crime-story

Are you asking the right question?

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:48:46 GMT

What is success?

Strive not to be a success, but to be of value.

A CEO of a mid-level Australia–New Zealand company once asked me how he could be more successful in his role.

“I’ve got KPIs coming out of my woohoo,” he said,
“but I can’t see how I’m supposed to lead this team and tick every box.”

So I asked him a simple question.

�� What does success look like?

“Targets. KPIs. Customer satisfaction. Revenue. Profitability.”

�� And how do you achieve that?

“By making sure my team hits their targets.”

�� So is this about you, or the team?

Silence.
“Both,” he finally said.

“But the question was about your success.”

That’s where most leaders get stuck.

When your definition of success depends on others, it becomes fragile. Frustrating. Exhausting.

So change the question.

Albert Einstein put it best:
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”

After 15 years as a detective, 15 years as a high school teacher, and now as a business owner, I’ve learned one thing:

No one succeeds alone.

No detective ever solved a crime by themselves.
The detective is often the last person involved—relying on first responders, witnesses, forensic experts, scientists, and legal teams.

My role was usually the conductor, not the star.

Leadership works the same way.

The higher you climb, the more your success depends on how well you support others.

So I stopped asking:
❌ How do I succeed?

And started asking:
✅ How can I be of value?

To my team.
To my clients.
To the outcome we’re trying to achieve.

When people feel supported, trained, trusted, and valued—results take care of themselves.

If you’re leading a team and something isn’t clicking, maybe the answer isn’t another KPI.

Maybe it’s a better question.

How can I be of value?

You are more than your occupation.

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:07:05 GMT

What's your contribution?

I was hiding from my previous occupation and wanted to run from my past. None of us can do that. We can only write new chapters so I retrained as a High School English teacher.

I’m sure some of you are actively questioning my current mental health knowing that I went from Policing to High School teaching, but it is a calling.

So when I first walked into a school after graduating twenty years earlier, my knees were shaking, my back was soaked in sweat and I was ready to turn and run. Wild animals could smell my fear, a good analogy for a year 10 class. Everything I had read in the text book went straight out the window. Classroom Behaviour management - was that a theory or a dilemma?

So there I was, Like the scene in a western film, the class fell silent. The piano froze and the bar-keep stopped wiping glasses. All eyes on me. My stiff movements would have creaked had they not been soaked in sweat. I made eye contact with each student as I inched to the centre of the room. A former colleague in the K9 unit always warned me against staring the police dogs in the eye…it was a challenge and couldn’t guarantee my safety.

In my left hand was my trusty lesson plan, left for me by the teacher who had called in sick…or maybe worse. The lesson plan was the most basic set of instructions for how to occupy them for at least 3 minutes out of the hour.. It should have had dot dot dot, dash dash dash, for if or when I needed saving. Maybe I was overreacting…maybe they really did want to spend an hour quietly appreciating the Iambic Pentameter and rhythmic nuances of 14th century Shakespearean tragedies..

They stared. They waited. Who would flinch first.

“Sir, do you even know what you're doing?”....It was on!

Weapons drawn…no gun anymore, just a whiteboard marker and a lesson plan doomed to fail. In a flash I remembered that great Australian attribute of ingenuity. Make do with limited resources, use what nature has provided and do the best like all of our predecessors. Back yourself.

“Shakespeare?” I offered…

A pause, then the same challenging voice started a cacophony of echoing support…”It doesn’t make sense, we don't need it, why do we need to study this rubbish…Its 400 years old, it has no impact, the writing makes no sense, why should we have to interpet…..

The whiteboard marker held firm, I turned my back on the threat and wrote a scrambled sentence.

Letters missing, largely illegible, upper and lower case mixed. Then I dragged the side of my hand through the final letters, smudging what was already difficult to solve.

I turned back and dropped the whiteboard marker on the table in front of me.

“That piece of writing was all I had from a ransom demand after a 20 year old woman and her baby were kidnapped. I was a detective in the worst parts of Sydney. You’ve got the rest of this lesson to decipher the message and save these people. Go”.

60 minutes flew by and they wouldn't leave the room. It was lunchtime, but they wouldn’t stop. I revealed how decoding Shakespearean text was an important part of learning, and life. It’s just a matter of thinking about where else you can use those skills. I realised that I had a lot more to offer than just my 4 year teaching degree. It didn’t matter that I was a former Detective, I could have been anything. It was about listening, then using what I had. I gave something of myself. Something personal. Invited them into my world. I shared ‘me’.

Like so many of us who change our ‘occupational identity’ which is a huge part of the Australian identity, I didn’t know what else there was for me. I realised that everything I had done in my life was centred on communication. I talked down armed offenders. I consoled victims, was a specialist child interviewer, negotiated workplace reform, and now I took words from books and made it real. Communication was my role. My contribution.

What's yours?

Unity is the enemy of division

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 02:56:39 GMT

Australia Day Ambassador Key Note Speech

Unity stands as the opposite of division. Whether in work, family, or community, Australia thrives on this principle. This message was central to my Australia Day Ambassador Speech.

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with incredible teams. In the late 1990s, I was part of the Cabramatta Detectives and the wider Police station. Those days were filled with joy as we shared coffee, stories, and engaged in proactive and reactive policing during challenging times. It was also the most multicultural workplace I had ever experienced. Despite facing an unfounded Ministerial Complaint from the local Mayor for 'racism' due to my actions against individuals who committed violence against children at a sporting event, I cherished every moment in that community. My defence against that complaint was based on unity, not division.

My colleagues represented a diverse array of backgrounds: Greek, Italian, Serbian, Croatian, Chinese, Hong Kong, Egyptian, Maltese, Macedonian, Vietnamese, German, and Dutch—truly a melting pot of Australian culture.

We were all Australians, united as one team with a shared purpose, appreciating our different contexts and perspectives. Policing reflects society as a whole, and every workplace encounters similar challenges.

Whether your team consists of colleagues, family, a church group, or the broader Australian community, remember that unity stems from understanding, and it stands against division.

CaaS - Crime as a Service

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:38:56 GMT

Air Tasker style Crime revolution impacting our vulnerable youth.

Vulnerable and disenfranchised young people are increasingly targeted by organised crime. In addition to that they are influenced to become Crime as a Service operators in the same way that the gig-economy thrives.

Increasing numbers of our young are ready for radicalisation. Radicalisation is a term that has recently been linked to terrorist activities, but being a radical means taking a position that is against our social, political, legal norms.

With news today that the NSW Police have discovered a ‘price list’ for hiring criminals to perform certain actions, it will be the start of an increasing wave of criminal activity. Europol has been fighting this ‘dark web’ activation for years, and it poses very real risks for our society.

I’m seeing the complete disconnect between risk and reward. There are significant numbers with such low aspiration and direction that they are ripe for the picking, Charles Dickens wrote about the manipulation of orphans for crime, and we have a large segment of youth who are social orphans.

It was an opportunity to share my Policing and Teaching perspective on the Today Show this morning with Karl Stefanovic. To hear more, see the attached interview.

Why come to you?

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:02:05 GMT

You wanted a unique team experience that comes to you...here it is

Practical Training, Delivered Where You Work

For training to be truly practical , it must be time-efficient and cause minimal disruption to operations.

Travel—whether by private, public, or commercial transport—always has an impact, even within the same city.

Half-day sessions quickly consume an entire day: calls are missed, response times suffer, and clients can be lost. Full-day sessions spill into overtime, followed by hours spent catching up. And when teams have different roles or specialisations, bringing everyone together off-site becomes even more difficult.

So how do you run a workshop or team training session that works the way your business works?
How do you deliver something real, achievable, and effective—not just theory— in your own workplace ?

When Crime Story first began tailoring corporate training events, one question came up immediately:

“Can you come to us?”

Yes.

We Bring the Experience to You

We transform your conference room into a fully immersive crime scene.

Using professional lighting, sound, digitally printed backdrops, and hundreds of interactive exhibits, your workplace becomes a realistic investigation environment—complete with witnesses and live interviews. With four different crime scenes available, the experience can be tailored to your objectives.

There are no physical barriers to participation. Instruction is 100% real-time and face-to-face, with no reliance on weather, transport, parking, traffic, tolls, physical limitations, or IT failures.

From your own desk, participants simply wait for the urgent call over Police Radio—and are summoned to the scene.

What could be easier?

Seamless Setup. Zero Disruption.

We set up the night before and are gone by close of business on the day.
All investigative materials are supplied, including:

Ballistics modelling

Fingerprinting

DNA analysis

Interviewing techniques

Arrest procedures (if required)

Your team focuses on learning—not logistics.

Designed by an Expert in Experiential Learning

With fifteen years as a Detective, a similar career as an English Teacher, and a Master’s degree in Writing and Communication, I specialise in experiential learning .

I design and facilitate hands-on investigations based on real events to lift skill levels across your organisation. From corporate culture and communication, to factual report writing, conversation management, and interviewing, Crime Story delivers a unique learning experience that is immediately applicable.

Participants don’t just learn new skills—they practice them , in the same environment where they will use them every day.

Training that transfers directly to where it matters most:
your workplace.

Make that difference. Call Today

How Investigative Team Building Improves Communication & Collaboration at Work

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 06:18:12 GMT

Picture this: during Monday's team meeting, Sarah from marketing shares an update, but the development team is already looking at their laptops. The conversation becomes transactional. "Just send an email," someone says. This happens weekly, and nothing gets resolved.

For HR and people leaders, these moments signal something deeper than poor meeting etiquette. They reveal fractures in how teams communicate, collaborate, and ultimately perform together.

Traditional team building activities often aim to boost morale, but they rarely address the root causes of communication breakdown. Investigative team building takes a different approach: it focuses on how teams think, communicate, and solve problems together under pressure.

Recognising When Team Building Is Actually Needed

Organisations rarely seek out team building when everything runs smoothly. More often, it becomes necessary when subtle issues begin affecting how teams work together. Recognising these signs early prevents small problems from becoming entrenched structural challenges.

Communication Becomes Purely Transactional

One of the earliest warning signs is when conversations lose depth. Teams share information only when required. Meetings feel flat. People stop challenging ideas or offering input, signalling a loss of trust or psychological safety .

When team members start prefacing contributions with "This might be a stupid question," or stop contributing entirely, the problem has moved beyond surface-level engagement.

Silos Form Between Departments or Individuals

When teams stop collaborating naturally, roles and responsibilities become unclear or disrespected. Work gets duplicated. "Us versus them" language creeps into conversations. Accountability blurs.

For instance, when the finance team starts booking meeting rooms without checking with operations, or when product development launches features without consulting customer service, these aren't isolated incidents. They're symptoms of broken communication channels.

New Teams Struggle to Gel

After periods of growth, restructuring, or leadership change, teams don't always form strong working relationships organically. Meetings feel awkward. Engagement remains low. Newer members struggle to find their place.

Without intervention, these patterns persist for months. What could be a fresh start becomes a missed opportunity.

Meetings Remain Consistently Unproductive

When discussions go off track repeatedly, decisions get revisited, and a few voices dominate the room, deeper collaboration issues exist. These challenges rarely stem from meeting structure. They point to how people listen, communicate, and problem-solve together.

Consider the finance team that spends 45 minutes debating budget allocation, only to revisit the same discussion next week because no one captured the decision or felt confident challenging the most senior person in the room.

Tension Exists Without Obvious Conflict

Sometimes HR senses disengagement, avoidance, or passive resistance without a clear incident to address. People are cordial but distant. These environments benefit from neutral experiences that allow communication patterns to reset without blame.

Performance Plateaus Despite Individual Capability

When capable individuals struggle to deliver results collectively, the issue is often relational rather than skill-based. Projects slow down. Frustration increases. Leaders spend more time mediating than progressing work.

A talented development team, for example, might consistently miss sprint goals not because they lack technical ability, but because they can't align on priorities or communicate blockers effectively.

Periods of Change Strain Communication

Restructures, new strategies, or leadership transitions create uncertainty. Teams may withdraw, hesitate to speak up, or lose alignment. Team building during these moments helps re-establish shared understanding and trust.

Why Traditional Team Building Usually Falls Short

Many traditional activities focus on fun, competition, or physical challenges. While enjoyable, they don't always translate into meaningful workplace change.

Common limitations include:

Dominant personalities take over whilst quieter members disengage
Activities reward speed over clarity and thoughtful communication
Little to no reflection or facilitated learning occurs
Physical challenges exclude team members with varying abilities
The experience feels disconnected from actual work challenges

Teams enjoy the afternoon out, share some laughs, and return to work with the same communication habits they had before. For HR professionals seeking to justify the investment, this creates a credibility gap .

What Investigative Team Building Does Differently

Investigative team building centres on problem-solving rather than performance. Teams receive a scenario, such as a simulated crime scene, requiring them to analyse information, share observations, test assumptions, and make decisions collectively.

The critical difference: success depends entirely on communication and collaboration. No one can "win" alone. No amount of individual brilliance compensates for poor teamwork.

How It Works in Practice

Teams arrive at a crime scene. Physical evidence is scattered. Witness statements contain contradictions. Time is limited.

To solve the case, teams must:

Listen carefully to one another's observations
Articulate findings clearly and precisely
Question assumptions without dismissing colleagues
Manage conflicting viewpoints constructively
Coordinate tasks and roles organically

Because the scenario is unfamiliar and neutral, existing workplace hierarchies often soften. The executive who dominates strategy meetings might defer to the analyst who notices a crucial detail. The quiet team member who rarely speaks up might share the insight that unlocks the case.

New communication dynamics emerge naturally.

Why Crime Scenes Create Psychological Safety

Unlike workplace simulations where mistakes feel personal, investigative scenarios provide distance. Getting the "wrong" answer doesn't reflect on anyone's job performance. This psychological safety encourages:

Risk-taking in contributions
Challenging others' ideas without fear
Admitting confusion or uncertainty
Experimenting with new communication approaches

How Investigative Team Building Improves Real Workplace Communication

Investigative team building creates conditions that mirror workplace challenges without the stakes of real projects. This makes it particularly effective for identifying and improving communication patterns.

Teams Learn to Communicate with Precision

Vague language leads to mistakes quickly in crime scene investigations. "I think it was over there" or "Maybe around lunchtime" doesn't help solve a case.

Teams rapidly learn to be specific: "The broken glass is 2.3 metres from the door" or "The witness statement says 12:47 PM."

This precision transfers directly to workplace communication. After the workshop, team members catch themselves saying "Let's aim for Q2" and rephrase: "We need to deliver by March 15th."

Active Listening Becomes Essential, Not Optional

In investigations, success depends on understanding details shared by others. Missing information costs the team.

When Mark from accounting mentions a discrepancy in timestamps, and Sarah from operations builds on that observation to identify a pattern, the team experiences the value of active listening first-hand.

Teams witness what happens when people don't listen: clues get missed, work gets duplicated, and wrong conclusions emerge.

Collaboration Under Pressure Becomes the Default

Rather than defaulting to individual problem-solving, teams learn to rely on shared input. The scenario demands it.

Initially, teams might split up to tackle different aspects of the investigation independently. They quickly discover this approach fails. Information needs to be synthesised. Perspectives need to be compared. The team that communicates continuously outperforms the team of isolated experts.

This lesson reshapes how teams approach tight deadlines back at work.

Psychological Safety Strengthens Through Shared Challenge

External tasks create space for ideas, concerns, and challenges without the usual workplace dynamics. Junior team members feel comfortable questioning senior colleagues' interpretations. Different departments collaborate without territorial tension.

One finance team reported that their crime scene workshop was the first time in six months that the senior analyst admitted uncertainty about something. This single moment of vulnerability shifted the team's entire dynamic.

Why This Approach Resonates with HR and People Leaders

For HR and People and Culture professionals, investigative team building offers something many traditional activities lack: defensibility.

It positions clearly as:

A communication development exercise grounded in observable behaviours
A collaboration and problem-solving workshop with measurable outcomes
A leadership and decision-making tool that reveals individual strengths
An experiential learning activity aligned with adult learning principles

This framing makes it easier to justify internally, particularly when working with senior leadership or structured development programmes. It also aligns well with organisational values around professionalism, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

Inclusive by Design

Unlike physical team building activities, investigative workshops accommodate diverse abilities and working styles. Success comes from cognitive contribution, not physical capability.

The wheelchair user, the team member with anxiety around heights, and the colleague recovering from an injury all participate on equal footing.

Tangible Outcomes Beyond "Team Bonding"

HR can point to specific skills developed:

Structured information sharing
Evidence-based decision making
Constructive disagreement management
Clear role coordination
Time-sensitive collaboration

These outcomes map directly to performance review criteria and professional development frameworks.

When Investigative Team Building Proves Most Effective

This approach delivers particular value during:

Organisational change: When restructures or new strategies create uncertainty, investigative workshops help teams rebuild trust and communication patterns in a neutral environment.

New team formation: Rather than waiting months for relationships to form organically, accelerate the process through shared challenge and achievement.

Leadership transitions: When new managers join, investigative team building reveals communication styles, decision-making approaches, and team dynamics quickly.

Communication or engagement challenges: When surveys reveal low engagement or communication issues, but the root cause remains unclear, watching how teams interact during investigations provides diagnostic insight.

Cross-department collaboration initiatives: When silos need breaking down, bringing different departments together for a crime scene investigation creates shared experience and mutual respect.

Rather than masking issues, investigative team building brings communication dynamics into focus in a constructive, facilitated way.

A More Meaningful Alternative to Traditional Team Building

For organisations seeking to genuinely improve how teams work together, investigative team building offers more than a shared experience. It provides insight into how teams communicate, collaborate, and make decisions under pressure.

For corporate teams experiencing communication challenges, crime scene team building offers a structured, engaging alternative that aligns with real workplace needs whilst delivering outcomes that extend beyond the activity itself.

A Flexible, On-Site Solution for Corporate Teams

Crime Story delivers crime scene team building workshops across major cities and regional centres, adapting each experience to suit the team, location, and objectives.

Whether used as part of a leadership offsite, a team reset, or a development initiative, the experience integrates seamlessly into professional environments. Scenarios can be customised to reflect specific organisational challenges, industry contexts, or learning objectives.

From boardrooms to conference centres, the workshop comes to your team no matter where you are in Australia, minimising logistical complexity whilst maximising impact.

Ready to transform how your team communicates? Get in touch with Crime Story to discuss how investigative team building can address your specific workplace challenges.

Why Crime-Based Team Building Training Is the Ultimate Way to Build Communication and Trust

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:44:48 GMT

Team building sits at the heart of how people work together, but traditional activities rarely spark the deeper change organisations hope for. Even with significant investment in team development programmes, many teams continue to battle the same communication and collaboration challenges.

You've seen it before: awkward icebreakers that make everyone cringe, trust falls that feel forced, or team building games that entertain for a moment but change very little. These conventional approaches serve a purpose. They, however, often lack the depth and real-world application that genuinely transforms how teams operate.

That's where crime scene team building training steps in. It offers immersive, skill-focused learning through true crime investigation scenarios that mirror the complexities your team faces every day.

This type of in-person training, forensic team building events can lift how your team performs under pressure, how they communicate with each other, and how they build the psychological safety needed for real growth.

The Real Benefits of Team Building Training That Actually Works

Not all team building activities deliver equal value. Some are essentially team games that are fun in the moment but do little to change how people work together. The most effective programmes create lasting behavioural change rather than temporary excitement.

Crime-based team building training achieves this through several key mechanisms:

Enhanced Communication Under Pressure

When your team is analysing a crime scene, interviewing witnesses, and piecing together evidence with a ticking clock, communication becomes critical. There's no room for vague instructions or unclear expectations. Team members must articulate their observations precisely, listen actively to conflicting perspectives, and synthesise information rapidly. These high-stakes simulations mirror real-world business scenarios where miscommunication costs time, money, and opportunities.

Trust Built Through Interdependence

Many team building activities let people sit back and take part without much effort. A crime scene investigation does not work that way. It needs real teamwork from the entire group. The forensic analyst needs the interviewer’s insights. The evidence collector relies on the profiler’s assessment. Each person brings something different, and the group cannot move forward without it. When people depend on one another to solve a complex problem, real trust grows and helps shape a high performing team. It is far stronger than the surface-level trust that comes from sharing fun facts over lunch.

Critical Thinking and Decision-Making Development

Crime scene analysis asks for the same skills your team uses each day. It pushes team leaders and the entire team to work with incomplete information, spot patterns, question assumptions, and make choices with limited data. It also builds stronger creative thinking. These scenarios feel urgent and meaningful, which helps people learn faster and remember what they practise.

Emotional Intelligence in Action

Conducting witness interviews or suspect interrogations calls for reading body language, managing emotions, showing empathy, and shifting communication styles. These skills help shape effective teams and support stronger team development. They also give team leaders better tools for guiding others. This work feels like real team bonding because people learn about each other in a practical, human way. All of this links directly to client conversations, conflict resolution, and leadership moments back in the office.

