Virtual world for real-life training

A Brisbane-based virtual reality education company says business is booming as COVID-19 encourages more firms to move to the world of VR to train staff.

New World Enterprises chief executive Michael O'Reilly.

A Brisbane-based virtual reality education company says business is booming as COVID-19 encourages more firms to move to the VR world to train staff.

Next World Enterprises said it has experienced growth of 500 per cent over the past year as local councils, mining firms and construction groups sought a safer and more cost effective way to train staff.

Next World chief executive Michael O’Reilly said the company expected to have 100 customers by the end of the year joining existing clients including John Holland Group, Burke Shire Council, Urban Utilities and The Iconic.

“It has really taken off in the last couple of months particularly as COVID has meant that people could not be sent off site to get training done,” said Mr O’Reilly.

Burke Shire Council turned to virtual reality training during the height of the pandemic with “nobody in and nobody out” of the remote local government area, approximately 450

kilometres north of Mount Isa.

New World Enterprises chief executive Michael O'Reilly.

Mr O’Reilly predicted that in the next decade VR training would replace traditional e-learning or risky on the job training.

“E-learning in its present form just does not cut it,” said Mr O’Reilly. “You get eight times better retention with VR because it can replicate the workplace exactly.”

VR training provided by Next World could include anything from the safe operation of a chainsaw to how to use a fire extinguisher. “VR is not just about games these days,” he said. “It can be used in medical services and health and safety compliance. Rather than just observing from afar the person is more engaged.”

In the mining industry, training for real-life blasting experiences often involves taking workers up to 3,000 feet underground, and the training can be tedious, costly, and dangerous.

The start-up raised $1.3 million this year as it rolled out off-the-shelf training covering working in confined spaces, fire safety, excavator safety, hazard detection and heights safety. The company is planning a further capital raising of $20 million as it seeks to become a “unicorn” or billion dollar startup.