Melbourne Polytechnic confirms 2026 rollout of Future of Housing Construction Centre of Excellence programs
MELBOURNE, 24 March 2026: As pressure grows to build more homes faster, Melbourne Polytechnic's Future of Housing Construction Centre of Excellence (the Centre) has made its inaugural course available online, and confirmed dates for the rollout of its 2026 priority training programs to help upskill Australia's construction workforce.
With a national target of 1.2 million new homes by 2029, the construction sector is under pressure to lift productivity and shorten build times while maintaining quality and sustainability. The Centre is responding by expanding access to industry-aligned training that builds capability and gives workers, employers and new entrants practical skills and knowledge needed to work in modern methods of construction (MMC).
MMC, which includes prefabrication, modular and off-site manufacturing, offer a practical way to deliver housing more efficiently, safely and sustainably. However, broad adoption depends on building workforce understanding and capability at scale. Through its first free online education offering, the Centre is helping workers understand how MMC builds on existing skills and can support industry in meeting the country's housing demand.
Victorian Minister for Skills and TAFE the Hon Gayle Tierney MP said Victoria was helping address housing challenges by investing in the skills needed for modern construction.
"TAFEs are creating secure, well-paid jobs and giving people the skills they need to build a strong future in construction.
"We're delivering opportunities for people to get into high-quality jobs while strengthening the workforce our communities rely on.
"The $50 million Future of Housing Construction Centre of Excellence is jointly funded by the Allan and Albanese Governments," Minister Tierney said.
Frances Coppolillo, Chief Executive of Melbourne Polytechnic, said addressing Australia's housing challenge requires both expanding the workforce and transforming how it operates.
"Through the Future of Housing Construction Centre of Excellence, Melbourne Polytechnic is working with industry and the TAFE Network to build the capability needed for modern methods of construction at scale.
"This is about ensuring Australia's training system is aligned to how homes will be built in the future, and that our workforce is ready to deliver on that demand," Ms Coppolillo said.
The Centre confirmed the online launch of its first course: Rethinking Construction: Introduction to Modern Methods of Construction. This free, two-hour course is designed as a practical introduction to MMC and is open to anyone interested in modern construction methods, whether they are entering the industry, building on existing trade skills or exploring new career pathways. It introduces key approaches, including prefabrication, modular construction and volumetric construction, and shows how they are already being used across Australia to deliver faster, safer and higher-quality builds.
The public launch of the Centre's first online course coincides with the launch of its Education Strategy and 2026 Education Delivery Plan, which set out a national, industry-led approach to developing MMC capability through flexible, stackable training pathways and courses co-designed with industry.
Craig Battams, Vocational Trainer at Melbourne Polytechnic, said improving understanding of MMC across the workforce was critical to industry transition.
"By taking our introductory course online, we're making modern methods of construction accessible to workers nationally, empowering them to build the skills needed for the future," Mr Battams said.
Following the introductory course, the next online offering available from early April is MMC for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME): A Practical Transition Toolkit and in the coming months, Design for Manufacture and Assembly Essentials.
These courses are designed to help small businesses prepare for MMC adoption and to support designers, tradespeople and supervisors to better understand how innovative prefabrication, design and assembly approaches can improve buildability, efficiency and quality across the construction process.
Developed with support from industry partners including prefabAUS, the courses are aligned with current practice and evolving industry needs, helping ensure learners gain relevant and up-to-date knowledge.
Enrolments to the online course, Rethinking Construction: Introduction to Modern Methods of Construction, are now open. To register, visit: www.melbournepolytechnic.edu.au/short-courses/rethinking-construction-modern-methods-of-construction