Psychological Safety Through Structured Reflection

The most valuable learning happens during debrief sessions. Teams reflect on the experience in a safe, guided setting. Participants talk about what worked, what did not, and how their natural habits shaped the outcome of the investigation. This supports strong team development and helps shape a high performing team. It also lifts the impact of your team building activities, because people feel safe to share honest feedback and grow together.

Increased Engagement and Satisfaction

Let's be honest: most employees have sat through enough trust falls and team lunches to last a lifetime. Crime-based training breaks through cynicism by offering something genuinely novel, intellectually stimulating, and memorable. When employees feel their time is valued with quality experiences, engagement and satisfaction naturally increase.

How Crime-Based Team Building Training Actually Works

At Crime Story , we transform ordinary workplaces into interactive crime scenes through Crime Story Corporate . We bring the investigation directly to your location across Australia. This isn't theatre. It's experiential learning designed by professionals with extensive backgrounds in criminal investigation.

Here's what your team will encounter:

Crime Scene Analysis

Teams arrive to find a realistic crime scene with evidence, forensic materials, and clear documentation. Their first task is simple. They observe, collect evidence, and record every detail. This stage builds attention to detail, methodical thinking, and creative problem solving. It also shows how each of the group members plays a role in keeping information accurate. These skills carry straight into project management, quality control, and regulatory work.

Witness Interviews and Suspect Interrogations

Team members take turns conducting interviews with witnesses and suspects (played by trained facilitators). This develops active listening, questioning techniques, rapport building, and the ability to detect inconsistencies. Sales teams refine their discovery skills. HR professionals sharpen their investigation capabilities. Leaders practice drawing out information from reluctant speakers.

Forensic Reporting and Evidence Evaluation

Teams must analyse physical evidence, evaluate its significance, and determine how it fits within the broader narrative. This mirrors the analytical work your team does daily—whether reviewing financial data, assessing market research, or evaluating project risks. The difference? The immersive context makes the learning visceral and memorable.

Collaborative Case-Solving

Finally, teams must synthesise all their findings, debate theories, resolve conflicts in interpretation, and present their conclusions. This phase reveals how your team handles disagreement, integrates diverse perspectives, and builds consensus under pressure.

Each experience is fully customised to reflect your business's dynamics, challenges, and goals. We don't deliver cookie-cutter programmes. Instead, we design scenarios that resonate with your industry context, team composition, and development objectives.

Our sessions are grounded in Clifton Strengths methodology, which means we help every team member identify and leverage their natural talents rather than forcing everyone into the same mould. A team member with strong analytical themes might excel at evidence evaluation, while someone with relationship-building strengths shines during witness interviews. This strengths-based approach accelerates team performance and builds genuine appreciation for diverse contributions.

Why Crime-Based Team Building Activities Are More Than Just an Activity

Here's the fundamental problem with most team building: it feels disconnected from actual work. Bowling together is pleasant, but it doesn't help your team navigate a client crisis. Cooking classes are fun, but they don't improve how your departments collaborate on quarterly planning.

Crime-based scenarios, by contrast, mirror high-pressure corporate situations with remarkable accuracy. They stand among the best team building activities for teams that want real growth rather than short-term fun.

This approach also builds practical skills your team will use every day. The points below show how these scenarios link directly to real workplace challenges.

Managing Incomplete Information

Just as detectives must make decisions before all evidence is available, business teams constantly operate with information gaps. Markets shift. Competitors move unexpectedly. Projects encounter surprises. Crime scene training develops comfort with uncertainty and teaches systematic approaches to filling knowledge gaps—skills that directly improve strategic decision-making.

Navigating Conflicting Data and Perspectives

Witnesses contradict each other. Evidence points in multiple directions. Team members interpret the same information differently. Sound familiar? This is every strategic planning session, every product development discussion, every budget negotiation. Learning to navigate these conflicts in a crime investigation transfers directly to resolving them in boardrooms.

Communicating Clearly Across "Departments"

In our scenarios, the forensics team must communicate with interviewers who must coordinate with the analytical team. Information silos create blind spots. Poor handoffs compromise the investigation. These are precisely the challenges that plague matrix organisations, cross-functional projects, and distributed teams. By experiencing these communication breakdowns in a crime context, teams develop visceral understanding of why clear, proactive communication matters.

Operating Under Time Pressure

Most crime scene challenges include time constraints that create productive stress without overwhelming participants. This mirrors real business pressure—quarter-end deadlines, product launches, crisis response—and helps teams develop better processes for maintaining quality and collaboration when the clock is ticking.

Ethical Decision-Making

Crime investigations inevitably raise ethical questions: How far should we push a reluctant witness? When does our theory bias our evidence interpretation? These discussions open doors to broader conversations about workplace ethics, integrity, and values-based decision-making.

Team Building Exercises for Teams of All Sizes and Industries

Whether you're planning a quarterly training session, an onboarding programme for new hires, or a full-scale corporate retreat, our crime-based team building exercises scale to fit your needs.

We run team building events onsite, anywhere in Australia, including Sydney, Wollongong, Canberra, Sutherland Shire, and regional hubs throughout the country. Our mobile approach means we transform your conference room, off-site venue, or retreat location into an interactive learning environment.

Perfect For New Teams Needing to Build Trust

When teams are newly formed — whether through reorganisation, acquisition, or rapid growth — they lack the shared history that creates trust. Crime scene challenges accelerate relationship building by creating intense collaborative experiences that would normally take months to develop organically. New team members quickly understand each other's working styles, communication preferences, and natural strengths.

Established Teams Wanting to Deepen Collaboration

Even high-performing teams can reach a plateau. Crime-based training and team building exercises break old patterns and help new voices come forward. The scenarios also build stronger problem solving skills and support a more positive team environment. They bring hidden assumptions about roles and decision-making into the open, which may be holding your team back.

Cross-Functional Groups Learning to Communicate Better

When marketing does not understand operations, or finance clashes with sales, it often comes down to different work styles and priorities rather than real conflict. Crime scene investigations level the playing field and build stronger communication skills. Everyone learns the same simple “language” of investigation, which supports better team development. This shared experience builds empathy and understanding that people carry back into daily work.

Leadership Development Programmes

Crime-based scenarios offer strong leadership development opportunities. They show who steps forward, who asks the questions that shift the investigation, and who notices when team members are struggling and gives support. These moments reveal the group dynamics that shape your team’s success. They also help leaders and future leaders build a deeper understanding of how to keep everyone on the same page and focused on shared team goals. These insights are what set high performance teams apart, and facilitators can coach people based on real behaviour instead of theory.

Going Deeper: Advanced Training Options

Beyond standard team building, Crime Story Corporate offers specialised team building workshops that address critical workplace challenges:

Domestic Violence Response Training

For organisations whose staff interact with vulnerable populations — healthcare providers, social services, education, hospitality —our domestic violence response training combines communication skills, trauma-informed approaches, and scenario-based practice. Teams learn to recognise warning signs, respond appropriately, document concerns, and navigate complex situations with sensitivity and professionalism.

Child Protection Response

Similar to our domestic violence training, this programme prepares teams to identify child protection concerns, follow proper reporting procedures, and support affected families whilst maintaining appropriate boundaries. These sessions are invaluable for schools, childcare centres, youth organisations, healthcare facilities, and any business serving families.

These advanced offerings show how crime-based training can lift skills far beyond a traditional team building workshop. The mix of immersive scenarios, expert guidance, and simple reflection helps shape habits that create great teams without relying on old methods.

Why Invest in Crime Story Corporate Experiences

Your team deserves a training session they'll never forget, not just another awkward icebreaker or forgettable afternoon activity.

With trained facilitators who bring real-world investigative experience, expert instructional design grounded in adult learning principles, and a strengths-based approach that honours individual differences, our crime scene workshops are engaging, effective, and evidence-based.

Here's what sets us apart:

Genuine Expertise : Our founder and lead facilitator, Luke Taylor, isn't an actor playing a role. He's a former Detective with 14 years of investigative experience who understands the real skills that make investigations successful. Luke combines his extensive criminal investigation background with over 11 years as an English teacher and a Master of Arts in Writing, creating a unique methodology that transforms crime scene analysis into powerful learning experiences. His dual expertise in investigation and education means every workshop is grounded in authentic investigative techniques whilst being designed specifically for maximum engagement and skill development.

Clifton Strengths Training : We're not just crime scene experts; we're also trained in Clifton Strengths methodology , which means we help teams understand and leverage their natural talents throughout the experience.

Customisation That Matters : We do not believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Every team building workshop is shaped for your team’s context, challenges, and goals, which helps lift overall team performance.

Measurable Impact : Unlike many team building activities that feel good in the moment but fade quickly, our programmes empower teams to build habits that last. You will see real shifts in communication, stronger collaboration, and better problem-solving at work. This supports ongoing professional development and helps shape a stronger company culture.

Flexibility and Convenience : We come to you and turn your chosen space into an interactive learning setting. This makes building teams much easier. There is no need to organise complex plans or move your whole group across the city.

Team building training should build more than morale. It should build capability. It should strengthen strategic thinking and encourage teamwork. It should help people communicate well and work as a cohesive team so they can handle complex tasks and deliver strong results.

Crime-based team building training achieves this by combining intellectual challenge, emotional engagement, collaborative problem-solving, and structured reflection into a powerful learning experience that participants remember for years.

Let's bring the crime scene to your workplace. It would be a crime not to.

Ready to experience a smarter, more strategic form of team building training in a fun and engaging way?

Successful teams are built with purpose and the right kind of training. Contact Crime Story Corporate today to book your crime scene team building for corporate teams . Your organisation will be talking about it for years. Whether you're in Sydney, Canberra, Wollongong, or anywhere else across Australia, we'll bring the investigation to you.

Get in touch or call 0437 285 636 to discuss how we can customise an unforgettable experience for your team.

Unique & Fun Team Building Activities for Teams You Haven’t Tried Yet

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 09:48:55 GMT

Traditional team building has had its time. Trivia nights, trust falls, awkward icebreakers, and paint-and-sip sessions can only go so far before teams start to feel like they’re doing the same thing year after year. If your team is overdue for something fresh, dynamic, and truly memorable, there is a world of new experiences out there that can motivate your staff, strengthen communication, and shake routine out of the workplace.

In this blog, we explore a wide range of unique team building activities your group likely hasn't tried yet. And to kick it off, we start with one of the most engaging and immersive corporate experiences in Australia right now: Crime Story’s crime scene investigation workshops . From there, you’ll find a curated list of activities that stand out for creativity, skill development, and the ability to genuinely bring people together.

Whatever it is you're planning, whether it's a corporate retreat, an end-of-year celebration, or a mid-year morale boost, these experiences go far beyond the usual. They create real communication, real collaboration, and real connection.

1. Crime Story Corporate’s Crime Scene Workshops

The most immersive and interactive team building experience you’ve never seen before.

If your team has never stepped inside a lifelike crime scene together, you’re in for something extraordinary.

Crime Story forensic team-building events deliver one of the most engaging and impactful team-building activities available. Run by Luke Taylor, a former detective and current educator, these workshops turn your office or event space into an active crime scene. Teams must work together to solve a realistic case through investigation, analysis, and creative problem-solving.

This is not a surface-level game or a quick puzzle. It’s a fully immersive challenge grounded in genuine investigative processes. Participants step into the roles of crime scene examiners, analysts, and interviewers, using evidence, witness statements, forensics, and timelines to uncover what happened.

The result is a team building experience that is thrilling, interactive, and thoroughly original.

What Makes Crime Story Different

Crime Story Corporate stands out for several reasons:

True immersion

Participants don’t just solve a mystery; they become investigators. Everything is presented in a way that feels authentic, from evidence bags to staged scenes, interviews, and forensic elements. This engagement boosts energy and keeps everyone involved from start to finish.

Designed for real teamwork

Every part of the experience requires collaboration. Teams must:

Delegate tasks
Share information
Analyse clues together
Challenge each other’s thinking
Make decisions under time pressure
Communicate clearly

It’s teamwork in its purest form, happening naturally inside an engaging scenario.

Strengths-based facilitation

As CliftonStrengths-trained professionals, Crime Story integrates strengths-based understanding into the workshop. Staff learn more about their communication styles, how they contribute to team roles, and how they can leverage their strengths during high-pressure tasks. This elevates the activity beyond entertainment and into personal and team development.

Development of soft skills

Participants gain new insight into how they:

Communicate
Think critically
Manage small-group dynamics
Approach time-sensitive challenges
Consider different viewpoints
Build resilience
Adapt to unexpected information

These are core corporate skills, yet they develop organically through the crime scene experience.

Customised to your organisation

Crime Story Corporate shapes each workshop around your organisation’s:

Communication needs
Workplace culture
Team structure
Strength profiles
Group size
Business dynamics

This makes the activity deeply relevant and transformative.

A sense of play with serious value

The crime scene format injects an element of play that breaks down barriers and encourages genuine participation, without losing the depth required for high-impact development.

Delivered anywhere in Australia

Whether your team is based in a major city or a regional centre, crime scene team building brings the experience to you. Your location becomes the scene of the investigation.

By the end of the workshop, staff feel energised, more connected, and more confident in their ability to collaborate. It’s engaging, unique, and unforgettable, making it the ideal option for corporate teams wanting something completely fresh.

2. Outdoor Adventure Challenges

If your team thrives on physical activity and loves the outdoors, adventure-based challenges can build camaraderie quickly. These experiences encourage teams to work together in unfamiliar environments , testing resilience, communication, decision-making, and problem solving.

Examples include:

Obstacle challenges where teams complete problem-solving tasks while navigating terrain
Orienteering or navigation exercises where different groups race to reach checkpoints
Low-impact adventure walks with storytelling or guided missions
Coastal or bushland quests where teams must gather clues or complete challenges
Ropes and climbing experiences that focus on trust and communication

Outdoor activities break the routine of office life and encourage teams to communicate in new ways. They also suit workplaces that value wellness, movement, and connection with nature.

3. Collaborative Creative Workshops

Creativity has a unique ability to bring people together. When teams engage in hands-on creative experiences, barriers fall away and communication becomes more organic.

These sessions are ideal for teams that want something low-stress, enjoyable, and mentally stimulating.

Creative workshop ideas include:

Story-building sessions where groups craft narratives collaboratively
Ceramic or pottery workshops that allow everyone to create something tangible
Group mural painting where each person contributes to a larger artwork
Music or rhythm workshops that explore timing, coordination, and shared energy
Photography challenges that encourage creativity and observation skills

Creative activities help staff express themselves, think differently, and work without pressure. They’re also a great option for mixed-ability teams or events where inclusivity and ease are important.

4. Culinary Team Experiences

Food brings people together, and culinary workshops have become a popular way to blend collaboration, fun, and skill-building.

Options include:

Collaborative cooking classes where teams prepare meals together
Pastry or dessert workshops for groups with a sweet tooth
Cook-off competitions with mystery ingredients
Global cuisine experiences led by culinary artists
Cocktail or mocktail masterclasses focused on teamwork and balance of flavours

These activities often require clear instructions, role division, and timing. They also give teams something to celebrate and enjoy together at the end.

5. Puzzle and Mind Challenge Rooms

Puzzle-based team building has evolved far beyond traditional escape rooms.

Modern challenge rooms offer multi-level group games and team building games that mix logic, creativity, team collaboration, and physical tasks.

For many organisations, these quickly become some of their favorite team building activities because they are immersive, mentally stimulating, and highly interactive.

Common formats include:

Scenario-based puzzles where teams must uncover codes or solve interconnected challenges
Mind labs with logic puzzles, spatial challenges, and brain-bending activities
Mobile puzzle units that come to your workplace
Multi-room adventures where teams progress through different zones

These activities work well for analytical teams or groups that enjoy problem solving. They also highlight the importance of communication, information sharing, and collective strategy.

6. Wellness and Mindfulness Retreat Sessions

Not every team building activity needs to be fast-paced or high energy. Wellness-focused experiences can help teams slow down, reconnect, and explore new ways of supporting mental health and workplace wellbeing.

Examples include:

Guided mindfulness or breathing workshops
Group meditation classes
Movement and stretching sessions that relieve tension
Journalling or reflective writing workshops
Nature-based grounding exercises
Energy balancing or restorative practices

Wellness activities help staff recalibrate, reduce stress, and return to work feeling calmer and more centred. They support psychological safety, making them a great foundation for teams that want to improve interpersonal communication skills.

7. Eco-Friendly or Sustainability Challenges

With sustainability front of mind for many workplaces, eco-based team building activities have become an excellent way to facilitate connection while contributing to meaningful outcomes.

These experiences encourage your entire group to work together with purpose, and they offer a powerful way to boost employee engagement through meaningful, hands-on contribution.

Ideas include:

Group tree planting activities
Eco-building challenges using recycled materials
Local beach or bushland clean-ups with gamified elements
Sustainability workshops that explore environmental problem solving
Renewable energy challenges where teams design small functioning systems
Urban gardening projects that contribute to local green spaces

These experiences create a shared sense of purpose and are ideal for businesses with strong environmental values or community-oriented missions.

8. Innovation and Design Sprint Workshops

If your team enjoys critical thinking and thrives on creativity, innovation workshops can be immensely motivating.

Common formats include:

Mini design sprints where teams develop a solution to a challenge
Idea prototyping sessions using everyday materials
Innovation labs that explore business cases and creative thinking
Problem-solving challenges based on real workplace scenarios
Concept development workshops that encourage teams to think forward

These activities are ideal for organisations that want staff to think strategically and imaginatively. They also highlight leadership qualities, as teams must manage roles, timelines, and outcomes.

9. Digital Experiences and Virtual Challenges

Not every team building activity requires physical presence. Virtual experiences offer flexible options for hybrid or remote workplaces.

These activities include:

Online mystery challenges
Virtual puzzle hunts
Collaborative digital art creation
Online trivia with interactive game boards
Simulated business challenges that unfold across digital platforms

Digital team building strengthens communication across dispersed teams and is often more inclusive for remote workers.

10. Community Volunteering Initiatives

Some teams gain the most connection when working together for a shared community purpose. Moving beyond traditional team building activities, community volunteering creates meaningful bonds while making a tangible difference in people's lives.

Volunteering experiences might include:

Helping at community shelters
Participating in community building days
Supporting local charities during events
Packing hampers or school supplies
Participating in community improvement projects

These experiences create gratitude, connection, and alignment with shared values that extend far beyond the workplace. When team members volunteer and work side-by-side to support those in need, they develop deeper empathy for one another and gain perspective on their own circumstances.

11. Mix-and-Match Activity Stations

For larger teams or mixed-department groups, activity station events allow staff to rotate through different experiences. This encourages flexibility, participation, and interdepartmental connection.

Stations may include:

Mini logic puzzles
Quick creative challenges
Communication games
Short physical activities
Mindfulness corners
Improvised problem solving

Mix-and-match stations suit large corporate retreats, workshops, or end-of-year gatherings where you want every person to feel included.

12. Skills Swap Experiences

Every team has hidden talents, and a skills swap brings them to the surface. In this format, each team member has the chance to share something they’re passionate about while the other team members learn, participate, and ask questions. It has the same collaborative spirit as lighthearted team building games, but with a more personal and meaningful twist.

Team members volunteer to teach mini sessions in skills they enjoy outside of work, such as:

Photography
Baking
Language basics
Music
Coding
Home organisation tips
Art techniques
Gardening

This format is fun, personal, and deeply engaging because it celebrates the people within your business.

13. Storytelling and Communication Workshops

Strong communication is at the heart of every successful team, which is why storytelling workshops continue to stand out as some of the most engaging team building activities available. These sessions are playful yet powerful, helping teams develop clarity, confidence, and empathy while learning more about how each person communicates.

These sessions may include:

Shared storytelling games
Guided communication exercises
Narrative-building challenges
Persuasive speaking activities
Improvised dialogue sessions

Teams learn how to frame ideas, listen effectively, and understand how different perspectives shape conversations.

14. Themed Corporate Olympics

A lighthearted but highly energetic option is a corporate Olympics event. This format blends playful competition with structured team building exercises, making it ideal for groups that enjoy movement, quick thinking, and friendly rivalry.

Activities may include:

Quick skill competitions
Friendly team-versus-team games
Communication-based challenges
Coordination tasks
Fun physical activities with low-intensity movement

These events encourage groups to collaborate strategically, often requiring one team member to take the lead in certain tasks while others support, observe, or plan the next move. Teams enjoy the day, work together under timed conditions, and develop a sense of spirited competition that brings people closer together.

Why Crime Story Should Be Your Next Team Building Experience

While all the team building activities listed above offer different benefits, Crime Story Corporate stands out on its own level. It blends entertainment with deep skill development, delivered through a format that is original, engaging, and grounded in real-world expertise. It is designed to strengthen team dynamics in a fun and engaging way, making it particularly effective for both established teams and new team members who are still learning how to work together.

