Understanding WHS eLearning Course Costs

Creating a custom Workplace Health & Safety (WHS) eLearning course is a significant investment for Australian organizations. Understanding the factors that influence pricing helps you budget appropriately and make informed decisions about your training development.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down what affects WHS course costs, typical market rates, and how to determine what you should expect to pay in 2025.

What Affects WHS eLearning Course Costs?

Several key factors influence the final price of a custom WHS training course:

1. Course Complexity

Simple WHS Courses ($5,500 - $7,500)

  • General workplace safety awareness
  • Basic hazard identification
  • Standard PPE requirements
  • Template-based design in Articulate Rise
  • 20-30 minutes of content

Complex WHS Courses ($10,500 - $20,000)

  • Industry-specific safety protocols
  • Interactive simulations and scenarios
  • Custom branching logic
  • Advanced assessments
  • Custom Articulate Storyline development
  • 45+ minutes of content

2. Content Readiness

The state of your existing content dramatically affects pricing:

  • Script Ready: If you have a complete, approved script ready to build, costs are lower ($5,500+)
  • Content Materials Available: PowerPoints, manuals, and documents that need structuring ($7,500+)
  • Starting from Scratch: Full content writing and instructional design required ($10,500+)

3. Industry-Specific Requirements

Different industries have unique WHS requirements that affect development:

  • Construction: Height safety, confined spaces, machinery operation
  • Healthcare: Infection control, manual handling, chemical safety
  • Manufacturing: Machine guarding, lockout/tagout, hazardous materials
  • Office: Ergonomics, emergency procedures, mental health

Industry-specific courses typically cost 20-30% more than general WHS training due to specialized content and compliance requirements.

4. Interactivity Level

The level of interactivity significantly impacts cost:

  • Basic Interactions: Click-to-reveal, accordions, simple quizzes ($5,500-$7,500)
  • Moderate Interactions: Drag-and-drop, hotspots, scenarios ($7,500-$10,500)
  • Advanced Interactions: Simulations, 360° environments, branching scenarios ($10,500-$25,000+)

5. Additional Requirements

Extra features add to base costs:

  • Professional Voiceover: $500-$1,500
  • Custom Illustrations: $1,000-$5,000
  • Video Production: $2,000-$10,000
  • Translation: $1,500-$3,000 per language
  • SCORM Compliance: Usually included, but verify
  • Mobile Optimization: Should be standard in 2025

Market Rates for WHS eLearning in Australia

Based on 2025 market analysis, here’s what Australian organizations typically pay:

Budget Tier ($3,000 - $7,500)

  • Freelance developers or small studios
  • Template-based courses
  • Limited customization
  • Minimal instructional design
  • Best for: Small businesses with tight budgets

Mid-Market Tier ($7,500 - $15,000)

  • Established developers with proven processes
  • Custom design within templates
  • Professional instructional design
  • Reasonable turnaround times (3-6 weeks)
  • Best for: Mid-sized organizations seeking quality and value

Premium Tier ($15,000 - $30,000+)

  • Full-service agencies
  • Highly customized solutions
  • Extensive project management
  • Custom animations and interactions
  • Longer development timelines (8-12 weeks)
  • Best for: Large enterprises with complex needs

Hidden Costs to Watch For

Many agencies don’t advertise all costs upfront. Watch for:

  1. Revision Fees: Some charge per revision round (can add $2,000-$5,000)
  2. Project Management: May be charged separately ($1,500-$3,000)
  3. LMS Testing: Integration and testing fees ($500-$2,000)
  4. Source File Access: Some withhold files unless you pay extra ($500-$1,500)
  5. Hosting Fees: Annual costs for course hosting ($500-$2,000/year)
  6. Update Fees: Changes after delivery ($150-$300/hour)

How to Budget for WHS eLearning

Follow this framework to determine your budget:

Step 1: Define Your Requirements

  • Course duration (15, 30, 45+ minutes?)
  • Audience size
  • Industry-specific needs
  • Interactivity expectations
  • Timeline constraints

Step 2: Assess Your Content

  • Do you have a script? (Save 30-40%)
  • Do you have SME access? (Save 20-30%)
  • Do you have existing materials? (Save 15-25%)

