Victorian Minister for Skills and TAFE, Gayle Tierney, has today announced the signing of Memorandums of Understanding by Melbourne Polytechnic with construction and manufacturing leaders, peak bodies and TAFEs to co-design an operating model for a new national hub for training and innovation.
The Minister (pictured, centre) said the Future of Housing Centre of Excellence – announced in December last year – will be the first national Centre of Excellence based in Victoria and will address critical challenges faced by Australia’s housing construction industry by creating innovative training and skills development linked to Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).
Melbourne Polytechnic has today established formal partnerships with PrefabAUS, Building 4.0 CRC, the Housing Industry Association, BuildSkills Australia, Tradeswomen Australia, Master Builders Association of Victoria and the Victorian Skills Authority.
“We’re proud to support Melbourne Polytechnic with the Future of Housing Construction Centre of Excellence – the first dedicated training facility in Australia focused exclusively on advanced construction courses,” said Minister Tierney.
“Industry collaboration and support for the Centre is crucial for students to get the skills they need to meet the needs of the future of housing construction in Australia.”
Located at Melbourne Polytechnic’s Heidelberg campus, the Centre is set to provide a national platform for skills development, workforce transformation and applied research.
The Centre will also model inclusive and sustainable training practices, promoting gender equality and environmentally responsible construction, the Minister said.
“The Centre represents the kind of bold, systemic change needed to tackle Australia’s critical skills shortages while addressing the deep gender imbalance in trades,” said Tradeswomen Australia Group CEO, Clea Smith.
“By embedding equity and inclusion into vocational pathways from the outset, the Centre creates a real opportunity to transform the sector.”
The design of the Centre is expected to be finalised in late 2026, with the Centre to open in 2029. It will feature purpose-built facilities, cutting-edge equipment, and digital technologies, such as a holographic training suite.
“Our industry partners are essential to driving innovation and ensuring the Centre delivers lasting impact for the housing construction sector and our communities,” said Melbourne Polytechnic CEO, Frances Coppolillo.
“The Centre is committed to enhancing workforce diversity and driving structural change in the housing construction sector, with a strong focus on increasing the participation, retention and advancement of women in training pathways and careers.”
The $50 million Future of Housing Construction Centre of Excellence is being jointly funded by the Federal and Victorian Governments.