It’s immersive without being overwhelming, fun without being frivolous, and educational without being dry. Teams walk away with new insights into how they communicate, how they think, and how they work under pressure. The experience also sharpens critical thinking skills, encourages collaborative problem solving, and supports meaningful interaction even when working with a large group.

It’s the perfect mix of creativity, analytical thinking, collaboration, and excitement. If your team is ready for something completely different, Crime Story Corporate is the ideal place to start.

What Are the Fun Activities to Do Over Microsoft Teams?

If your staff are spread across different locations or you’re simply looking for something that can be done remotely, there are plenty of engaging options that work beautifully over Microsoft Teams. These virtual team building experiences still create connection, spark conversation, and offer a refreshing break from day-to-day work. They also give each team member the chance to enjoy structured interaction without the need for travel or in-person coordination.

Problem Solving Activities for Remote Teams

Remote teams can still enjoy meaningful team building exercises that strengthen communication and encourage collaboration. One of the easiest ways to achieve this online is through guided problem solving sessions that take a few minutes to set up and can involve your entire team. These may include quick logic puzzles, digital scavenger hunts, interactive quizzes , mini creativity challenges, or shared storytelling rounds that bring out different perspectives across the whole group.

Activities like these work well because they blend fun, light structure, and communication. They help staff develop a better rhythm together, even when they are physically apart, and they promote genuine team bonding without relying on long sessions or complex setups. For a more immersive experience, you can rotate between short challenges that each focus on different virtual team building activities, giving remote staff plenty of opportunities to connect, collaborate, and share ideas in real time.

Quick Collaboration Games to Strengthen Company Culture

Another effective way to keep remote teams aligned is through short, high-energy team building games that encourage interaction and strengthen company culture. These experiences ask group members to think together, communicate clearly, and stay on the same page, which leads to smoother collaboration during everyday tasks.

These sessions can be as simple as a fun game where teams brainstorm creative solutions to unusual prompts or work together to build a concept using limited information. Activities like these help highlight natural strengths, improving team creativity and building confidence across the group.

They also give team leaders a chance to see how each team member contributes to discussion, decision making, and shared goals. When everyone can participate, adapt quickly, and support each other, the result is a stronger sense of unity and a clearer understanding of how collaboration drives the team's success.

Takeaway

Team building works best when it feels authentic, engaging, and meaningful. Activities that challenge your team to think creatively, communicate honestly, and collaborate naturally tend to leave the strongest and longest-lasting impact.

Whether you choose an immersive crime scene investigation, a wellness retreat, a culinary challenge, or a sustainability project, the goal is the same: to build a stronger, more connected, and more cohesive team.

And if you want a team building experience that is memorable, impactful, and unlike anything your staff have experienced before, crime scene team building for corporate teams is the top choice.

If you're ready to boost your team's communication, morale, and problem-solving skills in a way they’ll genuinely enjoy, reach out to Crime Story and start planning your next standout team building event.

Celebrate and reward

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 03:53:04 GMT

Does your end of year event celebrate connection?

One thing employers want at the end of the year is connection.

After a year of setting and reaching goals, it is time to consolidate your team's achievements. The goal is to provide a memorable experience that boosts morale and signs off the end of year with a genuine connection amongst all staff. Whether your team is together, hybrid or remote, it's time to bring them together for a unique experience.

Luke Taylor, CEO of Crime Story Corporate has limited availability this festive season to make your event come to life. With interactive Crime Scene investigations and keynote speaking for corporate events , let Luke take your team on the ultimate adventure in your own venue or workplace.

As an in-demand commentator on Today Show, 2GB and print media, this former Detective and English Teacher/Writer (M.A, B.A/T, B.P) will put your team to the test with evidence, interviewing and crime solving, whilst sharing in his life experiences in a genuine day/evening of connection.

Caroline Bazzi, Ray White/ AKG Group..."Our team took so much from this whole experience and loved how fun both Luke & Brenda made the whole thing. The day was filled with so much laughter, fun & important skills that we can implement into our work. Highly recommend arranging this for your work place, there are a lot of valuable skills you will learn. Thanks again team!"

If this sounds like a good fit for your innovative workspace, get in touch.

Western Sydney Stabbing: Ambush Attack Leaves Entrepreneur Dead

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 10:39:35 GMT

In this segment on The Today Show, former NSW police officer Luke Taylor provides insights into the fatal stabbing of 21-year-old entrepreneur Luke Manasse in Western Sydney, described by police as a targeted ambush.

A Calculated Ambush

Luke Taylor explains that the attack took place as Manasse pulled into his driveway on Thursday night.

“It was a frenzied stabbing,” Luke says. “The word ambush is key here — his attackers had staked out his home and were lying in wait. The use of knives over firearms indicates a highly personal and aggressive attack, suggesting extreme anger or passion.”

Who Was Luke Manasse?

The victim, known in media reports as an aspiring entrepreneur, had connections to celebrities and well-known figures.

However, Luke stresses that police will be focused on the crime itself:

“At this stage, police won’t be concerned with any alleged celebrity status. Their priority is to bring justice for his grieving family after such a brutal murder.”

Police Knowledge of the Victim

Media reports noted that police “knew of” Manasse but clarified he was not a well-known crime figure.

Luke explains:

“When police say someone is ‘well-known,’ it usually means they have a criminal record or established criminal connections. To say he wasn’t well-known suggests he may have come into contact with police in another way — as a witness, a victim, or in some unrelated matter. Without clarification, it’s impossible to speculate.”

The Next Steps in the Investigation

Authorities are already collecting CCTV footage from neighbouring houses and working through multiple lines of inquiry.

“With today’s technology, it’s virtually impossible to go off the grid,” Luke explains. “Phones, vehicles, cameras in shops, traffic lights, and homes all leave electronic footprints. Police will track these signals and combine them with interviews and footwork. I’m confident someone will be brought to justice soon.”

Conclusion

The stabbing of Luke Manasse has shocked Western Sydney, raising concerns about violent targeted attacks. As Luke Taylor notes, police are pursuing every lead, and his family may soon see justice.

Watch the full interview above for more on how this ambush unfolded and what investigators are doing next.

Sydney Pro-Palestine Protest: Police Prepare for Logistical Challenges

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 10:38:22 GMT

As tens of thousands of pro-Palestine activists take to the streets, former NSW police officer Luke Taylor joined The Today Show to discuss the challenges facing police in Sydney and across Australia.

A Logistical Nightmare for Police

With just 24 hours’ notice to prepare, NSW police are facing one of their biggest operational challenges.

“It’s a logistical nightmare,” Luke explains. “They’re calling in officers not just from Sydney but also from the Central Coast, Newcastle, and Wollongong. Rest days are being cancelled, officers are being pulled from other duties, and all this while the force is already overstretched and overworked.”

Balancing the massive resource demand for the protest while still maintaining staffing levels across the state makes the task even more complex.

Balancing Rights and Responsibilities

The Supreme Court upheld the right to protest, but Luke stresses that police retain discretionary powers to maintain public safety.

“Police have to ensure the safety of protesters, but also shop owners and the general public,” he says. “If officers see incitement to riot, imminent breaches of the peace, or disobedience to reasonable directions, they have the authority to step in.”

This balancing act is particularly sensitive given the presence of families and children among protestors.

The Added Pressure of Wet Weather

Sydney’s wet conditions are compounding the challenges.

“The biggest issue with the weather isn’t the protest itself, but what happens afterwards,” Luke notes. “As crowds disperse, it will put huge pressure on public transport and roads. Wet conditions will make travel and safety more difficult.”

National Concerns: Melbourne and Adelaide

Large demonstrations are also planned for Melbourne and Adelaide, raising concerns about emergency service access.

“Traffic corridors will be clogged,” Luke warns. “If something happens and police, paramedics, or fire crews need to get through, it’s going to be dangerous without proper planning.”

Conclusion

The Sydney protest highlights the delicate balance between the right to protest and the responsibility to maintain public safety. With limited preparation time, overstretched resources, and poor weather, NSW police are bracing for one of their toughest operational days.

Watch the full interview above to hear Luke Taylor’s insights into how police are managing today’s protests.

NSW Bail System Under Fire After “Hourly Selfie” Condition

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 10:36:45 GMT

The New South Wales bail system is facing criticism after an accused killer was granted bail under unusual conditions — requiring them to send police hourly selfies. Former NSW police officer Luke Taylor shared his concerns on The Today Show.

A Bizarre Bail Condition

Luke Taylor expressed disbelief at the decision, suggesting it undermines police resources.

“The first thing I had to do was check the paper to make sure it wasn’t April 1,” he said. “Detectives are already flat out building a brief of evidence for murder. Now they’re expected to stop every hour to check phones and validate selfies. It’s mindboggling.”

Easy to Manipulate

Luke questioned the practicality of monitoring hourly selfies, noting how easily the system could be exploited.

“What if someone takes 12 photos in one go, sets them on a timer, and then leaves the phone with someone else?” he explained. “That gives them hours — even days — to intimidate witnesses or commit more crime. You can’t even be sure who has the phone at any given time.”

Alternatives to Hourly Photos

With ankle bracelets being phased out due to reliability issues, the state is struggling to enforce bail conditions effectively.

“There are clearly better solutions than making police check phones every hour,” Luke said. “Investing in a reliable, locally made bail monitoring system would be far more effective than this ridiculous process.”

Self-Defence Laws Under Scrutiny

The discussion also touched on proposals to toughen self-defence laws in states like Victoria. Luke stressed that while self-defence is a valid legal right, safety should remain the priority.

“You are allowed to defend yourself and your family,” he said. “But you want to come out alive. If someone’s in your house, yes, do what you can to protect your family, but don’t put yourself at unnecessary risk. At the end of the day, property can be replaced — lives can’t.”

Conclusion

The “hourly selfie” bail condition has sparked widespread criticism, raising concerns about police resources, public safety, and the effectiveness of current bail enforcement methods. As Luke Taylor points out, better alternatives are needed to ensure the justice system works without overburdening frontline officers.

Watch the full interview above for Luke’s insights on bail reform and policing challenges in NSW.

Sydney Gangland Wars: Violence Reaches New Levels

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 10:35:16 GMT

Following the attempted assassination of an underworld figure that left three people in hospital, former NSW police officer Luke Taylor joined The Today Show to discuss the escalating gang violence gripping Sydney.

A Dangerous Escalation

Luke Taylor described the shooting as part of a troubling trend in Sydney’s underworld.

“This is not the Sydney and not the Australia we know,” he said. “It’s reached unprecedented levels. There’s no fear — no fear of repercussions, no fear of law enforcement. Gone are the days of 3 a.m. drive-by shootings. Now it’s happening live in public. A line was crossed long ago.”

Why Police Are Struggling

Asked why police appear unable to stop the violence, Luke pointed to multiple factors.

“These crooks are brazen. They don’t care, they don’t value life, and the money at stake is massive. With gangs fractured and competing for control, it fuels even more violence. Police resources are always an issue — you can’t be everywhere, 24 hours a day.”

The Role of Resources and Strike Forces

Luke noted that police constantly need more resources, but there are limits to how they’re deployed.

“Every time we start a strike force, detectives get pulled from local patrols. That narrows the focus, but it leaves other gaps. It’s a balancing act between targeted investigations and maintaining community safety.”

What It Takes to Break the Cycle

Preventing gang violence, Luke says, requires a mix of manpower and intelligence.

“It takes surveillance, electronic monitoring, and boots on the ground. But you also have to build solid briefs of evidence. You can’t rush into action only to have cases fall apart in court.”

Despite the challenges, he praised the ongoing efforts of police: “They’re batting 20 out of 25 solved cases for these murders. That’s a huge achievement under enormous pressure.”

Conclusion

Sydney’s gangland wars show no signs of slowing, with brazen attacks spilling into public spaces. While police continue to solve cases and dismantle networks, Luke Taylor warns that without greater resources and a united approach, the violence could escalate further.

Watch the full interview above for Luke Taylor’s analysis on Sydney’s gangland crisis and the challenges facing police.

Sydney’s Harbour Bridge Protest: Police Praised for Managing Massive Rally

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 10:34:22 GMT

One of the largest protests in Sydney’s history saw more than 90,000 people rally against Israel’s bombardment of Palestine, despite heavy rain. Former NSW police officer Luke Taylor joined The Today Show to reflect on how police handled the event and the challenges they faced.

A Strong Performance by Police

Despite limited preparation time and poor conditions, Luke Taylor commended the police response.

“They did brilliantly,” he said. “There were no injuries to police, no injuries to protesters, and no injuries to passers-by or businesses along the route. Police have responsibility not just to protesters but to a city of nearly 10 million people. To keep everyone safe under those conditions was a huge achievement.”

Crowd Numbers Exceeded Expectations

Organisers initially anticipated 10,000 attendees, but the protest swelled to between 90,000 and 300,000 people.

“To bring in a thousand extra police at short notice is massive,” Luke explained. “They weren’t just drawing from Sydney — resources were pulled from every patrol, as far as Newcastle. The logistics of mobilising officers, vehicles, transport, and coordination with such little time is extraordinary.”

Safety Concerns and the Supreme Court’s Role

The Supreme Court’s late decision allowing the protest to proceed on the Harbour Bridge complicated planning.

“Police weren’t trying to stop the protest,” Luke clarified. “They just wanted enough time to plan for contingencies — things like emergency access routes and blockades against potential vehicle rammings. Around the world we’ve seen vehicles used as weapons in large gatherings, and police need time to safeguard against that. Without it, the risks can be catastrophic.”

Lessons for Future Protests

Luke emphasised that while the right to protest is essential, planning is equally vital for safety.

“It’s easy to make a decision from the safety of a Supreme Court bench,” he said. “But it’s police on the ground who face the realities. Future events must account for the growing risks, from crowd crushing to vehicle attacks, to ensure protests remain safe and peaceful.”

Conclusion

Sydney’s Harbour Bridge protest was peaceful despite its size and the logistical challenges posed by poor weather and late approvals. Luke Taylor praised police for their professionalism and urged authorities to balance the right to protest with robust safety planning in the future.

Watch the full interview above for Luke’s insights into how police managed one of Sydney’s largest protests.

Luke Taylor on Nights with John Stanley: YouTube Ban in Schools

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 08:15:40 GMT

Crime Story founder Luke Taylor joined John Stanley to discuss the challenges schools may face in educating students if YouTube is added to the wider social media ban. He shared his perspective on the balance between managing online distractions and supporting classroom learning.

Listen to it here .

Luke Taylor on Nights with John Stanley: Why Students Struggle with Maths

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 08:14:21 GMT

Crime Story founder and former teacher Luke Taylor joined Bill on Nights with John Stanley to discuss a Grattan Institute study revealing that Australian students are struggling with maths, and that many teachers lack the confidence to teach it. Luke shared his insights on improving classroom engagement and building stronger learning outcomes.

Listen to the clip .

Mamamia Feature: The Case That Changed Everything for Luke Taylor

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 08:13:37 GMT

Former detective and Crime Story founder Luke Taylor was recently featured in Mamamia, where he shared his experiences investigating some of Australia’s most confronting crimes, and the toll it took on his mental health. In this powerful piece, Luke reflects on 14 years in the police force, the cases that stayed with him, and how his journey led to the creation of Crime Story Australia.

Read the full story here .

Daily Mail Feature: Luke Taylor on Protecting Children from Predators

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 08:12:53 GMT

As a former child abuse detective, Luke Taylor was featured in the Daily Mail sharing expert insight into how predators target victims and what parents can do to better protect their children. His commentary highlighted the importance of awareness, vigilance, and strong parental presence in safeguarding children.

Read the full article on the Daily Mail here .

Daily Mail Feature: Luke Taylor on Crime Scene Clues

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 08:12:02 GMT

Luke Taylor, former detective and founder of Crime Story, was featured in the Daily Mail providing expert insight into high-profile investigations. Drawing on his years of frontline experience, Luke shared how detectives interpret early tell-tale signs at crime scenes.

Read the full article on the Daily Mail .

Daily Mail Feature: Luke Taylor Provides Expert Commentary on Child Safety

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 08:11:00 GMT

Read the full article on the Daily Mail .

Inside Small Business Feature: Luke Taylor’s Tips for Unlocking Government Grants

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 08:09:44 GMT

Crime Story founder Luke Taylor shares his hard-won insights on securing funding, breaking down six proven and underrated strategies for successfully applying for government grants. Drawing on his own experience in winning nearly $150,000 in grants, Luke highlights how clarity, strategy, and persistence can make all the difference.

Read the full article here .

Q&A Feature: Luke Taylor on Crime Story’s ‘Criminally Clever’ Approach

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 08:08:26 GMT

Crime Story founder Luke Taylor sat down with Inside Small Business to share how his background as a detective and teacher shaped a unique, hands-on learning model that engages students through real-world problem solving.

Read the full article here .

Youth Crime Crackdown: Covert Tactics Against Teen Offenders

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 22:46:01 GMT

In this interview on The Today Show, former NSW police officer Luke Taylor discusses how police are escalating efforts to combat youth crime using covert intelligence tactics, a strategy once reserved for gang-related investigations.

An Escalation in Policing

NSW police are stepping up their response to youth crime by applying covert intelligence techniques that were traditionally used against organised gangs.

“These are very serious and violent crimes,” Luke explains. “Police are moving from reactive policing to covert intelligence and covert actions. They’re stepping in proactively rather than waiting for the public to be endangered further.”

Preventative Measures and Resourcing Challenges

While the strategy is preventative in nature, Luke points out that its success depends heavily on resources.

“Intelligence is only useful if you have the manpower to act on it,” he says. “We’ve heard about real-time intelligence, but getting officers to the right place at the right time requires huge staffing and costs, all while maintaining the police’s core responsibilities.”

The ‘Post and Boast’ Phenomenon

A major factor fuelling youth crime is the rise of “post and boast” behaviour, where offenders share their crimes online for attention.

“These young people are digital natives, but they’re end users. They don’t know how to remove their digital footprint, so police can catch up to them,” Luke explains.

He describes this craving for instant gratification as part of a deeper societal issue:

“This generation is substituting crime for what they’re missing in life, whether that’s work ethic, school engagement, or stability. It’s similar to drug or alcohol addiction. They’re chasing their 15 minutes of fame.”

The Role of Social Media Platforms

When asked about the responsibility of tech companies, Luke was clear:

“Social media giants will never do enough. There’s too much money involved. Australia is a small market globally, so they’re not going to listen.”

Conclusion

Youth crime in NSW is a growing challenge, and police are adopting new covert methods to get ahead of offenders. But as Luke Taylor notes, it will take more than policing alone; schools, communities, and tech companies all have a role to play.

Watch the full interview above for Luke’s insights on how law enforcement is adapting to this new wave of youth crime.

Smartest person in the room?

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 04:08:32 GMT

Time for a new room...

Are you the smartest person in the room?

If you regularly find yourself answering ‘maybe’, you probably are, and it’s time to find another room. I suggest ‘maybe’ because most of us underestimate ourselves. Whether ‘yes’ or ‘maybe’, you should surround yourself with those who can challenge you with new ideas, better ideas. Forget about running an IQ test to see who is smarter than you or checking tertiary qualifications, just look for those who come from another angle and are not ‘yes’ people.

Intelligence is subjective. Supposedly ‘objective’ and ‘standardised’ tests are inadequate because we are anything but ‘standard’. Horses for courses. Why do we rate physics degrees as more intelligent than humanities degrees? It is why I want to change the conversation from smart, to alternate thinkers. So, back to the initial question; “Are you the smartest person in the room, or do you all think the same way?”

From the outset, I want to say that I am not even the smartest person in my home, let alone the room. My peer group is well beyond me and in such a diverse array of topics. For that, I am eternally grateful. I have pieces of paper with qualifications, often used as a commodity or currency for trading, but I constantly learn from those with nothing. Or at least nothing on the wall in a $5 K-mart frame. The moment I am no longer challenged to grow, I find a new room. Law enforcement and teaching in NSW involves the same processes, but each location, station, school and cohort offer different challenges. To stay in one place can lead to complacency, often disguised by comfort. I love the challenge of learning from others.

I have journeyed through various levels of self confidence in my life. Never have I considered myself the smartest in the room, which worked in my favour. It may have prevented me from taking on leadership at an earlier stage, but it has served my ‘learner’ strength well. I always want to go deeper when my interest is piqued. I have worked in occupations that value ‘time served’ as a measure of ability. It often mistakes experience for ability, two completely different factors. It was usual practice to devalue the opinions of ‘newbies’ regardless of their age and background. When the tables turned and less ‘experienced’ workers were promoted under a merit based system, there was disdain. I believed in an arbitrary and outdated belief that 15 years was appropriate before applying for promotion. So in an industry of dinosaurs and newbies I was unsure of where I fit in. It was with great relief and respect that I found myself working a murder investigation soon after joining the Detectives. Now, I was not a Detective…I had passed the initial process to ‘win’ a position as a full time investigator, but was still years away from the Detectives Course. At an end of day debrief, a 30 year veteran from the Homicide squad who was assisting, asked me thoughts. I stammered and apologised for my lack of seniority and suggested I was too junior to have an opinion. “Luke”, he reassured me, “you have eyes, a brain, an opinion, and I want to hear it”. We think differently. It is about our strengths, experience, context and perspective. I didn’t need to be the smartest person in the room. Neither did the Detective Inspector.