Step 3: Calculate Total Cost of Ownership

  • Initial development: $X
  • Annual updates: $X
  • LMS hosting: $X
  • Training administration: $X
  • Total 3-year cost: $X

Step 4: Consider ROI

  • Reduced workplace incidents
  • Lower insurance premiums
  • Improved compliance
  • Time savings vs. in-person training
  • Scalability benefits

When to Choose Custom vs. Off-the-Shelf

Choose Off-the-Shelf When:

  • Generic WHS content is sufficient
  • Budget is under $3,000
  • Need immediate deployment
  • Training 10-50 employees

Choose Custom When:

  • Industry-specific requirements exist
  • Company-specific policies must be included
  • Need to reflect your workplace/equipment
  • Training hundreds or thousands
  • Building long-term training library

What You Should Expect for $7,500

At The E-Learning Company, our $7,500 WHS courses include:

  • 30-45 minutes of professional training content
  • Custom structure based on your materials
  • Modern, responsive design that works on all devices
  • Articulate Rise development with standard interactions
  • SCORM packages for any LMS
  • 3-week delivery from kickoff to final course
  • Unlimited revisions during development period
  • Source files for future updates

What’s NOT included:

  • Custom illustrations (we use professional stock assets)
  • Video production (we can incorporate your videos)
  • Professional voiceover (available as add-on for $500)
  • Content writing from scratch (this would be our $10,500 tier)

Questions to Ask Potential Developers

Before committing to a developer, ask:

  1. “What’s included in your quoted price?”
  2. “How many revision rounds are included?”
  3. “What’s your typical timeline?”
  4. “Can I see examples of WHS courses you’ve built?”
  5. “What happens if we need updates after delivery?”
  6. “Do we own the source files?”
  7. “What’s your refund/cancellation policy?”
  8. “How do you handle SME interviews?”
  9. “What’s your process for compliance verification?”
  10. “Do you provide SCORM packages for testing?”

Common WHS Course Topics and Estimated Costs

Here’s what specific WHS topics typically cost:

TopicComplexityTypical Cost
General WHS InductionLow$5,500 - $8,000
Manual HandlingLow-Medium$6,500 - $10,000
Fire SafetyLow-Medium$6,500 - $10,000
First Aid AwarenessMedium$8,000 - $12,000
Chemical SafetyMedium-High$10,000 - $15,000
Confined Space EntryHigh$12,000 - $18,000
Working at HeightsHigh$12,000 - $20,000
Machinery OperationHigh$15,000 - $25,000+

How to Reduce WHS eLearning Costs

Smart strategies to lower development costs:

  1. Prepare Content Upfront: A complete script can save 30-40%
  2. Use Templates: Accept template-based design instead of custom
  3. Limit Scope: Focus on essential content only
  4. Provide Assets: Supply your own photos, videos, logos
  5. Batch Projects: Develop multiple courses together for discounts
  6. DIY Updates: Request source files and make minor updates yourself
  7. Skip Unnecessary Features: Do you really need that 360° simulation?

Red Flags When Evaluating Quotes

Be cautious if:

  • ❌ Price is significantly below market ($2,000 for a 30-minute course)
  • ❌ No revision policy is specified
  • ❌ Timeline seems unrealistic (complex course in 1 week)
  • ❌ Developer has no WHS course examples
  • ❌ Contract has vague deliverables
  • ❌ You don’t receive source files
  • ❌ No compliance verification mentioned
  • ❌ Payment terms are 100% upfront

Conclusion: What Should You Pay?

For a professional, effective WHS eLearning course in Australia in 2025:

  • Budget for $7,500 - $12,000 for most standard WHS courses
  • Expect 3-6 weeks development time
  • Demand transparency on what’s included
  • Verify experience with compliance training
  • Negotiate source file access upfront

The cheapest option isn’t always the best value. Consider the total cost of ownership, including updates, hosting, and potential rework if quality is poor.

Get a Fixed-Price Quote

At The E-Learning Company, we believe in transparent pricing. Our WHS courses start at $5,500 + GST for build-only projects, with most organizations investing $7,500 - $10,500 depending on their content readiness.

View our pricing →

Need a custom WHS course? Get a fixed-price quote in 24 hours with no obligation.

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Last updated: October 2025. Market rates and recommendations based on Australian eLearning market analysis.