Please turn your device to portrait.
Australia’s first Certificate III dedicated to prefabrication installation will train workers to assemble modular, panelised and pod-based building systems.
Australia’s first Certificate III in Prefabrication Installation has been launched at Melbourne Polytechnic’s Future of Housing Construction Centre of Excellence, providing a new training pathway for workers entering the modern methods of construction sector.
The initial pilot intake will be delivered through the Centre’s Heidelberg West campus using a combination of online learning, workplace delivery and practical training blocks designed to simulate prefabrication installation environments.
The qualification will cover the installation of prefabricated, modular, panelised and pod-based building systems, alongside communication, teamwork, safety and problem-solving skills. It is intended to prepare students for roles including prefabrication installer, modular construction worker, offsite manufacturing technician and construction trades assistant.
For employers, the course is expected to provide a more consistent pipeline of trained installers as prefabricated construction systems become more widely adopted.
Watch their story
Training responds to changing construction methods
The qualification was developed in consultation with industry through the Future of Housing Construction Centre of Excellence.
Federal Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles said workforce development would be central to increasing the industry’s capacity to deliver housing.
“Building more homes, more efficiently starts with building the skilled workforce Australia needs,” Giles said.
“This new qualification will help more Australians develop the practical skills needed to embrace modern construction methods and deliver more homes, faster.”
Victorian Minister for Skills and TAFE Colin Brooks said the qualification reflected the need for vocational education to respond to new construction technologies.
“New technology means new skills. This course makes sure our tradies are ready for it,” Brooks said.
Melbourne Polytechnic Chief Executive Frances Coppolillo described the Certificate III as the first qualification of its kind in Australia.
“The Centre is working closely with industry to identify emerging workforce needs and translate them quickly into practical training,” Coppolillo said.
“For students, this means developing the hands-on skills and confidence to work with prefabricated building systems and join a growing area of construction.”
Victoria is home to more than 200 businesses operating across modern methods of construction, including design, manufacturing, transport, assembly and installation. The Centre is already delivering four industry-designed short courses intended to help existing construction workers and businesses adopt these methods.
The $50 million Future of Housing Construction Centre of Excellence is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments and operates as a national hub for construction training, research and industry collaboration.
Find the Future of Housing Construction Centre of Excellence HERE