Years later it shouldn’t have come as a surprise when my 3 year old daughter evaluated my cycle race performance one night. I was dieting heavily and training hard. On the drive to the Monday night Criterium race one summer evening my wife asked “Have you eaten enough?” I replied “I am exactly the same weight I was last race”, implying that I was ready for the race. From the booster seat behind me came a simple comment, “Well that’s no good daddy, you only finished second last week”. Seems I wasn’t the smartest person in the car. The unexpected logical analysis from a 3 year old was revealing.

As a teacher I am continually astounded by the intellect and perception of my students. An often derided generation I am convinced they have different knowledge, not necessarily less. Each generation learns in their context; social, political, economic and environmental. No single incident is ever the same, as we, and our environment is constantly changing. They constantly challenge my preconceptions of learning and understanding and I seek new ways to teach. I also learn from them. I also enjoy Project Based Learning and any Cross-Curricular approach to school because it allows me the chance to learn from highly educated colleagues outside of my subject area. We all have a 4 year degree and in every different scenario one of us might be able to lay claim to being the smartest person in the room and share from that collective.

I recently ventured from the fortnightly wage to small business. I have received advice, guidance and mentorship from PhD, Masters, Bachelor and Cert 4 qualified experts. I have received even more from friends and acquaintances who have owned businesses for many years. A few months ago I spent time with Peter McGrath from Green Scene Landscaping , a self made success story in the world of Brisbane Landscaping and Design. From his own web design and marketing to the physical tools of drainage and all things structural around the home, Peter and his wife Mel are experts in more than one field. Where my Masters of Writing may have me well placed in one room, I loved being the novice in their company when discussing business ventures. Peter is one of the most intelligent men I have met, as are most people I have contact with, simply because they think differently.

So as I venture to my next school workshop, my next corporate event with real estate property managers, or a major computing manufacture, I am excited by what I can learn. I already know what they can learn from me, but what really keeps me moving is knowing that I will be in their world and learning from them.

Find that new room.

Forget prestige...follow your true strengths in education and training

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 23:24:56 GMT

"To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom" Socrates

Post-school education...forget prestige and look to your strengths.

In a generation of instant gratification, this is a hard sell as a Careers Advisor and Educator.

I pull no punches in explaining that all ‘101’ subjects (first year subjects) are boring!

They are foundational, High School like, and will not become specialized until 2nd or 3rd year onwards.

For that reason alone, you cannot look at starting Uni as if it is a taster plate. That will cost HECS, and depending on your next goal, subject credit may be unlikely. If you are attracted to courses with high ATAR or professional reputation, ask yourself why. Is it aligned with what you want for the next 10, 20 or 50 years?

What are your strengths? I work with students on a deeper level, knowing that a strength is not always what you are best at, rather, it is what energizes you! If you do not fully understand your own strengths check out Australia’s leading strength coach Linda Lenord because she changed my life.

What I share in my training would never have been possible without understanding what drives me. I was terrible in management despite my knowledge and experience. I avoided leadership as a criminal investigator because I wanted to solve serious crime. As a teacher I dabbled in leadership but felt constrained, relishing the creativity of the classroom. So when Linda Lenord, a senior executive teacher at the time was coaching staff through their strengths I was intrigued. After taking the assessment we sat in her office and my jaw dropped to the floor. As she read the abstract of my top five Clifton Strengths it was like hearing my biography and psychology report rolled into one. It explained my past frustrations, decisions and rewards. It clearly showed me why I had felt restricted in the conformity of the Police Force and equally unleashed as a creative teacher. Our school invested heavily in strengths and it revealed, primarily, and understanding of self, and each other. This allowed greater connection and understanding. We then turned the attention to our senior students. I was able to recognise students who were driven by the strength of ‘competition’, who paradoxically avoided competing when they didn’t think they could win. Students with ‘achiever’ would surpass them because they relished the challenge and judged themselves differently. In myself, I recognised that “ideation” was a key driver and is the basis behind Crime Story . Understanding others is easier when you know yourself.

I have guided many students into fields which may be above their ATAR, but have seen them accepted and succeed because their passion was far stronger than the cookie-cutter subject alignment of the HSC.

My approach was always a bit different. I started with Economics, dropped out and became a Detective! Then became an English Teacher and now run a business that works with students in capacities such as RIEP (Regional Industry Education Program) where we work with kids to match skills, futures and training and with employers and industries. They learn their real strengths in critical thinking, and outside the pigeon hole of school subjects.

Students who are strong at Math are often guided to Financial courses. But what if they were strong at strategy and identifying patterns? Maybe the school system only allows this strength to shine in that one subject? Maybe they could be a weapons technician in the NAVY, study Law and be a CEO of a major company?

It took me 20 years to understand that my love of investigating high school history, English and economics allowed me to be a Detective, rather than an economist. If you are passionate about a career, knowledgeable about what drives you, then you are far more likely to survive and thrive in post-school education.

“To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom”, Socrates.

What do you think of Criminal Defense Barristers?

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 04:11:48 GMT

That was the best question I've been asked.

What do you think of criminal defense barristers?

That question was asked by a Casula High School student this week. It was the most intriguing, thoughtful and provocative question I have been asked; not just by a student but by anyone. Our Legal Studies workshops are curriculum based and work with my experience as a detective, allowing us to tackle the higher order thinking required for the upper Band HSC responses to consider the moral and ethical considerations in the criminal justice system..

Casula High School is a bread and butter western suburbs school in the south west of Sydney. With 1200 students and nearly 80% Non English Speaking background, it has an Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) of 953 - somewhat below the Australian average of 1000. This is fairly typical of many of our Department of Education schools across Australia. Schools below the 1000 mark have increasing access to initiatives to improve their NAPLAN, HSC and career opportunities. Walking into the 1973 built school I was reminded of that ‘brutalist’ architectural movement that remained in fashion for schools well into the 1980s’. It reminded me of my own public education upbringing, for which I am eternally grateful. Casula is also a close neighbour to my Fairfield childhood and Cabramatta policing experiences. It felt like home turf.

Roll-call reveals the sheer breadth of cultural diversity and the combined Year 12 Legal Studies and Year 10 Commerce classes was better than a United Nations Assembly. It probably solved more problems as well! Throughout the day we were peppered with questions and theories that not only drew on their academic knowledge, but their social understanding and international experience. I have always believed that crime and justice is a ‘lingua franca’, an international language that can be applied despite language barriers in our classrooms. Casula embodies this. Their staff embody this.

Every school surprises me with new theories and stories to support our workshops and Casula did themselves proud. It can be challenging to work on one subject, at high intensity for the full 6 hours of their school day, and it is something they are unaccustomed to. It tests and builds endurance.

So when we turned to our Question and Answer segment I was expecting the usual barrage of questions about how many people I’ve shot, how many times I’ve been shot, and if I can dive through the air in slow motion shooting two guns at once like Hot Fuzz? Instead, I was hit with serious questions about policing careers, forensics, mental health impacts and that question.

It has been my experience that most participants expect me to be anti-defense. That is not the case. This allowed me to build on the lessons of the day that we need to be ‘seekers of the truth’ in everything we do. It is not about building a brief of evidence or gaining a conviction. It is about asking questions and finding answers, without bias or subjectivity. That is how we all want to be treated. Criminal defense barristers are vital. Everyone is entitled to an effective defense and it is the role of the prosecution to prove beyond reasonable doubt. The onus is on them, not for the defendant to prove innocence. Evidence is tested in the criminal justice system, and despite the misgivings of our adversarial system, rigorous defense is essential.

We work with students who have read To Kill A Mockingbird, have a worldview of justice that may be so unlike our own so it is a wonderful opportunity to share learning. Casula High School is a refreshing reminder of what makes this country strong. To Ms. Zeinab Jammas and the entire HSIE team who supported us, to the amazing front office who excitedly ran to the library to have a preview and all the staff who wanted to tell us about their awesome students - we thank you. Thanks also to Principal Gareth Smith for providing these opportunities to these kids and supporting your staff.

These kids are better than they realise.

It is the responsibility of all of us, not just their teachers and parents to remind them of their potential.

Don’t ever underestimate these kids.

Why do we love the Crime Genre?

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 02:48:49 GMT

Is there a villain in you?

Why do we love the Crime Genre?

Crime is the most popular genre in fiction. It spawns many hybrid genres, crossing often with the equally popular romance genre. In books, films, graphic novels and podcasts, crime continues to grow. Scandi-crime, Noir, Australian Noir, Cosy, Manor, Hard Boiled, Procedural, Ensemble..it doesn’t end. As a former Detective working on some of the most heinous and unforgettable crimes in NSW, I was fascinated by the fascination. As I studied my Masters (Writing) I delved into the ever broadening appeal of crime, especially true crime.

LIterature allows us to live vicariously through others. It is vital learning for children, and age targeted fiction always involves characters 2 years older than the reader group. This allows us to consider similar scenarios as we grow, in the hope that we will be better equipped with a similar situation. Crime is the adult version. Faced with danger, injustice and the darkest corners of the human mind we challenge ourselves as problem solvers, whilst also considering the societal and personal implications of being involved in such a crime. Occasionally, we ask ourselves “Is there a villain in me?”

The basis of any novel is solving a problem. Whether Rom-Com, Thriller or otherwise, there is a problem or question that requires answering. The amygdala in our brain wants to solve it, wants to be right, and rewards us when we are right. It can be overpowering and addictive, which encourages obsessions with the genre, and where life imitates art, Detectives can become consumed with securing a prosecution regardless of evidence… Noble Cause Corruption. So why is the fascination different from our everyday lives?

We all make important decisions. We make decisions that could impact our lives, wellbeing, family and finances, but they lack the romanticised elements that crime fiction does. I work with organisations who are spellbound by ‘war stories’ from an old Detective, whilst I am captivated by their own stories. It is simply a point of difference and familiarity. Most people do not come face to face with murders and rapists, draw firearms, engage in pursuits and interview hardened criminals for hours on end. But we are all solving problems, we simply see greater value in the unknown.

Crime fiction took a turn to the darkness of the Hard Boiled Detective after our world wars. Generational innocence was smashed with the reality of death and the ‘cosy-Manor’ crime was superseded by harsh reality of dark villains and equally dark Detectives. Deeply flawed, Machiavellian ‘ends justifies the means’ law enforcement, the genre reflecting our experiences. Throughout the century crime fiction has changed with the times, not more so than the past decades with the advent of technology in forensics. The procedural narrative was popularised as we looked into “mass spectrometers","centrifuges”, “trace elements”, and of course, “DNA”. It was part medical, part Sherlock deduction, and it allowed crime detection to better reflect the reality of a team event. The ‘lab geek’, a cross section of male/female personnel and a cross section of harmonious and counterpart personalities. Now that is a detective's office!

By accident or design, having additional characters allowed a more diverse range of readers/viewers to empathise, hence more readers. The best example of this is ‘Bones’, the Hart Hanson depiction of Cathy Reichs forensic anthropologist that brings “squints” together with a hard boiled FBI agent. It also reflects the increasing reliance on ‘non-sworn’ Police personnel, who simply bring their scientific acumen to solving crime without pounding the beat as a street cop. This is a huge fascination for female viewers who love the mental challenge of solving crime.

Violent and twisted psychological crime has increasingly pushed boundaries. I struggle with the remoteness from reality and the suspension of disbelief. So why have we demanded this increase? Perhaps it is because we have not had war, mass casualties and evil for a generation. Are we testing ourselves with horrors from which we have been spared? Do we create darker minds as our world becomes increasingly sedate, living comfortably in our first world surroundings? Does solving the seemingly unsolvable make our own problems simpler, or do we not transfer the same mental energy to our everyday lives? Or do we just need increasingly higher levels as we become accustomed to the norm?

Over the next few weeks I will explore why females are so drawn to the True Crime genre, and humanity's desire for justice.

How to 'Not' have a conversation

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 01:47:54 GMT

Tactical retreat is not weakness, it is a sign of personal strength and superior strategising

Zelenksyy v Trump and Vance

Case Study : Are you really listening, or just waiting for your turn to speak.

Last week I wrote a brief article about effective and genuine conversations. I have also mentioned the value of support persons in a meeting. Remember that conversation must have three parts - listening, speaking…and thinking. In the highly publicised press conference with Zelenskyy, Trump and Vance, it was a timely reminder of high stakes conversations without listening and thinking.

There was obviously a lot of thought and planning involved before the incredibly public conversation, with years of strategising politics and economics driving the negotiations. But as far as a conversation, there was very little that defines conversation. There was no consideration of each other’s statements, just beratement, denial and refusal to concede.

When we engage in important conversations we are pre-loaded with points we want to make. Statistics, case studies, quotes, anecdotes and projected outcomes. We are focused on our arguments and are waiting for the moment to make our point. But what about the points being made by the other party? Do they even matter and have you thought about them before responding?

We might not be negotiating world peace, but our negotiations are important in our world. Relationships, wages, employment and work rights are impactful and should not be taken lightly. There were some key take-outs from that ‘conversation’ that can be implemented in our everyday conversat ions.

Setting - Most meetings take place in an office, but consider the inherent power balance of that location. Are you summoned to sit behind a large mahogany desk, a lower seat, power iconography surrounding you?
Agenda -stick to the clearly set agenda to avoid historical rhetoric. Bringing up the past and playing a blame game does not further the conversation, nor diverting to peripheral issues for minor victories.
Emotions - will your emotions prevent you from achieving your goal? Take stock beforehand, purge your emotions in safe surroundings.
Note taking - either you or your support person, to clarify ambiguities. This frees mind to the immediacy of the conversation, without worrying about our memory.
Listening - is everything. Make that your first priority.
Support person? Either emotional support or technical advice. Did you notice the Ukranian Ambassador in the gallery? Head in hands, unable to advise, step in and support. Don’t let that happen in your conversations. If your counterpart is unwilling to allow support they may have ulterior motives.
Intent - why bother? Perhaps a conversation or meeting is beyond any chance of genuine achievement and more formal and legalistic avenues are available. Also be willing to terminate a conversation if it takes a turn for the worse. State your intent to return to the matter when emotions or hostilities can be tempered. Tactical retreat is not weakness, it is a sign of personal strength and superior strategising.

Setting - Most meetings take place in an office, but consider the inherent power balance of that location. Are you summoned to sit behind a large mahogany desk, a lower seat, power iconography surrounding you?
Agenda -stick to the clearly set agenda to avoid historical rhetoric. Bringing up the past and playing a blame game does not further the conversation, nor diverting to peripheral issues for minor victories.
Emotions - will your emotions prevent you from achieving your goal? Take stock beforehand, purge your emotions in safe surroundings.
Note taking - either you or your support person, to clarify ambiguities. This frees mind to the immediacy of the conversation, without worrying about our memory.
Listening - is everything. Make that your first priority.
Support person? Either emotional support or technical advice. Did you notice the Ukranian Ambassador in the gallery? Head in hands, unable to advise, step in and support. Don’t let that happen in your conversations. If your counterpart is unwilling to allow support they may have ulterior motives.
Intent - why bother? Perhaps a conversation or meeting is beyond any chance of genuine achievement and more formal and legalistic avenues are available. Also be willing to terminate a conversation if it takes a turn for the worse. State your intent to return to the matter when emotions or hostilities can be tempered. Tactical retreat is not weakness, it is a sign of personal strength and superior strategising.

Are you really listening or just waiting for your turn to speak?

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 01:47:49 GMT

A conversation is like a contract.

Are you really listening, or just waiting for your turn to speak?

A conversation has three parts; listening, speaking…and thinking.

Both parties contribute. A conversation is like a legal contract, where both parties must exchange ‘consideration of significant value’ . It should also be fair. But do you ever find yourself just waiting to add your thoughts?

This is nothing to be ashamed of. It happens through excitement, passion and concern. It can be fun, reveal engagement, but it can also be dismissive and threatening. Have you watched any political conversations lately? Not trying to single out any particular world leader, but they are one-way with little consideration for the other party.

When we engage in important conversations we are pre-loaded with points we want to make. Statistics, case studies, quotes, anecdotes and projected outcomes. We are focused on our arguments and are waiting for the perfect moment to make our point. But what about the points being made by the other party? Do they even matter and have you thought about them before responding?

It takes practice. It is a skill. It is valuable beyond belief, bringing better results, harmony, value and reputation. As a specialist Child Interviewer Detective I was taught different techniques to those I used on offenders. It was recorded on video, in real time, to reduce the time spent typing a statement. With my key questions written down I knew I wouldn’t forget, but it also allowed me to write down their answers without waiting on the transcript.

“I’m going to make a note of what you tell me, just so I don’t forget. Don’t think I’m not paying attention, what you have to tell me is very important, and I want to get this right. Is that OK?”

That allows me to concentrate on listening, knowing that I wont forget my important questions, but really listen to the other person. When I workshop conversation management for the commercial world, we practice with suspect-witness interviews. Time and time again I see ‘detectives’ only looking for the specific answers they want. They ignore the answers, and on so many occasions will argue what was said, insisting that what they actually heard was correct. I have recorded these conversations and replayed them to the amazement of participants who swore blind they heard something else. They move away from fact finding and equal consideration.

Have your conversations ever ended up as an interrogation?

Do you know when to speak up?

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 08:47:19 GMT

What if you had the ears of half a million listeners?

Do you know when to speak up?

Do you know when to speak up or when to keep your powder dry?

Will the message be delivered the right way?

Will it be received as hostile?

Is passion or emotion driving my need to speak up?

Do I need to consider my audience?

There is no definitive answer. Every conversation is different because every moment is different. The same topic doesn't mean that it has the same context each time. Time is progressive, and the only constant is change. With each moment, the context changes, which means the perspective of each person also changes. Financial, personal, environmental…you are different now to yesterday. Your response to a work condition on Wednesday morning of this week might be completely different to Tuesday. The lowering of interest rates may have had an impact on your financial context, hence your response to a decision.

It is imperative that you take stock of your own thoughts, emotions or biases when entering an important discussion. On Wednesday I was interviewed by Ben Fordham at 2GB. He wanted to talk about Youth Crime and rural education. This was an opportunity to voice my thoughts on what was working and what needed fixing. But was I right? Did I have the right answers? How do I decide how hard to push?

My greatest ever boss, Geoff Brisby, pulled me aside for one of his fatherly talks one day and said, “You don’t have reverse do you?” I just keep pushing, regardless of the depth of the mud I’m in, from 1st to 2nd to 3rd gear, never thinking of reversing and trying a new approach. Sometimes we need something other than forward gears. It is now the first thing I consider when working with the media.

My experience in crime and education gives me a platform to speak to the media. In the past 2 years since leaving the classroom I have commented on television, radio and print media about crime, education and their intersection. It is something I do not take lightly, and am fearful of speaking beyond my knowledge. Regardless of how passionate I am, I have to consider context, perspective, time and the audience.

I was interviewed by a free-to -air major TV news network regarding Police numbers and their impact. A film crew even came to me. My responses, however, were not what they anticipated. I did not unload on the Police or the government. I was factual. I had strong opinions on criminal elements in society, but was not in a position, nor was it true, to follow the narrative they wanted. When the story played that night, it was without my interview. I was glad they didn’t run with my response because it was not aligned with my message. I had views on related issues, but it wasn’t the right context.

So when I spoke with Ben Fordham about the plight of country kids in Moree, education and youth crime, I had to consider my audience. He wanted his city listeners to understand what it is like for teachers and police in those areas. As I am not bound by either employer I can speak candidly. So, here I was for the second time on a leading breakfast show with a platform to answer questions without towing a company line. I feel strongly for the communities who are struggling with youth crime; the police who serve those communities, the schools who are trying to engage and teach, the victims, businesses, parents and the offenders. So who do I target when given a platform, and who will it serve?

My role as an educator and communicator is to listen more than I speak.

The issue in this conversation was reducing youth crime. My focus is on education. I have worked in both industries, but my specialised opinion was on educational engagement and curriculum reform. I did not add fuel to the fire. I acknowledged the pain in these rural areas which I have experienced, explained my experiences, but focused on the future and evidence based solutions. My audience was broad, and would include fellow teachers and schools with whom I rely on as an educational business. There are real problems with our school system, but I cannot lay blame on individuals. I will not single out Prue Car for a system that has declined over decades, or Scott Morrison for his handling of Covid. When I communicate I need to be positive, restorative and outcome focused. That doesn’t mean dodging the difficult conversations, but playing the “ball, not the man”.

So come Wednesday morning I checked my notes. I triple checked my statistics, latest reports and evidence, then asked myself two questions:

What do I want to achieve from this conversation?

