group, using only the SOLAR component of the app and omitting a control condition. Illustrations were revised to show diverse skin tones and body types, and to better reflect the target audience by softening depictions of strenuous activities.

Text was updated with veteran- and female-specific content, including physical and mood-boosting suggestions. Several screens were removed, and new features were added to improve usability.

Minds Together

In June 2022, we were pleased to be approached by Everymind, a national institute under NSW Health with a strong track record in mental health and suicide prevention. Everymind was looking for a creative and forward-thinking digital partner to lead the design and development of a long-term web platform, with the potential to evolve over the next 3–5 years and beyond.

Minds Together is a program designed to support family members and friends who are caring for or supporting someone experiencing mental ill-health or suicidal distress, in two programs, one for carers of people who had attempted suicide and one for carers of paramedics. These support people often play a critical role in a person’s recovery, yet they themselves are frequently overlooked.

A key priority for the project was collaboration—Everymind sought a partner who could work closely with their communications and leadership teams through regular meetings, updates, and shared planning. The intention was for their communications team to have full access to the CMS, allowing them to manage most content updates internally following the initial build.

Everymind sought a partner that would bring both strategic and creative thinking to the table, with the flexibility to adapt as the program grows.

Our role was to bring this important initiative to life through a digital platform that’s engaging, empathetic, and accessible. Our process included co-designing the platform with lived experience advisors, crafting inclusive content, and building a digital experience that is both practical and emotionally supportive.

In 2024 the Suicide Attempt program was launched and in 2025 we were re-engaged by Everymind to create a more targeted focus on service and support for specific states (ACT and NSW). These ongoing updates will help move the program forward, with continuous feedback guiding its evolution. Our goal is to ensure the platform remains relevant and useful—empowering everyday people with the tools and knowledge they need to support others, while also looking after their own wellbeing. We’re proud to contribute to a program that aims to make a meaningful difference for individuals, families, and communities across Australia. The partnership aligns well with our shared focus on supporting mental wellbeing in the community.

Final thoughts

Ultimately, long-term partnerships build more than just trust—they foster deep alignment, mutual understanding, and a shared commitment to achieving lasting success. In an industry where change is constant and challenges can emerge overnight, having a stable, collaborative relationship becomes a true competitive edge. The success stories we’ve seen from long-standing client relationships speak for themselves: when we work together over time, we don’t just hit targets—we create momentum, unlock new opportunities, and adapt as the landscape shifts. Our focus is on building meaningful, lasting connections—so we can support your journey not just today, but as your needs and ambitions grow.

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