The National Centre for Vocational Educational (NCVER) delivered a report this week predicting that only 47 per cent of students who enrolled in a Certificate I or above Vocational Education and Training (VET) program in 2016 will complete their program. Disappointingly, the projected completion rate for architecture and building programs is even lower, at just 33 per cent. This is particularly worrying when there is a massive skills shortage for qualified tradespeople.

Companies, governments and individuals investing in training want a far greater return on investment. Master Builders Victoria knows this well, and has been serving the building and construction industry through its Registered Training Organisation (RTO) for more than 20 years. On average, we train more than 3500 students annually through our RTO, with an average completion rate of 82 per cent across our Certificate III, IV and Diploma qualifications. This statistic places us well above the national average for all qualifications, and two-and-a-half times greater than the national average for architecture and building qualifications.

As robotics, artificial intelligence and software platforms are incorporated increasingly in building and construction business processes, workers of the future will require more than just technical skills. Collaborative teams, reliant on team members with honed communication, critical thinking and decision-making skills will give a business a competitive edge.  Master Builders Victoria, engaged with industry at all levels, understood early the need for ‘future-skilling’, and six years ago launched the cutting-edge Building Leadership Simulation Centre (BLSC). The BLSC has trained 5500 students in leadership habits, conflict resolution, interpersonal communication, high-performance teaming, managing difficult conversations and critical thinking, amongst other effective behavioural and soft-skills programs. Independent university research has shown that the skills learned during simulation training are transferred to the workplace and are used long after the training program was attended. Participants have rated this training at a consistent average of between 4.6 and 5.00 (out of a possible 5) across all BLSC programs.

Master Builders Victoria’s RTO and BLSC continue to forge ahead in industry relevant training. Recently, the RTO has introduced several courses in waterproofing. Even though waterproofing represents only 1 per cent of an overall build cost, the effect of poor-quality waterproofing efforts accounts for more than 50 per cent of the cases brought before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). The BLSC has delivered a number of new programs this year including Simplicity in Selling, Leading with Diversity and Inclusion, and Building Workplace Resilience.

Master Builders Victoria’s ability to help you empower your workforce doesn’t stop with public training programs. Both the RTO and BLSC are highly experienced in building custom programs for your business.

Let us help your business to lead and succeed by empowering your people with cutting edge, industry relevant training...for now and the future.

For RTO programs contact Corrie Williams; for BLSC programs contact Alan Odgers.