Will my emotions prevent this outcome?

The pre-recorded interview will air shortly and only time will tell.

Is there a better way?

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 07:29:38 GMT

What if there was a better way?

What if there was a better way to learn?

A way to be better in your role?

Michael Matthews is an Australian cyclist. As a designated sprinter in his professional team his chances of winning often come down to the final metres of a 250km race. The final stroke of the pedals, the pushing of the bars and the lunge to the line. Any deviation in course, any momentary distraction or slowing rider means the difference between winning and losing, achieving his goal. Not all races suit the sprinters. They need flat stages, fast paced. They do not fare well with mountains and time trials. In professional races there are 20 teams. Twenty teams with 20 sprinters, each trying to get their own sprint train at the front of the arrowhead. Each teammate peeling off after ‘pulling a turn’ of what might only be a few hundred metres at 65kmph. One after another until the designated sprinter has one or two wheels to drag him the final few metres before sling-shotting to the line at 70kmph. Welcome to the life of a sprinter.

What if you could change the way you worked? What if you gave yourself a greater chance, better odds, more opportunities to succeed? Michael Matthews did just that. He saw that the opportunities were limited, and that as he matured from the style that won him the Junior Men World Road Race Championship in a sprint, he needed to find another way. He trained differently, using the same skills albeit differently. This renewed lease on life made him an allrounder, but with the same killer sprinter. He could get over the mountains without losing touch, he could make repeated attacks and make breakaways. He could stay away on his own or manage to outfox others in small groups. Instead of a 1 in 200 chance group sprint, his odds would narrow with each splintering of the peloton. 50 riders, twenty, 14 and so on.

And so, it was on the 14 ^th stage of this year’s Tour de France where he gradually broke down the opposition, piece by piece. High paced riding, attacks, and counter attacks until he was alone in front…with a substantial climb still ahead in the dying kilometres. After shedding two other riders before the climb to the Mendes Aerodrome, he was joined by the Italian Bettiol, a credentialed climber. In pure grit and determination Matthews held on to his wheel, going with him as he attacked. His newfound confidence, not only in his skills and strength, but his new processes, allowed him to launch a counterattack. He broke Bettiol, pulled away with his diesel like engine ticking all the way to the final few hundred metres where he had such a gap that he coasted to the line, arms aloft.

Matthews used experiential learning to make the most of his transferable skills. Adults work best with experiential learning. They understand the world and need engagement and activity. This is scaffolding, and it works. It motivates.

Transferable skills are currency. They produce procedural knowledge rather than declarative. Transferable skills promote understanding and inquiry and are recognised by leading psychologist Feuerstein as Bridging Metacognition with one simple process.

i) How did you perform that skill?

ii) Where else can you use that?

As simple as that, by constantly using and retrieving these skills you build brain power like doing reps in a gym. Education theorists now believe that 70% of Professional Development must be devoted to active learning of skills, at the zone of proximal development (where you are stretched into new areas). This is NOT recalling knowledge.

It’s the difference between giving a fish or teaching to fish.

Where could your transferable skills take you?

Start by making a list of your best attributes – and remember they are skills. Forget about them being ‘soft skills’ – they are hard!

Now, think of your dream job, role or initiative. Where can you use those skills?

How do I change workplace culture?

luke@crimestory.com.au (Luke Taylor) — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 00:39:41 GMT

It starts with you...

How can I transform workplace culture?

If this article has caught your attention, you might be among the few who truly grasp the essence of team culture. You could also relate to my past struggles with this concept, often feeling puzzled and uncertain about what "cultural" truly means.

We all recognize the signs of both healthy and unhealthy team dynamics, and we can certainly describe the actions that contribute positively or negatively to our work environment. So why is it challenging for leaders and teams to define their culture or even recognize when it is thriving? I’ve explored numerous resources, from dictionaries to Forbes articles, searching for clarity. Businesses across Sydney and Melbourne are eager to enhance their cultures, yet many feel uncertain about where to start. The good news is that the answers are out there, and together, we can foster a vibrant and engaging workplace culture! Let’s dive in and explore the possibilities.

What is culture?

Culture is an exciting and dynamic concept that shapes each workplace uniquely, and the best part? You have the power to influence it! Rather than getting bogged down by complex definitions, let’s focus on what really matters: communication. This is the foundation of culture and everything else—motivation, respect, feedback, critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, and conflict resolution—flows from it. By fostering open dialogue, we can create a vibrant culture that thrives on collaboration and mutual understanding. So, who brings this culture to life in the workplace? It’s all of us, working together to shape an environment where everyone can flourish!

It All Begins With You

No matter where you are in the organizational hierarchy —whether in a leadership role or starting out—this message is for you! True transformation occurs when initiatives come from the bottom up, creating a dynamic culture from every corner of the business. Too often, discussions about company culture focus solely on top-down directives. While leadership may champion values like ‘innovation’ and ‘acceptance’ in mission statements, the reality can sometimes fall short.

I’ve witnessed firsthand in a Sydney-based work environment how well-meaning guidelines and meetings meant to foster collaboration inadvertently led to confusion and frustration. Despite having a team of over 100 highly skilled and enthusiastic individuals, the atmosphere became one of anxiety rather than empowerment. Many felt pressured to be constantly busy, which often translated into unnecessary stress rather than genuine achievement.

Leadership truly wants the best for the team, yet without open lines for feedback, negative behaviors can become ingrained in the culture. This lack of communication can lead to disengagement, high turnover, and a detrimental impact on our clients and customers.

The essence of a healthy workplace culture starts with the behaviors and attitudes we choose to embrace. Let's champion a culture where every voice matters, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive! It’s not just about leadership; it’s about all of us working together to create a supportive and positive workplace.

Embracing Acceptable Behaviors

The standards we let slide are the ones we ultimately accept.

This phrase may seem familiar, but its relevance is stronger now than ever! As someone who has raised children, enforced laws, led teams, taught students, and recently embarked on the adventure of training a puppy, I can assure you that allowing even one day of misbehavior can lead to habits that become deeply ingrained. Just like with that playful puppy, our lives are filled with opportunities to set clear expectations, whether at home, in our communities, or in the workplace.

While each of these settings poses its unique challenges, we all have the capacity to assert ourselves. If we can lower our voices and firmly say “No” to a spirited German Shepherd, why not do the same when faced with inappropriate behavior at work? It’s essential to remember that both situations require us to uphold standards we believe in.

You have a stake in all your environments—your personal space, your social circles, and your workplace. You own your role and contributions, and your voice matters. Just because you collaborate with others doesn’t diminish your ownership; it enhances it! Your performance is vital to the success of your company, and a positive atmosphere fosters growth.

Let’s not underestimate the impact of our actions. Each decision to speak up against wrongdoing strengthens the community we are part of and safeguards our workspaces.

Remember, all it takes for negativity to flourish is for good people to remain silent. Let's choose to promote the standards we want to see and inspire those around us to do the same! Together, we can create a brighter, more positive environment for everyone.

How does this journey begin?

It begins with a commitment to clear communication. Simple gestures like eye rolls or sighs can easily be misunderstood among colleagues, as we often lack the deep connections we have with family. It's important to remember that not everyone may interpret non-verbal cues the same way. Colleagues might miss nuances like sarcasm or humor during tough conversations. We never truly know the backgrounds and experiences of those around us, which means we must express ourselves clearly and openly.

Transitioning from childhood to adulthood is a complex process, often misunderstood by our society. We're often conditioned to remain quiet and not to stir the pot, urged to handle concerns in private. Unfortunately, this rarely leads to resolution. In vibrant multicultural cities like Sydney and Melbourne, our teenage years are crucial for developing the skills needed to voice our opinions, yet they can sometimes be misinterpreted as rebellion rather than a healthy exploration of adulthood. This tendency to shy away from difficult conversations can persist into adulthood, where many feel pressured to comply rather than assert themselves. Often, we cope with frustration by burying it, allowing it to eventually transform into anger.

When we choose silence in group settings, we inadvertently give permission to certain behaviors to continue. It’s like leaving a puppy unchecked—no one steps in to say “No.” This can foster a cycle where those engaging in inappropriate actions feel rewarded and may repeat them. Over time, our self-doubt can convince us that the situation is hopeless, and we question our worth. Having worked with individuals who have committed serious offenses, I've witnessed the damaging power of such questions as “Why didn’t you say something the first time?” But here's the good news: we can change the narrative starting today, regardless of the past.

Embrace open dialogue, take charge of your voice, and foster an environment where everyone feels empowered to express their concerns. Together, we can build a more respectful and understanding workplace. Let’s nurture a culture where communication flourishes and everyone thrives!

What’s the first step to transforming our culture?

Let’s start with communication—an essential foundation for success! You've already shown incredible aptitude when it comes to listening; by embracing feedback and directives, you’ve proven that you’re attentive and open-minded. Now, it’s time to find and share your voice!

In today’s world, electronic communication has dramatically changed how we interact verbally and in person. Australia is leading the charge in exploring innovative communication methods at an unprecedented pace. For example, schools in Sydney are navigating the complexities of mobile technology, which can create confusion and misunderstandings. This turmoil often leads to missing important subtleties, which can have serious consequences.

We must recognize that we all approach communication differently—many of us lack training or confidence in various communication styles. Did you know that unclear emails cost us around 1.5 workdays each year just to clarify miscommunications? For small and medium enterprises, the financial impact of verbal miscommunication can reach over $6,000 per employee each year. This doesn’t even include the hidden toll it can take on our mental and physical well-being. It’s crucial that we learn to clarify and express our messages more effectively, especially since Australia is home to a diverse population, including a significant number of individuals from non-English-speaking backgrounds—not just in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne, but increasingly in regional areas as well.

Reflecting on the powerful film “Wall Street,” we met the notorious Gordon Gecko, a symbol of corporate greed and the belief that the end justifies the means. However, let’s challenge that notion! In my experience, I witnessed a moment that showcased the potential for positive change. A Sydney police officer bravely addressed inappropriate behavior from a supervisor, standing firm by saying, “No, that’s not acceptable.” This act highlighted the importance of establishing a respectful workplace culture.

If there had been genuine concerns about performance, there were far more constructive ways to express them that would have fostered guidance and development. Imagine if Gecko had invested in better training rather than cycling through employees—today’s hiring processes can cost 50-150% of a hired employee’s salary just to bring someone new onboard!

We’ve become accustomed to quick, direct, and impersonal communication. The challenges brought on by COVID-19 and remote work heightened this trend, especially among younger individuals. While sometimes, straightforward directives are necessary, it’s vital that they be clear and lack ambiguity. Face-to-face interactions bring body language and tone into play, something that written communication often struggles to convey—no matter how many emojis we use!

As we rely more on technology, we often sacrifice the richness of conversation. Many people are opting out of phone calls altogether, choosing to text instead. They claim they’re “talking,” but the truth is that meaningful dialogue often gets lost in translation between screens. If our conversations have shifted to primarily texting, it becomes a challenge to engage in true conversation with skill and expertise.

Let’s embrace this opportunity to foster better communication! By cultivating a culture of clarity and understanding, we can connect more authentically, bridge gaps, and create an environment where everyone feels valued and heard. Communication is not just about conveying messages; it’s about building relationships, nurturing trust, and empowering one another. Together, we can transform our culture into one of open dialogue and collaboration! Exciting times are ahead—let’s make them happen!

Use It or Lose It: Embrace the Power of Your Voice!

Let’s embark on an exciting journey of self-expression together! The first step is to start small and practice finding your voice. You may not feel like you’re ready to challenge major figures like Grace Tame did, but remember, every impactful conversation starts somewhere. Shift away from relying solely on emails and texts—let’s get back to face-to-face communication! Pop into neighboring offices, whether it’s administration, sales, or support, and engage in direct conversations. As you reconnect with your voice, you’ll find that this practice will pave the way for tackling more challenging discussions with confidence.

As you elevate your communication skills, consider enlisting a support person to join you. In my experience, especially while interviewing witnesses and team members, having someone by your side creates a positive and respectful environment. I’ve walked in both pairs of shoes—as the interviewer and the interviewee—and I’ve found that a support person not only holds both parties accountable but also spreads a sense of calm. Their presence can reassure you, especially when you’re navigating conversations with individuals who may seem more confident or assertive. Knowing that a colleague has your back allows you to address tough topics without feeling singled out.

Moreover, when I entered leadership roles, I welcomed the support of trusted individuals. Their presence encouraged fairness and genuine assistance for my team, while also keeping me anchored in professionalism. Let’s face it: not every difficult interaction comes from malice; often, it’s simply that certain behaviors haven’t been addressed.

It’s surprising to see how many people in various industries choose to go it alone, fearing judgment or the strain of pressure. Remember, having a support person can be a major confidence booster! They can help keep track of essential details that might slip your mind during a crucial discussion. In the medical field, for instance, it’s recommended to bring someone along for specialist consultations to better absorb the information when emotions run high. Let’s not underestimate the power dynamics in closed-door meetings! Having someone there can help level the playing field.

If finding a support person seems out of reach, don’t worry! You can still prepare effectively. Write down what you want to communicate and practice reading it out loud. Even seasoned Keynote Speakers rely on palm cards to keep their thoughts organized when the adrenaline kicks in—this simple tool helps them stay focused. You’re no different! Your conversation is just as important, and preparing for it can be incredibly empowering.

Remember, the significance of your discussion is what brought you to this moment. Treat it seriously, and never hesitate to express yourself! Embracing your voice can lead to meaningful changes, not just for you, but for those around you. So, let’s unlock the potential of our voices and make remarkable connections together!

What if it backfires?

It’s completely natural to feel some apprehension. The potential consequences can seem daunting, but let’s take a moment to reflect on who truly bears those consequences. Power dynamics often lead us to believe that standing up for ourselves could be detrimental. However, while I acknowledge your experiences, I invite you to consider two important questions.

First, is your apprehension based on your own experiences or simply anecdotal? Second, if you have faced challenges, how well do you understand your rights?

Psychological safety is a vital concept that guarantees your right to have a voice at work. It ensures that you are heard, respected, and treated fairly, without bias or fear of repercussions. This right is rooted in Safe Work NSW guidelines.

According to the Code of Practice on Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work by SafeWork NSW, we have tools at our disposal to address workplace concerns, and this legislation is relatively new, meaning it’s still being shaped and tested in practice. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the boundaries of these rights and set new precedents. One particularly powerful section of this Act addresses uncertainties around roles and work expectations—including the frequent changes and lack of clarity that so many of us face.

It’s likely that you resonate with multiple points outlined in this section, as these issues are widespread. Instead of approaching the situation with a defeatist mindset, let’s embrace a proactive attitude! The Act and accompanying Code of Practice are on your side, encouraging open communication. Take the time to print it out! Highlight the important sections, take notes, and gather any supportive emails or correspondence. This will transform your concerns into tangible evidence, turning the narrative to empower you.

Often, we feel like it's our word against someone else's. But with this knowledge in hand, we can shift the balance in our favor. Think of it as “Exhibit A,” which can significantly bolster your confidence. When you step into a conversation—whether accompanied by a colleague, a friend, or a support person like a legal representative or union delegate—you will have the weight of the law behind you. This moves us toward a situation where neither side leaves as a loser.

When I mentioned that the potential consequences could seem dire, remember that those consequences only grow if issues remain unresolved. Clear communication leads to wins for everyone involved. You’ll gain confidence and improve both your mental and physical health, while the individual or workplace you have concerns with will benefit too. By addressing grievances, we can repair relationships and enhance practices, preventing what could lead to more complicated legal and financial issues down the line.

Let’s champion a culture of openness and embrace the opportunity for growth—together, we can create a positive, transparent work environment for all!

What is my culture now?

Great news! The workplace is evolving, and you are at the heart of this transformation. You have taken the initiative to define how you want to be treated, and that’s a powerful decision. When you act with integrity, you pave the way for a cultural shift—one that, while it may be deeply rooted, is absolutely possible. Your bravery will inspire your colleagues to join in. With high staff turnover and an emphasis on professional development in today’s competitive job market, your voice matters more than ever. This is a fantastic opportunity to cultivate a workplace culture that you can genuinely take pride in. Together, let’s create an environment where everyone thrives!

Putting Communication Skills Into Practice

Understanding workplace culture and communication is valuable. But transforming culture requires practice - actually doing the things we've discussed throughout this article.

Crime Story's workshops offer teams a unique opportunity to practise these communication skills in a completely neutral environment. Through immersive crime scene investigations , team members develop the confidence to speak up, listen actively, and collaborate effectively - all without the pressure of real workplace dynamics.

When you're analysing evidence and debating theories with colleagues, you're building the same skills needed to transform workplace culture: clear articulation, respectful disagreement, and collaborative problem-solving. It's practice that translates directly back to your everyday work environment.

Ready to develop these essential communication skills in your team? Contact Crime Story at 0437 285 636 or send us an enquiry to discuss how investigative workshops can support your workplace culture transformation.

Do you know how the wind down for the end of year?

luke@crimestory.com.au (Luke Taylor) — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 01:11:55 GMT

Slowing down gradually is better than slamming on the brakes.

When I entered the world of school teaching I was amazed at how many teachers fell ill during the holiday periods. Shouldn’t it make more sense to be sick in winter, when kids are bringing every disease and illness into your classroom each day?

Not long into my new career I realised that the 4 term school year is perfectly designed to encourage a ‘boom-bust’ cycle of health and fatigue, both mentally and physically. The demands of the school year, one in which every term is now jam-packed with added curricula, reporting requirements, exams…rinse, repeat, excursions, camps, sport, information nights, parent interviews, rinse repeat again, times 4, constantly has teachers working flat out to what has become very real and impossible finish-lines.

Physiologically our bodies are designed like a taut rope - we need enough stress to hold firm, but too much and it will snap. Too little and it will fold. So when we reach that end of year finish line we need to reduce the load gradually. The change in cortisol has an impact, our bodies need for homeostasis is vital. When a rider in the Tour De France busts him or herself for a 200km stage they don’t jump off the bike and leave it. They will ‘cool down’ for an hour, riding slowly, lowering the heartbeat and muscle tension. The Olympic swimmer who wins gold will disappear and continue to lap the practice pool behind the main arena.

Every job is different and they all require a different approach. Policing is an occupation that does not have seasons, ignores calendars and cares little for public holidays and events of significance. That actually worked in my favour. I worked many years straight without annual leave. Time seemed to lose track. When I needed a holiday, I never felt like I was falling over the finishing line. It was a different psychology. Despite the difficult nature of our job, it also had distinct advantages. As a Detective I was often on-call, for late night call outs of major investigations. We took turns. When we were nearing our annual leave, we would be taken off on-call duty so we wouldn’t catch a murder or a major investigation. Most happen at night when on-call. We would have time to finish up some paperwork and share the load.

A Detective colleague came up with a brilliant idea of the ultimate holiday preparation by taking annual leave days leading up to his break. Three weeks out he would take 1 days annual leave, leaving a 4 day work week. Then 2 days annual leave for a 3 day work week, then a 2 day work week, then…full time holiday! That would alleviate the fall-in-a-heap condition he felt on day 1 of his holidays. Teachers can’t take annual leave days like that, but many workplaces can. How can you start to wind down?

As a teacher I found that I would not plan anything for the first few days of my Christmas holidays. The mid year school holidays are NOT holidays for us teachers, they are simply a release from face to face teaching, and as salaried employees they ‘sort of’ account for the time in lieu accrued from camps, excursions and late night marking and lesson prep during the term. In those breaks I would give myself a few days off, and reduce the load a few hours each day. I found that this would alleviate the late nighters that some of the new teachers would have in term time. Early prep, consistent days and workloads.

I’m now self-employed in the education sector and this is more important than ever. I need to find the time to slow down, then stop. Writing this article is actually a key component. I have to re-learn and reapply these skills from different occupations to my new role…and it is challenging!

As I write this I am so aware that my English teacher colleagues have just been subjected to the requirements of a new curriculum. Strange timing, releasing it a week or two before the end of a year when they really need to be thinking about themselves and their families.

So how will you start your wind-down? What approaches do you take to avoid that illness that kicks in so often?

Police Manslaughter: Plausible Deniability v Profession Development

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 05:03:57 GMT

Is PD what it should be?

PD: Professional Development or Plausible Deniability?

A memorandum in the pigeon hole for signing. An email requiring acknowledgement as proof of having been read and understood. Professional development sessions designed to cover new legislation and industry requirements in a sterile environment. I have often thought that “PD” was a loose acronym that could apply to plausible deniability. Something that could be used against a worker when not complying with instruction. I have experienced that in workplace scenarios, and after training as a teacher I have understood that learning or understanding is not a one step process. Applying that knowledge can be an even greater step.

