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Case study

Haemophilia Foundation Australia

The Haemophilia Foundation of Australia (HFA) is the leading organization representing the Australian bleeding disorders community. Dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by haemophilia, von Willebrand disease, and other inherited bleeding disorders, HFA plays a pivotal role in advocacy, education, and support. By fostering collaboration with healthcare professionals, government agencies, and international partners, HFA ensures access to essential care and resources for the bleeding disorders community.

Heartburst have been working with Executive Director Natashia Coco and the HFA team for almost 10 years, developing and supporting their multi-site, national online presence. 

As their website needs evolved, HFA sought a solution to modernize their digital presence while maintaining operational efficiency and accessibility for users. We were very happy to continue our collaboration for this next phase.

WaterAid works to transform lives by ensuring communities worldwide have access to clean water, proper sanitation, and good hygiene. With millions of people still living without these basic necessities, WaterAid helps unlock potential and create lasting change where it’s needed most.

The Challenge

HFA’s existing CMS introduced a revised subscription model, driving costs to prohibitive levels for a non-profit organization. They needed a scalable, cost-effective platform capable of handling their complex content management and migration requirements.

Key challenges included:

  • Multisite Content Management: HFA required a multisite platform that allowed content to sync and publish seamlessly from a central parent site to associated subsites.
  • Custom Content Migration: The existing site contained hundreds of pages and media resources. Migrating this content required custom scripts to export data from the previous platform and advanced tools to import structured content into WordPress, ensuring compatibility with the new theme parameters.
  • User-Friendly Experience: Both front-end users and website administrators required an intuitive interface for accessing and managing resources.

The project demanded a robust strategy to address the technical complexity of content migration and the operational needs of a multisite setup while ensuring a smooth transition for HFA’s staff and stakeholders.

Our Approach

To address these challenges, we selected a WordPress Multisite environment as the foundation for HFA’s new digital platform. This solution offered the flexibility to manage multiple subsites under one centralized framework, simplifying content synchronization and publishing processes.

Steps in the approach included:

  1. Discovery workshop:  We facilitated a workshop based on human centred design principles to establish the new and improved site map and menu system.
  2. Platform Selection and Setup: Implementing WordPress Multisite ensured efficient content management and scalability for future needs.
  3. Custom Content Migration:
    • Exporting Data: Custom scripts were developed to extract content from HFA’s existing platform, including pages, media resources, and metadata.
    • Structured Import: Advanced migration tools were utilized to map and import structured content into WordPress, aligning it with the parameters of the new theme to ensure consistency and compatibility.
  4. Design for Usability: The front-end user experience was addressed to ensure that helpful resources could be easily found. The WordPress templates and content were configured to make accessing and managing resources intuitive and efficient.
  5. Scalability and Future-Proofing: The platform was configured to accommodate future expansion, allowing HFA to add new subsites or features as their needs evolve.

The Solution

The final solution delivered a modern, user-friendly WordPress Multisite platform that addressed HFA’s unique challenges and supported their mission. Key outcomes included:

  • Centralised Content Management: A seamless system for syncing and publishing content across subsites, streamlining operations and reducing administrative overhead.
  • Custom Migration Success: The use of tailored scripts and advanced tools ensured the successful migration of hundreds of content pages and media resources, with no loss of critical information.
  • Cost Savings: Transitioning away from the expensive subscription model significantly reduced ongoing costs, allowing HFA to allocate resources more effectively.
  • Enhanced Usability: A redesigned user and admin interface provided an intuitive experience for all stakeholders.
  • Future-Ready Platform: The scalable WordPress Multisite setup positions HFA for continued growth, enabling the addition of new features and subsites as needed.

By transitioning to a WordPress Multisite environment, HFA now has a robust and cost-effective digital platform that empowers them to better serve the Australian bleeding disorders community.

View the Haemophilia Foundation Australia national website 

View the HFA state sites:

Team members from our digital agency for nonprofits

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