The Australian and Victorian governments are jointly investing $50 million over 5 years to deliver a state-of-the-art Melbourne Polytechnic Future of Housing Construction Centre of Excellence (the Centre), Heidelberg campus.
The Centre will address critical challenges facing Australia’s housing construction sector by creating an innovative training and applied research hub that will help drive nation-wide growth in skills development for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). The Centre will boost workforce productivity to help deliver on national housing needs.
The Centre will:
- design and deliver industry-relevant and innovative training methods and materials to uplift the technological and digital skills of traditional trades through MMC and Industry 4.0 techniques
- feature purpose-built facilities, cutting-edge equipment, and digital technologies, such as a holographic training suite
- incorporate co-located industry partners, starting with prefabAUS, the peak body for Australia’s MMC industry, providing expertise in prefabrication and modular construction techniques
- model inclusive and sustainable training practices, promoting gender equality and environmentally responsible construction
- collaborate with industry, other TAFEs, universities, Jobs and Skills Councils and innovation partners, including Building 4.0 Cooperative Research Centre, on applied research and real-world problem-solving programs in MMC and systems
- build MMC teaching capability, including support, and mentoring for industry experts to transition into teaching roles
- disseminate best-practice across the National TAFE Network to move towards a modernised construction sector.
The Centre will be located at Melbourne Polytechnic’s Heidelberg campus to leverage the work being developed through Melbourne Polytechnic’s Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence, as well as adopt learnings gained through their Clean Economy Skills Lab for Residential Building and Construction and Skills Lab for Circular Design.
The Centre will capitalise on the broader TAFE network, employing a collaborative co-design approach that involves key stakeholders and integrates seamlessly with the Skills Labs to deliver dynamic and industry-aligned training.
This is the ninth TAFE Centre of Excellence to be established under the National Skills Agreement.
Background information
TAFE Centres of Excellence will increase collaboration between TAFEs, through partnerships with employers, unions, universities and other stakeholders. They will deliver the skills people need for good secure work and careers.
The Australian Government is investing $325 million under the five-year National Skills Agreement to establish a network of up to 20 TAFE Centres of Excellence.
Each Centre of Excellence will focus on high skills needs to help deliver a skilled workforce for strategically important industries.
More information
- Visit the TAFE Centres of Excellence page
- Learn more about the National Skills Agreement
- Learn more about the Jobs and Skills Councils
- Read the Minister's media release