So when NSW Police Officer Kristian White was found guilty of Manslaughter this week it brought back many memories of my Police training. Whilst there are many elements that I can still recall, even physical steps involving muscle memory, the modern police officer has additional burdens. When I joined the Police I had a gun and a baton. And my voice. Assessing the levels of force required to control a situation came naturally to me, but not everyone. I had size, a voice, a presence, and after that a baton, then gun. In 14 years I drew my firearm about 4 times. I used my baton on far more occasions. I used physical force, and was injured a number of times. But what would I do now?

The modern police officer may just have too many choices. Presence, voice, baton, Capscium (OS - Oleoresin) Spray, Taser and Firearm. In the heat of the moment, they must now choose the appropriate level of force. That means someone brandishing a knife could be subdued with any of those levels of force. But if they choose the wrong option it could be fatal to the officer. I have seen an armed man taken down by a team of shield wearing tactical police, only for the knife to slip through and slice open the bicep of a colleague. Should they have shot him? After all, he had just killed someone.

After the Ron Levi incident at Bondi I heard calls for police having a “big net to throw over people”. Batman anyone? I have heard many discussions about the handling of the Clare Nowland situation, and I look with older eyes that are no longer in the Police. They are eyes that have worked in other industries and undertaken training in many organisations. What they do see is how training is vastly inadequate in many industries. My question is who will take responsibility and prevent this from happening again? Where is the improvement in training, and the testing of understanding?

I have seen some schools handle Child Protection with disdain, a box ticking exercise at the start of a 2 year cycle, and not have time for the concerned questions of staff wondering if or when they may overstep or need to take action. I have seen memos placed in pigeon holes and through emails that could lead to a breach of duty of care if not adhered to. On a busy day. With hundreds of demands, and not being trained or practised in this process. See why I think it is plausible deniability?

The Police are at an interesting junction that many workplaces are at. Short staffed, under pressure and often in a no win situation. What they cannot keep doing however, is sending Police from the Academy with a few hours of specialized weapon training, and a few hours of psychology and leave it to on the job training, or the Education Officer to roll out additional training.

Neither can your industry.

It is not fair to the worker, and it is not fair to society.

Jake Paul v Mike Tyson

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 01:38:13 GMT

Is this really media?

Jake Paul v Mike Tyson Netflix

You may read this and know exactly what it means. My age group asks “Jake who?”

We know about “Iron Mike Tyson”, formidable heavy weight boxer when I was a teenager, ear biter and thug into my twenties, and an actor in my later years with memorable performances in ‘The Hangover’. But Jake Paul?

He is a boxer, singer, rapper, Youtuber, actor…even on the Disney channel alongside Olivia Rodrigo. He has even created stampedes for his energy drink ‘Prime’. He has done everything and is still young. For those who question his value as an entertainer…a communicator…and dare I say influencer, it places us at a junction of taste and accepted forms of media. Does he feature in my Sydney Morning Herald? Not likely. Is he on my bookshelf of fiction, nonfiction and biographies? Nup. Is he on my podcast schedule or regular streaming? No. Does this make him irrelevant because I do not consume him or even know how to access his material?

Again I say no. I will watch the boxing match on Netflix. That is something I understand. I can access that, it is not Youtube - which I do not understand as a streaming/viewing option, and I love Mike Tyson. I was a 15 year old boy with absolutely no pugilist skills so of course I loved him. He was terrifying and what every 15 boy thought was manhood. So if we consume differently in the modern age is it automatically wrong?

Shakespeare is a revered, literary icon. He was an entertainer. His industry was about bums on seats. Viewers. He had to court the sensitivities and violence of the Royal family, out shocking and thrilling the crowds. He was not even the biggest selling artist of his time. Theatre was the mode of entertainment. No point using that new Gutenberg Press for books when only 25% of men and 10% of women could read.

Charles Dickens is another in the literary canon. So if we eschew magazines and newspapers and formats other than ‘books’ we should think of how Dickens was serialised and published in the newspapers and in free form well before the compilation in novel form. It was accessible.

Variety shows are perhaps a similar format. Whether Vaudeville, Pantomime or Hey Hey It’s Saturday, our consumption has changed. Genuine singers, comedians, talent quests, political satire, spoof segments and merchandise. Instead of a hat, we now have an energy drink. In the 1980’s a lot of people had “Hey Hey” shirts, now you can drink Prime. Jake Paul offers a great variety of material. It might not be my cup of tea, (yet), but I may also have been unable to consume Hamlet at London’s Globe.

Don’t be scared of change.

Grand Theft Auto 6...2025 release

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 23:57:18 GMT

Short span of attention? Hardly!

Grand Theft Auto 6…coming in 2025!

Rockstar Games have had huge success for a decade with the GTA franchise of games, and along with luminaries Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar) and Call of Duty Black Ops 6 (Activision) and it has me questioning some of the generational rhetoric that we turn against younger people who play (video) games.

Working in education I am part of a system that recognises a growing inability to read, communicate on and persevere with long form literacy. I am part of a generation identifying young people wanting instant gratification, fast results and immediacy. I am also putting my hand up to say “I might be wrong” and “more targeted research needed”.

We can spend hours, weeks and months following the same storyline in a game. GTA6, COD6, Warzone, Witcher, Zelda…they are multi-verse games that engage. To say that someone who plays games does not have the ability to persevere and needs instant gratification is kidding! I can’t do what they do. I get bored, I need change, but no one lambasts me.

I have just completed 154 episodes, 7 seasons of The West Wing. 8 Seasons of House and impatiently waited on the split season of Yellowstone. I’m not alone. Binging TV is what we do, including young people. Surely that indicates an ability to persevere in long form narrative, patiently waiting on character arcs, plot developments and subplot interventions?

Sure we can watch it all in a few weeks, not waiting for the ratings driven, seasonal drip feed that we became accustomed to as TV and advertising dictated and manipulated us as viewers. What is wrong with having control?

When I find a book series that I love, either in hardcopy or Audible, I binge on that. I'm impatient and want to absorb as much of that as I can. It doesn’t indicate my inability to persevere, it is the complete opposite. What we are actually seeing is a generational change from traditional literacy and communication. If anything, short form communication is simpler and more direct, and we need to bridge those gaps in education and communication, including reading, but the current generation’s ability to stay focused and persevere is not the issue. The issue might just be the mismatch in the world they want and the world we currently have, run by my generation. We need to bridge that gap.

As an English teacher I have spoken previously about using gaming as a device to engage students with narrative.

“The characters are fully-realized and relatable, and their interactions have nuance. The writing is head and shoulders above the average script. The game systems are impeccably executed and help to further the story. And where most games only have binary good-or-bad ethical rules, this series has always been most comfortable exploring the morally murky areas. The core game of Wild Hunt was a masterclass of storytelling, but the addition of the Blood & Wine DLC took the game’s narrative to the next level”

Isn’t this what we actually want?

My Crime Story workshops bridge the divide by putting the user in control of the workshop. As a Hard-Boiled detective it fits perfectly for the ‘morally murky’ and ‘ethically good-or-bad’ rules that underpin most games. The hardboiled detective and private investigator were born because of the horrors of the world wars in the first half of the 1900’s. Innocence lost, the ‘cosy crime and manor crime’ gave way to an ‘end justifies the means’ style of uncompromising law enforcement who believed that cutting a few corners in the name of noble cause corruption for the betterment of society. His character was flawed, his courage unquestionable. The modern detective or forensic analyst was under far more scrutiny thanks to the electronic media, CCTV, private recording, and the ubiquitous nature of computing surveillance. Procedural fairness and human rights were not at the crossroads with uncovering truth with science and psychology. Crime Scene workshops allow any of these manifestations in explorative play-based learning. Interactions are carried out with our methods to recreate authentic dialogue with real props and scenarios. This next level masterclass comes through the hands-on manipulation of Crime Scene analysis to support deeper writing to provide the layered detail on every pixel and graphics card. Everything you need to create a pitch of your own. Get your game on.

Taylor Swift and the sounds of our lives!

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 22:59:39 GMT

What's your crime song?

Taylor Swift is the most googled artist of 2024. Alongside accolades for tickets sales, record sales and downloads she is at the top of her game and is representative of what music means to us. It is the soundtrack of our lives and songs attached to memorable occasions are quickly recalled with great nostalgia. It is as powerful as the smell of our favourite food cooking in mum’s kitchen. So when we put together our workshops we made sure that sensory imagery was a key element. It is a vital component of communication; understanding each other, listening and responding.

Music has become ubiquitous, all around us and ever present. From a turntable to walkman, discman and mp3, streaming allows a permanent curtain of foreground and background listening. Our tastes are catered for and allows modern listeners to access independent, non mainstream music without being dedicated to by corporate giants and radio stations. The ability to access intergenerational music can also broaden our horizons without relying on an older brother with hand-me-down Zeppelin and Iron Maiden records.

So when you enter the darkened room of a Crime Story workshop, the blue and red police lights take hold, underpinned by my ‘Spotify’ curation of Crime Tracks. Heading the list is the mighty Taylor Swift with ‘No Body No Crime’.

“Good thing my daddy made me get a boating license when I was fifteen

And I've cleaned enough houses to know how to cover up a scene

Good thing Este's sister's gonna swear she was with me ("She was with me dude")

Good thing his mistress took out a big life insurance policy”

With the popularity of the True Crime genre with females worldwide, this song hits the right chord. I have discovered that the females, young and old, have an incredible ability to analyse a situation and are well suited to crime investigation…the bloodier the better!

From Taylor Swift we venture into my favourites, some of which are linked thematically to my most loved TV shows.

Way Down in the Hole (from The Wire)
You gotta help me keep the devil

Way down in the hole

Red Right Hand - (Nick Cave - Peaky Blinders)
A shadow is cast wherever he stands

Stacks of green paper in his  red right hand

Wait in the Truck - Lainey Wilson and HARDY
I let the hammer drop before he got

To that 12 he was reaching for

Johnny 99 - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Well the evidence is clear, gonna let the sentence, son, fit the crime

Prison for ninety-eight and a year and we'll call it even Johnny 99

Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
When I was just a baby my mama told me, "Son

Always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns"

But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die

When I hear that whistle blowing, I hang my head and cry

Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix
Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun of your hand?

Hey Joe, I said, where you goin' with that gun in your hand?

Where did you sleep last night? - Nirvana

Her husband was a hard working man

Just about a mile from here

His head was found in a driving wheel

But his body never was found

So with my need to keep it fresh I am looking for suggestions…

What is your crime song?

How can team building actually be effective?

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 02:53:11 GMT

How did I do that and where else can I use that?

Eyes roll, arms fold defensively and people push back further into their chairs. Participation is low and mental absenteeism high. Role playing, high ropes, trapeze swings, putt putt golf, boot-camps, origami folding…all in the name of fostering greater relationships and camaraderie in the workplace. So whilst the idea is great the execution is often lacking, misaligned and exclusionary. Mostly because of the inherent mindset that has been shaped from years of poor choices and opportunities.

Workplaces often feel they have nothing to gain with team building. They think they communicate well and have a great team approach. For the ‘achiever’ mindset they may see team building as just another day that stops them reaching their professional goals. They have deadlines to meet, sales to finalise and targets to reach. They look around the office and see others like themselves, driven and hardworking. Nothing wrong, no need for team building. They may even understand the complexities and differences of other people in the office with different roles. Maybe . They think this well oiled machine can perform no better. But what if?

What if they can do better? What if they can learn a little more about the colleague on the other side of the office who has a slightly different approach to tasks? What if they can learn from them, despite the fact they seemingly outperform that other person? What if they took 1 or 2 pointers from someone else and shared something to increase the overall efficiency of the team? That is what team building is about - communication and appreciation. There are many ways of doing team building, but at the heart of it there must be a way of using, analysing and improving communication. It should be engaging without discriminating. It should be relevant, different enough to the workplace but not so abstract from the workplace that making connections is impossible. Would financial advisors find ‘raft building’ with old tyres and logs relevant to their workplace?

Our communication methods are embedded at an early age . They are formed through teaching and mirroring in formative years. It is our context that shapes perspective which is revealed in communication. Combined with that is the amygdala of the brain that drives the fight or flight response to threats, and the inherent human need to be right that fuels miscommunication. We are not very good at communicating when it really matters. High levels of stress, low levels of confidence, aggressive, assertive, appeasers and pleasers, non-verbal communicators, deliberators, out-loud thinkers, spontaneous, high empathy, analysers… we all work together.

As a Detective of many years, and then as a teacher, I saw the same problems in both adults and children. That inability to communicate, or more correctly - listen , comes from excitement, eagerness, passion as well as less noble and endearing qualities. So how can we work around it as a team?

My first week as a Detective saw me investigating a murder as part of a team. The Homicide squad sent three detectives to help out, and at the end of the first day we had a debriefing. The 30 year Homicide veteran Detective Inspector went around the room as has sought our opinions. When he arrived at me I was initially surprised that even knew my name. I then sputtered and stammered and said. “I don’t really know sir, I'm only new and haven’t worked a murder before”. He looked me in the eyes and said, “Son, I don’t care if you have been here a day, a year or a hundred years, you have eyes, ears and an opinion. What you think is important regardless of experience”.

That moment stayed with me and as a teacher of high school students I used that as my guiding principal. When I first trialed my ‘Crime Scene’ experiential learning in a classroom I was amazed at the results. When the expected ‘brainiac’ and ‘class hotshot’ stood up thinking they had it nailed, they started pointing out their thoughts with little regard for the others in their group. It was then that the two quietest and most withdrawn students of the class mumbled something amazing. The class looked at them, and for the first time they listened. Despite being on the ASD spectrum, socially anxious, almost non-verbal and disregarded by their peers, they offered a different insight…and proved to be right! All of a sudden they were listened to, welcomed into the group and acknowledged for what they offered. It was late in Year 10 and I wish I had done this at the start.

So when Crime Story works with corporations we see the same effect. Recently I spoke with a young receptionist who was part of the Property Management team at a major and successful real estate firm. Like I did so many years earlier she said she was “just the receptionist”. How wrong she was! What did she see at the front desk as people came in and walked away without staying? What were people saying on the phone? What did she see and hear that didn’t make it to the back office, or up the chain of command? She was vital to her company, and she was vital to her team that day.

When I put together a scenario for workplace communication I wanted to test people. I wanted to use the Experiential/Play Based Learning that was the focus of study overseas and bring it home. I knew my past experiences as a detective of 14 years was interesting to a lot of people, and that the true crime genre was huge. What if people could investigate a true crime? Unlike ‘role playing’ exercises I have discovered that with authentic activities, people soon forget the are part of an exercise and they will be true to their personalities. Within minutes I see those who are dominant, excited, apprehensive or withdrawn. I watch the team dynamics and work with them on their critical thinking approach and communication.

When we run ‘witness/suspect’ interviews, despite the advice on how to treat a ‘witness’, I see clients turn into the aggressive interrogator hell bent on fitting the evidence to their own theory. (Glad I'm not doing a CIA scenario with water-boarding!) It is at that moment that I know we have had an impact, not only that individual, but the entire team. Experiential learning is about transferable skills; how did I do that and where else can I use it?

Team building is just communication. Sometimes you have to break the routine and get out of your comfort zone, try something different or be someone different…but don’t go too off script. The exercise has to closely resemble reality. High ropes and paintball may be the right solution, but make sure you can relate the lessons from that day back to your workplace. How did I do that and where else can I use that? See the connection? Now go and enjoy your team building session.

Experience the Different for Your Team

Communication isn't just about talking. It's also about listening, adapting, and recognising the value every team member brings to your organisation. Crime Story's investigative team building workshops create the conditions where these skills develop naturally.

Through authentic crime scene scenarios, your team will experience genuine collaboration under pressure. Dominant voices learn to listen. Quieter team members discover their insights matter. Everyone practises the kind of communication that actually translates back to your workplace.

Unlike abstract team building exercises, our workshops mirror real workplace challenges: analysing information, testing assumptions, coordinating with colleagues, and making decisions together. The skills your team develops aren't just for solving cases - they're for solving the communication challenges you face every day.

Are you ready to see how experiential learning can transform your team's communication? Contact Crime Story by sending us a message or giving us a call on 0437 285 636 to discuss how our crime scene workshops can strengthen collaboration and unlock potential across your organisation.

Does Professional Learning Excite You?

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 02:06:55 GMT

Workplace learning should be creative and engaging, not just C.Y.A

When people hear of ‘professional learning’ they often have predetermined ideas of what to expect. Out of touch speakers or someone from their own department going through the motions with rhetoric they already know. High in cost, limited choice and generally associated with ‘accredited hours’’ required by the peak body for continuing registration.

Private or government, the theme is generally the same - ‘CYA’. For those uninitiated it is ‘Cover Your Arse’. I have worked in both sectors across multiple industries and the one constant is that professional learning does very little to actually develop the person in what they believe makes them a professional. Sure it reinforces legal requirements…generally to protect the employer if you make a mistake, but what happened to actually developing you. What happens to the development of your passion, skills and wellbeing?

I became a school teacher to explore my innovative, passionate and creative side. After graduating Uni I found that the only way to increase my ‘English subject teaching’ skills was to undertake more study…at my own expense. It was always up to me. The schools maintained compulsory PD, but it was legislation over creativity every time. Where was ‘my’ development, where was my session to show me how to engage in better teaching? How would I master the skills required for film study, poetry analysis, multi-modal delivery, and new technology?

Like many professions the training required to enter a profession is a starting point. My English teaching degree was a 4 year double degree, covering the Arts component (English and Geography subjects) and Teaching/Education. I had to choose 6 ‘English’ subject specialties from 31 on offer. I always felt that left me short on specific skills. What about the other 25?

According to the latest research from TAFE, Accounting Times and the ABS, Australian business spends around $1300 per person on professional development. The institute I used to use charged around $500 per hour, meaning I was lucky to get 3 hours per year of paid PD. CYA. So with staff turnover so high, the great resignation and work realignment post-Covid, the increasing millennial and generational attitudes to multiple careers and better employment conditions, why are we not addressing this with more personalized service? I left my role due to this. Would I have stayed in the same capacity with that personal investment?

Have we even asked what our people want? Do we know what really inspires them to come to work each day, light that fire and get better results? What would make them better as people? What can I do to make this about them. About you. The increasingly common question that interviewees now ask of employers is “what will you do for me?” That may be counter-cultural to past employee relations but it is completely honest. It is a sign that the employee wants you to invest in them, as a worker, as a person, in their 24 hour existence that impacts on their work. They want to be part of the team, give more, but know that they will also be supported beyond the aging concept of just being a number.

What would you like as professional development?

How do I cope with a toxic workplace?

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 21:38:00 GMT

Toxicity and better communication.

Toxicity is back-stabbing, white-anting and bullying, and can lead to the complete breakdown of trust and mental health. Toxicity is the layman term for what the Work Health and Safety Act has prescribed as psychological safety.

Check, check, check! Been there, taken the ride and bought the T-shirt which took me years to peel off.

So how does toxicity grow?

Humans have an inherent need to be right. It can also be highly addictive. Psychologists and scientists will talk about crocodilian brains, fight- flight-please-appease responses and the amygdala of the brain having such an impact on our responses. We all have them, but many cannot control the impulses. When we combine just one or two of these people in a situation it can cause all of us to react. I’m also sure that those of us thinking we are not the transgressors have at least once stepped into that arena, perhaps without the same fervor or consequences but I’m sure we have. It can be as simple as that satisfaction we feel when we win an argument, make a point later proven correct, or convince someone of our point of view.

Psychological safety in the workplace means that we should be able to talk openly, raise ideas and be ourselves without being shouted down, told we are stupid, eye rolling, sighing and ‘playing the man and not the ball’. It is also not just a ‘male’ thing. I have worked in psychologically unsafe workplaces that were dominated by alpha-females. So with the government enacting a law to protect workers, it is quite broad and will be reliant on precedent as more cases reach legal resolution. The onus appears to be on the leadership to provide a safe workplace, but processes and words alone will not create that. Nor will repeated assuredness by an executive team. It will come with time and action, and it will be built from the ground up as much as from the top down. If we do not stand and deliver, making use of the legislation, then it will remain just words on a memo that no-one buys into.

Communication is one key component. It is our greatest challenge as individuals and we all have strength in communication - it’s just that oftentimes our strength area does not match the situation or the person we are communicating with. Whether spoken, written, non-verbal, technical, emotional, persuasive, factual… rarely does our ‘meaning’ match that of the receiver.

What we say is not what the other person hears. As both a Detective and literacy academic I know that meaning is interpreted by experience. Our context (history, knowledge, experience, economic, politics, education etc) shapes our perspective and no two are the same. When we try to communicate an idea we are driven not only by our perspective, as balanced, unbiased and informed as that may be, it is driven by the amygdala and our inherent need to be right. Combating that is the receivers threat perception and own perspective. If the receiver feels threatened they will react with flight or fight. When it comes to workplaces - think money, ladder climbing, reward and recognition and it is likely to result in ‘fight’.

