OBI & ATS Partnership
OBI have partnered with the Centre for Advanced Training Systems (ATS) to progress approaches, services and technologies, that relate to workplace Health and Wellbeing. These innovative research driven tools are provided as part of the Wellness Culture Toolkit and include the stress management application Performance Edge VR



What is Performance Edge VR?
-
A Virtual Reality (VR) training solution for stress management skills
-
Focused on practical training and skills development
-
Created for group delivery
-
Targeting high stress groups / workers
-
Particularly effective for groups who face unpredictable stressors
-
Contains widely accepted and evidence-based skills and strategies
-
Provided/reframed as fundamental life skills useful in any challenging situation
-
Preventative rather than an intervention
Why Performance Edge VR?

Virtual Reality
-
Mobile all-in-one deployment
-
Biofeedback integration
-
Unmanned, consistent delivery of content
-
User engagement
-
Immersion, engaging and interactive
-
Privacy in a classroom setting

360° Video Content
-
Immersive environments (relaxing, distracting and confronting)
-
Grounding in a variety of different environments (visual, auditory)
-
Maintain slow and steady breathing in a distracting environment (@ rock concert)
-
Chose your own adventure style story telling (emphasising connection of thoughts, emotions and behaviour)
-
Customise relaxation environment (PMR)

Practical Training in VR
CGI and game play elements can:
-
Generate engaging training exercises
-
Be used as visual biofeedback guides
-
Generate activities and scenarios that are thought provoking and trigger emotions
-
Create stronger carryover effects into real life

Developed with the Australian Defence Force (ADF)
-
Extension to the existing stress management framework used within Defence
-
Designed to be applicable for a broad training population and civilians
-
User-centred design over 6 individual trials
-
Over 400 training sessions delivered to ADF staff

Robustly Tested
-
Comprehensive research and testing with ADF population
-
Additional testing with healthcare professionals, and university students and staff
-
"Training is immersive and engaging"
-
"Improves skills, knowledge, and confidence"
-
"Easy to use, set-up and implement within existing training context"
-
"Privacy within the headset is a valued attribute"
-
For healthcare workers "supports de-escalation training"

Scientifically Validated
-
Scientific evaluation reported in peer-reviewed journals:
-
Metrics go beyond levels of usability and engagement to show significant positive effects on:
-
Skill development during training
-
Skill improvement after training
-
Training impact in the real world
-
Intention to use the skill
-
Confidence
-