MANAGED WORDPRESS

Logos for Spark Digital and The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

Building a New
Digital Hub to Advance
Neuroscience Research

Spark Digital Agency transforms The Florey Institute’s digital presence with WordPress,
boosting engagement, donations, and operational efficiency.

Industry:

Healthcare

Spark Digital - The Florey case study: Brain imaging on a screen.

"The Spark team went above and beyond to deliver a completely rebuilt and revitalized website for The Florey, incorporating new branding and features and a beautiful visual design."

— Georgia Brown, Head of Communications and Engagement, The Florey Institute

40%

Increase in donation form views

9.7%

Increase in page views

8.2%

Increase in unique visitors

The Client

The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health is Australia’s leading brain research institute. Focused on neurological and mental health conditions such as dementia, epilepsy, and stroke, The Florey is the largest brain research center in the Southern Hemisphere and works closely with research partners, healthcare providers, and the community to pioneer innovations in brain health.

Established in 2004, Spark Digital Agency is a leading Australian digital agency specializing in transformative mobile app development and web design. With over two decades of experience, the agency has successfully planned, designed, built, and supported hundreds of mobile apps and websites across sectors such as mental health, research, and education.

Logos for The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Spark Digital
Spark Digital - The Florey case study: Researchers looking at data.

The Challenge

Modernize The Florey’s website and improve user engagement. The existing site, built on ExpressionEngine and reliant on unsupported plugins, hindered usability and site management. The Florey needed a solution that would enhance functionality for scientific communities, students, donors, and the general public while enabling efficient content updates and long-term scalability.

The Solution

Spark Digital Agency replatformed The Florey’s website on WP Engine’s managed platform for WordPress, ensuring a lower total cost of ownership and the seamless migration of 500+ content types via WordPress Extended RSS and Advanced Custom Fields The new site enhances branding and research visibility with a responsive design and an improved UX boosts engagement. Integrated tools and donation systems further streamline interactions, while a new content approval workflow supports internal governance.

Spark Digital - The Florey case study: The Florey Institute homepage

The Results

Spark Digital’s work on The Florey Institute website delivered a modern, scalable, and user-centric digital experience that significantly improved accessibility, engagement, and operational efficiency.

Previously constrained by an outdated platform, the site struggled with usability gaps, a rigid content management structure, and disconnected third-party tools. Content updates were challenging and impeded interactions with key audiences, including researchers, students, and donors.

By replatforming the site to WordPress on WP Engine's fully managed platform, Spark Digital introduced a streamlined, responsive design structure that not only improved navigation but also showcased The Florey’s groundbreaking research with greater clarity and impact.

The revamped site also incorporated seamless third-party integrations with, MailerLite, and Blackbaud, streamlining email marketing, and fundraising. These integrations allowed The Florey to better engage with its audiences, simplifying processes that were previously fragmented and time-consuming.

To further enhance internal efficiency, a structured content approval workflow was implemented, ensuring updates could be reviewed and published with greater accuracy and timeliness. This reduced bottlenecks and empowered different internal teams to manage content effectively while maintaining consistency across the site.

Another key component of the transformation was the use of ACF to create a flexible content architecture. This allowed site administrators to easily manage and update structured content—including research profiles, project listings, and institutional updates—without requiring technical expertise.

It was also particularly valuable during the migration process, as ACF enabled the seamless transfer of more than 500 content types, preserving complex data relationships and ensuring long-term scalability.

The shift to WordPress and a more scalable hosting environment also reduced The Florey’s total cost of ownership, eliminating reliance on a smaller hosting provider with limited support capabilities.

Florey’s internal teams can now handle day-to-day and urgent website updates independently, saving time and resources. This efficiency has enabled the institute to redirect efforts toward larger digital initiatives, driving greater value across its web presence.

All of these improvements resulted in measurable success, including an increase in user engagement.

The refreshed, user-friendly design and improved navigation contributed to a 9.7% increase in page views and an 8.21% rise in unique visitors.

Additionally, the optimized donation workflow led to higher conversions, thanks in no small part to a 40.15% increase in donation form views post-launch.

The transition to WordPress also reduced reliance on IT support, empowering The Florey’s internal teams to manage content autonomously, ensuring faster updates and more scalable digital operations.

The project also earned Spark Digital a WP Engine Agency Partner Award for “Business Transformation,” recognizing the agency’s expertise in delivering impactful digital experiences that support long-term institutional growth.

“Today, The Florey Institute is better equipped to connect with researchers, students, donors, and the general public,” said Spark Digital Founder Nick Davies.

“The new site reinforces its leadership in neuroscience and mental health research while driving deeper engagement with its global community.”

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