Our minds create movies and our brains have all of the details. The research, the context, the results, the underlying theories, the checks and balances that have been weighed through as you made the decision. When we communicate, we tell an abbreviated version of this. Even when we write, we think we have filled in all of the necessary information, but when looked at by a third party there are many gaps. This is because the brain already knows the full story, and our mouth-hand connection doesn’t realize that our brain simply filled in the gaps. The person on the other end of this message is already creating a movie of their own in response. Their movie is not just a simple film however. In mere microseconds, their brain has the entire Star Wars franchise coming together, a prequel, a sequel and a few spin-offs. They are bringing anything and everything scary from their past that remotely resembles what they ‘think they are hearing’. After the first 12-18 seconds of conversation they have already tuned out to start pre-production.

So how can we simply apply this knowledge to the workplace?

Slow down. I don’t care how busy you think you are or how busy your executive thinks you need to be. Miscommunication in the workplace costs $6000 per year, and we spend 1.5 days per annum ‘clarifying emails’. Imagine how much is missed in verbal communication?

Psychologically safe workplaces use wording such as …

“Just so I know I’ve given you the details you need to make a decision, can you tell me what you understand about what I’ve told you?”

“I’ve done a lot of work on this and there are probably some details that you might find important, or feel that I may have missed that I can clarify for you”

These openers show vulnerability, tells the responder that you have done a lot of work that needs respect, but gives the responder approval to question without threatening. It also respects the responder by acknowledging that they may have other requirements and you are trying to meet them.

In our Crime Story workshops I find that within minutes of beginning the investigation participants have engaged so fully that their natural personality takes over. After two investigations and some challenging interviews with witnesses/suspects, they are flying their true colours. When we give them the power of being the Detective in charge, the inherent power frame they adopt reveals the imbalances in communication. Dominating, needing to be right and not listening. It is a mirror to their interactions with colleagues and clients and can reveal limitations in their practice.

In all but the most life threatening of circumstances as a Detective and teacher I have had time to make these acknowledgements. As a specialist Child, Cognitive and Conversation management interviewer I would make notes and tell the responder, “Please don’t think that I’m not paying attention, but what you have to say is so important that I want to make sure I don’t miss anything you have said”. If you apply that same sentiment in your workplace conversations it shows the other person you value them. It also gives you the moral high ground to expect the same courtesy when they next deal with you. Set the standard.

True Crime Conversations - Police Detective Trauma Podcast

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 05:58:10 GMT

From domestic violence to murder, sexual assaults, and child abuse, former Australian detective Luke Taylor has witnessed the darkest sides of humanity. After years of carrying the emotional toll, one case pushed him to his breaking point: the tragic murder of a nurse at the hands of her own family. This devastating case marked the end of Luke’s career as a detective. Hear his heartfelt account of that turning point and its lasting impact on his life.

Listen to Luke as a guest on MamaMia

2GB Sydney Interview with Ben Fordham

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 05:58:10 GMT

Luke Taylor joins Ben Fordham in the 2GB Sydney studio. Ben, the long-standing ratings leader of Sydney radio, averages hundreds of thousands of listeners every hour over his 3.5-hour daily show, five days a week.

With 1.3 million students sitting NAPLAN, a staggering 430,000 are falling below expectations. The past few years, impacted heavily by COVID, have seen 3.8 million unexplained absences and 70% disengagement in high schools. Statewide, classrooms are half full.

As a former detective, qualified teacher, and holder of a Master of Writing, Luke Taylor brings a unique approach through hands-on Crime Scene Investigation workshops, designed to engage and captivate students. Tune in to learn more about this innovative teaching method that's making a difference.

Listen to Luke as a guest on 2GB

Want to bring an exciting new approach to your classroom?

Book a Crime Story workshop and immerse your students in hands-on crime scene investigations that promote critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Tailored to meet curriculum standards, our workshops engage learners of all levels, delivering a truly memorable and enriching educational experience.

Unlocking Innovation Through Engaging Learning: Tune in to Luke on Sasha Talks Podcast

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 11:52:46 GMT

Tune in to hear Luke Taylor, an English teacher and writing instructor with a Master's in Writing, as he shares his unique insights from his background as a former detective. Through his business, Crime Story, Luke combines his expertise to create engaging learning experiences. As he puts it, "Ideation is the best way to describe my approach to life, learning, and education. If there’s a more engaging, dynamic, and enjoyable way to learn, that’s what I want to pursue. Whether I’m working with high school students, university learners, or corporate professionals, everyone seeks an unforgettable experience that unlocks their inner innovator."

Listen to Luke as a guest on

Sasha Talks podcast

Why Play-Based Learning Works in High School

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 11:52:45 GMT

Play-based learning is often associated with young children or adults, leaving high school students somewhat overlooked in discussions about its benefits. However, this age group is uniquely positioned for such an approach, as their development becomes increasingly diverse and complex.

While research on play-based learning has primarily focused on sports and gaming in early education, there's a growing movement to incorporate play into academic settings for older students. This shift emphasizes the importance of both hard and soft skills that can be applied beyond the classroom.

Check out Luke's article, "Pleasure, Curiosity, and Creativity: Why Play-Based Learning Works in High School," here .

Want to enhance the learning experience in your classroom? Book a Crime Story workshop today and immerse your students in dynamic crime scene investigations that promote critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Our workshops are tailored to meet curriculum standards and are adaptable for all learning levels, offering a truly engaging educational journey.

Crime Story Featured on Studio 10: Transforming Education Through Immersive Learning

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 11:46:52 GMT

Crime Story was recently highlighted on Studio 10, showcasing our innovative approach to immersive learning through crime scene investigations at the Revesby De La Salle College Legal Studies Workshop. During the segment, Luke Taylor, a former detective and the founder of Crime Story, highlighted the hands-on workshops that engage students in critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Viewers got a glimpse of our exciting crime scenes, where participants explore evidence and apply forensic techniques in a dynamic learning environment. Catch the full feature to discover how Crime Story transforms education and inspires the next generation of thinkers and problem solvers!

Looking to elevate the learning experience in your classroom? Schedule a Crime Story workshop today and engage your students in immersive crime scene investigations that foster critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities. Our workshops are designed to align with curriculum requirements and are flexible enough to cater to all learning levels, providing a unique and captivating educational adventure.

From Detective to Educator Listen to Luke Taylor's Journey of Resilience and Reinvention

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 11:44:28 GMT

Listen in to The Michael Brian Show podcast to hear Luke Taylor discuss his inspiring midlife career change. As a former NSW Police detective, Luke opens up about the challenges of leaving the only job he knew and navigating his journey through PTSD and a lack of confidence. After seeking help, he retrained at university and reinvented himself, now hosting engaging workshops featuring life-sized crime scenes across Australia. Luke's unique approach extends to schools, corporate team-building events, and keynote speaking in education and training, where he shares valuable insights and experiences. Don’t miss this candid conversation about resilience and transformation!

Luke Taylor: Behind the Badge Featured on Mamamia

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 11:44:28 GMT

Luke Taylor, founder of Crime Story and a former detective, shares his compelling journey and experiences in law enforcement, highlighting the harsh realities of working in domestic violence cases. Throughout his career, he encountered the darkest aspects of human behavior, from domestic abuse to murder, gun violence, sexual assaults, drug-related crimes, and child abuse.

Some cases will remain with him forever.

In a candid interview, Luke opens up about the challenges and emotional toll of being a detective. To learn more and see the full video of his story, visit Mamamia here .

Why Transferable Skills Are Important For Success

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 08:05:21 GMT

Leading accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) hired an Arts graduate whose research thesis investigated creative writing for autistic children. Far afield from the usual mathematicians in accountancy, PwC realised the value transferable skills. These ‘soft skills’ are difficult to empirically measure which leads to their neglect by ATAR and the HSC scaling processes. These transferable skills include problem solving, analytical reasoning, critical thinking, communication, leadership, adaptability, writing, listening, creativity, attention to detail, project management, relationship building, computer skills and management. PwC believe that the research and communication shown in the new hire’s thesis, were the skills they needed. Upskilling the graduate in accountancy would be the easy part. Get the right people, then train them for the job.

After a decade of the school system pushing STEM as the elite of academics and innovation it was realised that they were missing an ‘A’. Art is now part of the STEAM acronym, knowing that creativity is essential. Ask law enforcement about the TASER they have strapped to their waist, and they will be in tune with scientists about the technology involved. Where laser is an acronym for ‘light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation’; a taser is the ‘Thomas A. Swift Electronic Rifle’ from a 1911 book. So when you look back at the list of transferable skills in the opening paragraph you’ll notice creativity tucked in the middle, like the A in STEAM.

Transferable skills are currency. They produce procedural knowledge rather than declarative. Why do we need to recall and store information that than can quickly be Googled? Why not know how to use it? In year 7 science (circa mid 1980’s) I learned about igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock. Why? The most use anyone from my school had for this was knowing which rock would best smash a window from ground level. Apart from that I am certain that I have never needed to know or use this information. I would rather have a transferable skill that promotes understanding and inquiry. Transferable skills are recognised by leading psychologist Feuerstein and Bridging Metacognition with one simple process.

How did you perform that skill?

Where else can you use that?

As simple as that, by constantly using and retrieving these skills they build brain power like doing reps in a gym. Education theorists now believe that 70% of class time must be devoted to active learning of skills, for all students, at their zone of proximal development. Skills rather than recalling knowledge. It’s like giving a man a fish or teaching him to fish.

Something new, or simply new again like many pedagogical theories that are thrown out for more fashionable theorem, is the concept of Universal Design for Learning. Based on Representation, Action and Expression, and Engagement, UDL focuses on teaching in multiple formats, have more ways to interact with the material and to show what they have learned with teachers using multiple ways to motivate. This information processing model depicts the benefits of sensory learning in this equation, using sound principles of learning embedded in working memory through real skills. John Hattie (2009) recognises that “when we innovate, we are more aware of what is working and what is not, looking for contrary evidence and consequences”. This is a call for all educators and students. We need to change. What can we do as classroom teachers to better interact with our material? Find our ‘A’. Find the ‘Art’ for our school’s STEAM. There is always something that floats our boat that allows us to be our artistic best. Whether it be poetry, painting, rollerblading or rock climbing, English has room for your ‘A’. Find a way to get your passion in to teaching. Get them to touch, feel, hear, taste, and smell your passion. If you are a rock climber, give them a carabiner, ropes, helmet, gloves. Do a Risk Assessment and get them rollerblading? It’s easy. Take them places outside of the norm. This is physical scaffolding, and it works. It motivates. As Hattie suggests, we also become well attuned to what works…nothing deflates us faster than students who are disengaged in what we love…so fix it, change it, get better at it! You have transferred these skills, lead the way.

I did this with Crime Story workshops, developed for both academic and imaginative writing, artistic expression, creative opportunity, and communication building. Transferable skills are the founding components. Try it, it’s a better way to learn.

Engage, Inspire…Create

Luke Taylor

Crime Story Featured on Channel Nine's Today Show

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 08:42:49 GMT

Crime Story was recently featured on Channel Nine’s Today show for an exciting classroom incursion at Domremy College. Year 9 Critical Thinking and Philosophy students, along with Year 11 Legal Studies students, participated in an immersive crime scene investigation that turned their classroom into a crime-solving adventure .

The students were presented with two realistic crime scenes, packed with evidence that ranged from car parts and used bullets to electrical items and even a garbage bin full of potential clues. Many items contained hidden links to websites and film footage from the crime scenes, adding an extra layer of complexity to the investigation. Students were taught forensic techniques such as fingerprint testing and trace element swabbing, which they applied throughout the day.

The day pushed students to think critically, avoid bias, and ask the right questions, all while working through conflicting evidence and dead ends. By the end of the session, students presented well-reasoned theories, showcasing their teamwork, resilience, and problem-solving skills. The event highlighted the importance of transferable skills, with many students noting how they could apply this new way of thinking to other subjects.

The incursion, filmed by Channel Nine, aired as part of a segment on Today. The entire experience left students buzzing with excitement, and it was clear the hands-on approach to learning made a lasting impact.

Ready to bring an unforgettable learning experience to your classroom? Book a workshop today and immerse your students in hands-on crime scene investigations that enhance critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Tailored to meet curriculum standards and adaptable for all learning levels, Crime Story workshops offer an engaging, educational experience like no other.

When did you last read a comic

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 08:07:17 GMT

When did you last read a comic? Not just a three panel Garfield, but a long form graphic novel? It was harder than I remembered and challenged me to make inferences from the judicious choice of image and words. Context was minimal. Colour was minimal. Words were heavily abbreviated, and sentences truncated. There was a smattering of onomatopoeia and vectors to indicate a flurry of action; cue Batman. My three graphic novels were a mix of classics and ‘Scandi’ (crime) noir. George Orwell’s ‘1984’, Harper Lees ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, and Stieg Larson’s “The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest’. As an English teacher familiar with the classics, it was an enjoyable and easy read. ‘Mockingbird’ was copied verbatim, with some nice touches of colour for Maycombe’s flowers allowing a sensory trip and comfortable examination of the uncomfortable -prejudice and racism. ‘1984’ was an experience in discomfort. Contorted facial expressions, dark colours and a limited palette resonated with the melancholic themes, never really offering hope. Not an easy read, but the familiarity of the text helped. It was only when I opened the graphic interpretation of Stieg Larson’s best seller that I was really challenged. I became a student, a learner once again.

Many of us assume that novels are an adult transition from picture books, and that graphic novels may be regressive. Not true. Like Aldi, they are ‘good, different’ and so much more! Aldi is a good comparison with their shopping anomaly. Where else can you walk down an aisle and follow a pattern of “chips, cheese…chainsaws!” Graphic novels offer a shock to the senses, the unexpected, the conditioned form of digesting a pure novel, or a film. Graphic novels blend these worlds, and it takes practice to master the skill of decoding and comprehending the text. It is nuanced, bold and subtle. Sometimes I would absorb one frame for an eternity, go back a page, sure that I had missed the segue. Generally, I had. I had to make greater jumps of logic, or inferences than I would have with a novel or a film. Books use paragraphs and chapters. Film uses visual and sound bridging to alert the responder to a change. The graphic novel has its own style of minimalist signature change, and it takes getting used to.

As an educator I challenge students to extend themselves. I watch kids struggle with the literacy conventions of a difficult and already hybridised language (English). I empathise with their struggle, but only really understand it when I put myself in that same confronting position. That is how I feel with a graphic novel. I didn’t know the context, the patterns, or the style of Scandi noir graphic novel. Neither does a 15-year-old struggling with 1930’s America or post WW2 Cold War tension. The graphic novel takes the challenge of connecting observations with inferences to another level. I found that processing the information in a single frame was often time consuming. Larson would crowd a police station with up to 6 characters in some scenes, each with a different expression, body language and perspective. Rarely does a novel spend time describing this scene, with only the protagonist/antagonist relationship centre stage. Fast moving film similarly focuses our attention. I found the process of decoding was taking an inordinate amount of time. I checked and double checked every wall, table and vase that was drawn, because nothing is by accident. Everything has meaning.

In graphic novels the relationship between image and words is complicated in its apparent simplicity. Somewhere in between where the words stop, and the image begins is the true meaning. The breadcrumb trail that the reader needs to follow, the seemingly unsolvable crime, but in this case, you do this on every page. You often doubt yourself- just like a child learning a new skill. Image and words carry equal importance in graphic novels. The ratio varies slightly as the novel still tries to maintain rhythm. Just as the written word varies sentence length to increase pace, the complete removal of words does likewise in graphic novels. Action sequences are often devoid of anything but a groan as bone meets bone in a fight scene. The swoosh of a flying fist and the shudder of a jawbone in instant recoil. In this moment Graphic Novels are the purist essence of ‘show, don’t tell’ and are a both a great read and great lesson.

So as summer rolls around and I find myself poolside with long cool drink, it is back to page 7 of my graphic novel. That’s as far as I have gone. There will be amused but understanding students knowing that I am struggling to ‘decode the dominant reading’. I turn back to the six tough looking men in dark suits with ‘V’ shaped foreheads…and I still can’t pick the baddies!

Engage, Inspire…Create

Luke Taylor

Mastering the Art of Writing a Reflection Statement

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 08:03:53 GMT

The Reflection Statement for the Craft of Writing could be worth 50% of your mark. Often overlooked and underappreciated in favour of the ‘actual story’ it is a mistake to ignore it. At best, many students simply record their motivation for writing such a piece and ignore the mechanics of the composition. This is alarming because students have spent 12 years analysing texts; the past two of which was the HSC with English teachers who pull the text apart to ridiculous levels! So why is this alarming?

REVERSE THE PROCESS.

The reflection statement is simply an analysis of your own text. This is you, throwing away Favel Paret and T.S.Eliot and analysing… you [ insert name here ].

Look closely at the image below. It is a film set for a new TV series in Australia. Set in Kings Cross of the past decades the set has been recreated in an old industrial zone in Western Sydney. On one side of the street is the façade; painted, colourful, sturdy and telling a specific story. That is your written response.

On the other side of the street, we see behind the polish, the behind-the-scenes construction. Shipping containers to carry goods and support the shopfront. There are timber support braces, studs, scaffolding, purlins and reinforcing of every kind. In it’s finished product we will never see this, but we know it must be there. We know it is needed. To succeed in the Craft of Writing you need to tell the examiners about it. You need to travel both sides of the road.

Building My Set

Crime Story: HSC Craft of Writing Solved involves a clear understanding of your street. You can drive in 2 directions on this street: story first or reflection first. Now it may sound counter intuitive to reflect on a story not yet written, but you have been tinkering with your idea for a while now. Most of you will have an idea in your head, others will conjure magic in the moment (lucky you!). But you are reflecting on the writing process of 12 months, the entire learning of the HSC. This includes choices of what you used and rejected. This process is a form of reverse engineering. Choose a couple of literary techniques and write your story with that in mind. Don’t leave it to chance. This is a definite plan and won’t leave you scratching for identifiable techniques in your story that probably doesn’t have any. If it does, it is likely by chance.

Here is a quick example of using only ONE technique to great effect. It is pre-planned and executed with a particular plot in mind.

Numbering– “He was the third of his family to graduate with the 101st Airborne. He placed first in his class and was given his preference of five platoons. He had seven hours before flight DX19 taxied the runway at 1400 hours. It was 27th July 2022, and the next 24 hours would change his life. The repetition of numbers always manages to instil a sense of the military, paramilitary, time sensitive, technical, crime and procedural matters that are often de-humanising, turning us all into a ‘number’.

Colour – The roses were an unusual hue for this time of spring. Not yet fully in bloom, the crimson was less pronounced this year, but with the rain of April, they stood out just as much against the many greens of the surrounding garden. Repetition of actual colours combined with allusions of colour create this ocular sensory imagery.

And don’t fall into the trap of listing imagery as a technique. Whilst many literary technique charts will indicate Imagery as a technique, it is vague and misleading. Everything ever written can create an image for someone. Think of ‘imagery’ as being the result of techniques.

Eg: Technique + Technique = Imagery

With only a few, carefully chosen and applied techniques Crime Story will lead you through a workshop that develops these skills using an interactive Crime Scene specifically targeting these transferable skills. Good luck and have some fun with your new skills!

Tattoos – as life narrative

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 08:02:52 GMT

Tattoos were once the domain of bikies, sailors, and artists. Marked for life, an indelible stamp of a drunken whim, momentary love or that championship win. In law enforcement, investigations, and disaster identification they are ‘VDM’s’, Visually Distinguishing Marks. Along with scars, facial hair, moles, and unusual characteristics they allow for positive identification. Tattoos were insignia of adversity and affiliations but now often form a greater narrative of one’s life. Until recently a Police officer was required to wear long sleeves to conceal his ‘sleeve’ as it was considered inappropriate. Nowadays the humble tattoo is so mainstream that yes, even I have one, and I am King of the Nerds.

My inner left forearm bears Jesus’ crucifix and an ode to my greatest ever supporter, “Dad”. The Proverb “the righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him” is a summation of what that great man did for me, my mother and brother and serves as a reminder to strive for those same heights for my own children. It also refers to the role I play for students who are in my care each day. Christianity plays a significant role in my life, coming to me at a time when I was struggling with the horrors of being a Detective, leaving the Force and finding a new way. It’s what also led me to teaching and writing.

My inner right arm is another collaboration with local artist Joe Mouquet. Four stacked books, each resemblant with the names of the four women in my life. My grandmother who saw me through my teenage years after my mother Veronica died way too early, my patiently loving wife Brenda, and my greatest achievement yet – my daughter. The open book is symbolic of my story, still being written. Crime Story is a chapter in a grand narrative that has been adding paragraphs for years. The fountain pen is my ‘nod’ to the classics and part of my pen addiction.

Life narrative and artistic representation is a crucial medium. Graphic novels and comics are one of the greatest markets in literature and a fun, creative method of moulding stories. The balance of images and words can be manipulated for your strength: words or image. What I love most is that it art never seems finished. I always seem to be readjusting, reworking, adding more shade, darker outlines, fewer words. I love the mess and the process. I don’t care if I ever finish if I’m enjoying it. Small achievements are vital. Achievements that are measured by me and me alone, not anyone else.

When we are free to create without restraint, we produce our best results. My parents always encouraged me, and I was lucky to have such parents. I was also of a generation that wasn’t constantly judging or seeking validation through the ubiquitous social media. Today’s students can never escape the unrelenting surge of exposure which can be so cruelly denting to their self-esteem. They can’t leave it at school or work, it follows them into the corners of their rooms. Creative and personal pursuits are a tonic, and it was what led me to this outlet to deal with life’s issues. The messier I got with my scribbling, the more my life balanced out. As teachers, it is our duty to provide that opportunity, comfort, and freedom to get messy with our literature. Design some funky tatt’s that describe life. Throw them together in a comic, or a graphic novel, one frame at a time.

The English classroom should be a composite of all media. A full body tattoo of a painted person. The character Jane Doe in the crime procedural ‘Blindspot’ was a maze of interlocking clues that took investigators on a ride like no other. Posing far more questions than answers it took FBI agents into unchartered territory – trust. They had to trust an unknown ‘person of interest’ who was now a part of their team. They had to trust the tattoos. They had to trust their interpretations of these tattoos. They had to be different to be successful. As teachers, we need to be all those things in order for our students take risks. Trust their interpretation. Trust their chosen medium. Start the task by simply asking for a tattoo. Who does it belong to? Is the character a hero or villain? Where is it set? What is their hobby? What do they wear?

Engage, Inspire…Create

Luke Taylor

People buy stories, not code

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 08:00:30 GMT

Grand Theft Auto? Red Dead Redemption? Wild Witcher or classic Final Fantasy? We are not doing boring old creative writing, nor are we working on our scripts, radio treatments, or monologues. Today we are doing video games. To every platform and gaming PC lookout… Ryzen and GeForce you better handle what’s coming your way. Create a Youtube channel cos here we come.

That is how to start an English lesson for Year 7-10. No matter your preference, there is a game for you. ‘Just like books’ I hear you say. Correct, but the difference is, well, difference. For too long now the disengaged, disenfranchised, disinterested have been subjected to a system that tells them “There are plenty of books that you will like, you just have to find them” whilst the gifted readers carry on without challenge. So, let’s flip it around. The gamers have first choice, and we must adapt. The gamers have the power. The gamers and non-traditional creators have agency.

When my gamers; both male and female (ignore the girls at your peril) are challenged with traditional writing they are unaware of the complexities of the games they play. You are part of a ‘narrative’ and a ‘character arc’ with so many options. Tom Clancy is an author. ‘Rainbow Six’ and ‘Ghost Recon’ are novels. The student is an author, just with a little less precision. Their ideas just are as valid, perhaps more original and infinitely more exciting because they have a previously unheralded character – “[ insert name here ]”.

So don’t get hung up on ‘coding’. Sure, there are great uses for these skills, but code needs a narrative otherwise it sits in binary oblivion. Plots, characters, missions, tension, repercussions, motives…something to put together with your vision. People buy the stories, not the code. They are synonymous with each other, but the story comes FIRST. People buy action, emotion, thrills, danger, problems, solutions…you. They want you.

“One of the most powerful abilities in video game story-telling is how the player’s actions can impact the narrative”.

The computer gaming community needs new blood. What better way to fill this niche than to start working on your ideas in High School? Have a look at some industry advice (Games Radar and Indeed Careers) and see if we can connect the dots to make ‘English’ a little more engaging.

Companies hire video game writers with skills in scriptwriting or creative writing .
Build a writing portfolio . Showcase your creative writing skills by publishing short stories in literary journals or digital publications . Practise making your own games, so you have a writing sample to show a prospective employer.
Research plot ideas.
Collaborate with other designers (no author, designer, creator does anything all on his own)
Develop plots .
Write dialogue .
Editing and updating the script as needed.

The Witcher 3 review in Games Radar best 30 Narratives of all time reveals the following:

Crime Story puts the user in control of the workshop. As a Hard-Boiled detective it fits perfectly for the ‘morally murky’ and ‘ethically good-or-bad’ rules that underpin most games. The hardboiled detective and private investigator were born because of the horrors of the world wars in the first half of the 1900’s. Innocence lost, the ‘cosy crime and manor crime’ gave to way to an ‘end justifies the means’ style of uncompromising law enforcement who believed that cutting a few corners in the name of noble cause corruption for the betterment of society. His character was flawed, his courage unquestionable. The modern detective or forensic analyst was under far more scrutiny thanks to the electronic media, CCTV, private recording, and the ubiquitous nature of computing surveillance. Procedural fairness and human rights were not at the crossroads with uncovering truth with science and psychology. Crime Scene workshops allow any of these manifestations in explorative play-based learning. Interactions are carried out with our methods to recreate authentic dialogue with real props and scenarios. This next level masterclass comes through the hands-on manipulation of Crime Scene analysis to support deeper writing to provide the layered detail on every pixel and graphics card. Everything you need to create a pitch of your own. Get your game on.

Engage, Inspire…Create

Luke Taylor

Hogwarts pedigree…

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 07:57:15 GMT

Harry Potter and the…million movies was filmed in Alnwick Castle, Northumberland in the UK. Turns out my mother lived in Alnwick and went to the Duchess’ Finishing School; the school was within the walls of the castle. Now I may not be a maths teacher, but by my calculations, a parental Visa and a flourish of the wand, I’m qualified to write this article.

J.K Rowling’s journey from a broke, destitute single mother in Scotland is a triumph of adversity. She backed herself. A marriage that lasted less time than the first film and struggling to survive, she had a head full of magic and a desire to get it on paper. So how does J.K Rowling or George R.R Martin bring the richness and vivacity of their worlds to life? How do they begin an epic adventure and in which direction does their character first travel? Students and amateur writers face the same dilemma, and it happens far more often than you think. Sitting in an Edinburgh café writing the first of her classic novels, she did what every writer has to do – just start. And maybe there was an unusual aperitif on the café menu…

Q: How do you eat an elephant?

A: One bite at a time!

For every detail of the whomping tree, living portraits and grand staircase within Hogwarts it was a triumph of achievement. She was writing for herself. Between raising a toddler, studying, and working in education she kept it going, from that very first day the idea came to her on a Manchester train. Not being judged, criticised, and told it wouldn’t work. Like many authors she would have been happy to just create something of her own. One word at a time. One sentence at a time.

David Morell is one of the worlds foremost action writers and author of ‘The Successful Novelist’. He believes we all have a novel in us. For me, that is a bit much to eat right now, I don’t quite have the appetite for the aforementioned elephant. Maybe just a wing…or a leg. Most students are the same. In fact, most people are, but David Morrell’s advice is no less applicable. Write one page a day and on this day next year you will have a 365-page novel. Easy. Right?

I tried this technique and it worked brilliantly for the first week. Reasonably well for the second and died in week three. And I have some skill and qualifications in writing. It should have been easier for me. It wasn’t. It was a chore! It soon moved on from a labour of love to just plain old hard labour – sentenced to 1 year. No early release, no parole. My elephant meal would be fly blown by the time I finished it. So why didn’t it work for me?

I cannot write novels. I also don’t have any desire to. I love to entertain through teaching, storytelling, speaking and short story format. Which is why my techniques and teaching are so well suited to this format, and anything that is involved in High School and Tertiary level education. I am also comfortable with the fact that whilst I may have a collection of publish short stories one day, I am unlikely to be rubbing dust jackets with John Grisham this Christmas. It took a while, but I am comfortable with that, and I don’t judge myself or my self-worth by that metric. In fact, it is quite acceptable for me to order a ¼ elephant and chips now, or simply leave the portion I am not hungry for. We all have different appetites, but the analogy is the same. Just start with a bite. See if you like the taste, then have another. You do NOT have to have all 7 Harry Potter novels mapped out from day dot. It also won’t get you that high mark in High School.

Crime Story uses the same methodical approach as David Morrell. It is also the same methodical approach that Detectives and Forensic analysts do when working a crime. One bite at a time. Work the crime. Use the process. Record the details. Ask the questions. Simple, your elephant degustation is now a 3-course meal in small bite size pieces. Faced with a life size photographed crime scene backdrops measuring 6 x 2 metres, our screens contain details of crime scenes loaded with potential evidence. Match that with real exhibits to ‘work’ and you have a hands-on experience that guarantees better writing… and a lot of fun. Open the forensic tool kit and brush the dichromatic dust to reveal the fingerprints. Swab the DNA, bag the evidence, check prints, retrieve CCTV footage, pick the safe and interview real-life witnesses. Now describe just ONE of these processes. To build confidence we even give you a simple template to follow (within your Confidential File of course!). Talk to your Detective partner about what you think happened. Record it. Guess what? That is dialogue! Simple and so on, over several sequences to build a small story. We even kit you up with everything you will need for ongoing success, any genre, and style, any format. It just works. Crime Story will have you solving crimes and creating narrative in no time.

Engage, Inspire…Create

Luke Taylor

‘Hemingway would fail’: NAPLAN takes toll on creative writing

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 07:55:57 GMT

Subsequent hitherto applications pursuant to aforementioned entitlements all previously corresponded to aspirants must reconsider their qualifications, desirous of and commensurate with their newly created vocation, to wit, ‘Chief Creative Director of Spin’… If I’ve lost you already that is completely understandable, and far more understandable than a mouthful of syllabic torture. As an HSC teacher I would sit back, refill my inkwell, and start running lines through redundant words. When the marker needs a thesaurus to unravel the word jumble, they start to look a little closer. Reading each paragraph over and over, they start to question the judgement of such choice words. In many cases I find that the cumulation of ‘big words’ becomes contradictory and subsequent paragraphs unravel in absolute confusion. Yet we are to blame. Teachers and parents. And NESA, ACARA, myriad curriculum writers and the proliferation of so-called experts – many of which tend be HSC students from previous years selling their dog-eared notes. It becomes a game of Chinese whispers, and the result is…not English!

Why? Because we write ridiculously convoluted descriptors, rationales and…rubrics. We have students so tied up looking for analogous juxtaposed anomalies that they completely lost sight with what subject English is – communication. Effective communication. They believe in a need to include every single buzzword to score well, regardless of their understanding and effectiveness. If I stood next to a hospital bed and screamed “I need a crash cart and ten cc of adrenaline, stat!”, it wouldn’t make me a doctor, just a fan of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. A collective of words does not guarantee meaningful communication. You need to frame every thought, every sentence, every idea, and analysis as a packet of information for the most effective interpretation. Think binary code.

The problem follows ten years of schooling where students are taught to write more. More words, more paragraphs, more pages…with bigger words. I find that when I get hold of Year 11 students they are crushed when I tear strips off their essays. Word counts torn in half. The adage of K.I.S.S still applies, and subject English is communication. Make your point, make it clear, move on. More killer, less filler. You get the point. It is also the reason why we restrict assessments to word limits. I know that students can write 10,000 words, but there are very few instances in life where we have that luxury. Communication, economics, business, medicine, law, engineering, carpentry, mechanics, computer technology are all time sensitive. The world is time sensitive. Subject English dictates that you must decide on the most important 1200 words. It teaches you to make judicious, discerning choices. Make an evaluation and communicate effectively.

So now the tapering begins, the editing process everyone must undertake. Australian author Scott Monk once told me to “reduce it by a third, then a third again”. Imagine 1000 words edited to 666, then to 444 words. It is a harsh process and in academic writing it might not be that extreme but is well worth considering. Regardless of how many words you start with, nothing is lost, everything has value. Your knowledge is broad and deep, but maybe we just don’t want it all at once. Less can be more, especially as it allows room for more content. That is what scores high grades.

The title of this article is linked to a recent Sydney Morning Herald article describing how Hemingway’s economic use of words would not have scored well in NAPLAN. Simplicity was his signature and stood tall against Tolstoy and his luminaries. Ironically, the HSC prescribes George Orwell’s essay on Politics and the English Language describing his golden rules of writing. One of which is use a ‘single word’ when suffice. So where has the confusion come from? Where has the gap developed in our learning and who explains these secrets to our students? When I raise concerns of redundancy and nominalisation ACELA1508 and EN3-6B come to mind, but are left with vacant stares from students. Now I don’t care if anyone knows these glyphs or even what the terms mean, but it is important to recognise it when they see it. Even these Australian and NSW curriculum codes don’t specifically mention these terms, and with the limited training and ‘out of area’ teachers in the system it is difficult. And how can they be expected to get it right when our system rewards years 3,5,7 and 9 NAPLAN with unrefined writing? If a teacher doesn’t choose George Orwell’s text as their prescribed text, they may not know.

Creative and academic writing might appear opposed but they both communicate with the reader. As you start the first edit (of many) of your next masterpiece, try running these preliminary tests.

Redundancy – what is not needed?

Eg: “In spite of the fact that”…”the reason”

“In the event of” …”if”

“there was a total of seven”… “seven”

Nominalisation – turning verbs into nouns, is formal and academic.

Eg: “The discussion within the class was all about how they would best go about studying for the HSC” becomes;

“The class discussed HSC study techniques”

You may have also noticed that I blur the lines of these rules in these blogs. I take a ‘conversational’ tone, not a purely academic tone. Subtle differences, but important to recognise. For Craft of Writing, remember that whatever you choose, use and abuse, explain it in the Reflection Statement. For more details see my earlier article “Reflection Statement”.

Engage, Inspire…Create

Luke Taylor

Change the way you do it

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 07:54:29 GMT

Michael Matthews is an Australian cyclist. As a designated sprinter in his professional team his chances of winning often come down to the final metres of a 250km race. The final stroke of the pedals, the pushing of the bars and the lunge to the line. Any deviation in course, any momentary distraction or slowing rider means the difference between winning and losing, achieving his goal. Not all races suit the sprinters. They need flat stages, fast paced. They do not fair well with mountains and time trials. They need the peloton or ‘pack’ to remain intact without any breakaways. They need a strong team for the ‘lead out train’ which often involves 5 or 6 ‘domestiques’ who are simply there to deliver the sprinter, or team leader on other stages to the line. In most professional races however, there will be 20 teams. Twenty teams with 20 sprinters, each trying to get their own sprint train at the front of the arrowhead. Each teammate peeling off after ‘pulling a turn’ of what might only be a few hundred metres at 65kmph. One after another until the designated sprinter has one or two wheels to drag him the final few metres before sling-shotting to the line at 70kmph. Welcome to the life a sprinter.

What if you could change the way you raced? What if you gave yourself a greater chance, better odds, more opportunities to succeed? Michael Matthews did just that. He saw that the opportunities were limited, and that as he matured from the style that won him the Junior Men World Road Race Championship in a sprint, he needed to find another way. He trained more on the hills, tackling high mountains with the climbers on his team. He time trialled against the clock, learning to ride more consistently and with a steadier cadence on his own, rather than the furious explosions of a sprint. This renewed lease on life made him an allrounder, a puncheur, a rolleur an opportunist and still a sprinter. He could get over the mountains without losing touch, he could make repeated attacks and make breakaways. He could stay away on his own or manage to outfox others in small groups without the reliance on a freight train delivery system. Instead of having a 1 in 200 chance group sprint, his odds would narrow with each splintering of the peloton. 50 riders, twenty, 14 and so on.

And so it was on the 14th stage of this year’s Tour de France where he gradually broke down the opposition, piece by piece. Consistently high paced riding, attacks, and counter attacks until he alone in front…with a substantial climb still ahead in the dying kilometres. After shedding two other riders before the climb to the Mendes Aerodrome, he was joined by the Italian Bettiol, a credentialed climber. In pure grit and determination Matthews held on to his wheel, going with him as he attacked. His newfound confidence, not only in his skills and strength, but his new processes, allowed him to launch a counterattack. He broke Bettiol, pulled away with his diesel like engine ticking all the way to the final few hundred metres where he had such a gap that he coasted to the line, arms aloft.

Writing is the no different. In High School we learn the art of essays. This form of academic writing often comes easy to mechanical brains, and we formulate our structure with PEEL, TEEL, and any other forms that provide guidance. Creative and Crafted writing seems to lag. Perhaps there is a lack of creative writers in the field of English. Most likely it was that they were never taught. After all, to finish a four-year degree at University involves hundreds of…essays! That is our bread and butter, therefore much easier to apply and reinforce. I have found that with lack of repetition, fun and engaging lessons to boost our creative skills, most students fall into the same style they adopted at 5 years of age. This is also the age that many students stop reading for fun. Schools often adopt a ‘pebble, rock, boulder’ approach, a ‘hamburger’ menu or the even the well credentialled 7 Steps programme. Stage 4 study the Hero’s Journey, Stage 5 and 6 will examine Shakespearean 5 Act Structures…all of which provide limited success in the HSC. Why? It is NOT the same race.

The HSC is Michael Matthews’ Stage 14 mountain to his flat stage sprint win 5 years ago. He had to change. Students must change. The Craft of Writing is about producing, creating, reproducing, reflecting, and analysing their own work in just 40 minutes. It is NOT a novel. It is not a 3-hour play. Crime Story: HSC Craft of Writing Solved uses an interactive crime scene analysis to teach the requisite skills for success in the HSC. It is fun and communicates with students on a level never experienced before. Working with cognitive interviewing techniques they develop authentic dialogue. Undertaking forensic investigations develops deeper descriptions, and the criminal investigations inspires open ended questions that promote more intriguing responses. In a four-step process Crime Story will improve your HSC response immediately. It is never too late or too early to polish and refine your craft of writing. It worked for Michael Matthews, it will work for you.

Best interview question ever

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 07:53:05 GMT

Whilst interviewing for Head of English at a Mid North Coast High School a few years back the principal asked about my Masters in Writing. Instead of simply filing it in her memory she challenged me with a simple, yet long overdue question: “How do you use it?”

The teaching fraternity is not unlike other professions where qualifications are currency. Many degrees, teaching included, attach a 5th year Masters (Education) option that is completed immediately after graduating with a Bachelor. Often it is loaded with ‘leadership’ and ‘mastery’ of pedagogy (big word for ‘how we teach’) in a field that many teachers have not yet set foot. Many will never see leadership, nor apply the theory as they struggle with three million curriculum outcomes. This was upfront, honest, and really asking “so what?”

Before I respond, my question for the entire education system is “Why did you stop me becoming a better teacher?”. When I studied a combined Arts/Teaching degree with an English major I only needed a set number of specialist subjects. There were another 20-30 possible subjects depending on the institution. Where was my film study? Creative Writing? If not for having such a great mentor at my first school, I would never have had the depth of knowledge needed. That is what I wanted to keep learning about, not stuck in a week of PD that ticks the NESA boxes and drowns us in legislation. Expensive yes, but at least incentivise the individual pursuit of deeper knowledge.

Having been a Detective for nearly 15 years in my first career I was a bit more mature (hmmm…) than most graduates and understood myself, my students and professional life. I knew that if I was to thrive in this environment, I needed to do things my way. At further expense to myself I pursued a Masters – not in educational leadership or pedagogy, but in what inspired me. Writing. Creative writing, children’s literature, YAF, crime genre, professional writing, editing…That is what makes me a better teacher. One who can’t wait to throw open the door each day, walk the school grounds just talking to my students, getting to know them and what makes them tick. It works for us; it works for them. The more time I spend in my passion the better I feel and allows my brain to work creatively with my students. Knowing how energized I feel about my interest allows my students to feed off my enthusiasm and we look for their passion together. Dare I say scaffolding? ZPD?

I avoid buzzwords with my students…as they learn about themselves and me there is NO WAY, I will call them a ‘lifelong learner’. No, they are just having fun, nailing it, and just enjoying coming into the classroom. Learning almost feels incidental. I once had a year 10 student score over 80% in their final exam, a great improvement over her usual 50%. Open mouthed and eyes like dinner plates she didn’t ask how she did it, only the need to point out “…but Sir, you don’t actually teach us anything!”

And that was the start of my response to my prospective employer. Engage. Inspire. Create. The art of narrative is putting YOU in the driver’s seat. It is not about me, or the school, or Uni. It’s not always about classic literature. Narrative is a RPG, 1st Person shooter, Comic, Graphic Novel, Picture Book, Film, Drama script, song…For me, it is all of these media, depending on what YOU want. The underlying principles are the same, just “trust me to get you there”. I use Crime Story because it is what I know, what I love. It is the biggest genre, year in year out. It is also the basis for ALL genre. Every genre, every story, every game, every film…it is a question and an attempt to find answers. Who is the killer? Will they survive the alien attack? Will true love survive a miscommunication that send her into another man’s arms? Questions, questions, and more questions, all of which are intended for the ‘responder’ to solve before the text reveals the answer. The Crime Story workshops take this journey of promoting questions rather than answers. Hands on, working a crime scene, observing, thinking, solving real life situations.

Engage, Inspire…Create

Luke Taylor