Investment coup as Melbourne wins world leading training centre

Melbourne is home to a world-leading simulation training centre, the Executive Director of the Master Builders Association of Victoria (Master Builders), Brian Welch, said.
“This is a coup for Australia, with Melbourne to be one of only three cities in the world to offer state-of-the-art simulation training in the building and construction industry,” Welch said.
More than $10 million is being invested into the Master Builders Building Leadership Simulation Centre (BLSC), which will use 3D technology, replica site sheds and a team of trained actors to create an immersive, interactive learning environment. It will have the capacity to train thousands of building professionals a year, from project managers right through to apprentices.
“Master Builders will use the centre to up skill experienced workers and provide international best practice to the training of the next generation of building and construction apprentices,” Mr Welch said.
“In Victoria we have highly skilled building and construction workforces. The BLSC will help us to maintain our competitive edge.
“As well as impacting workers, delays and accidents cost time and money. Experience in Europe shows that this style of training lifts employee performance, delivering safer, faster and more cost effective building.
“That is good for our workforce, good for employers and ultimately good for Victoria’s economy.”
He said the South Melbourne centre, due to open in July, would be a paradigm shift for industry training. Participants will practice communication and problem solving as they navigate two three-dimensional building sites projected onto a 15 metre wide panoramic screen.
“The BLSC is a totally safe environment where trainees can make mistakes without the risk of project delays, budget overruns or injuries that exist on real building sites,” Welch said.
Michiel Schrijver, owner and developer of the world’s first simulation training centre for the building industry in the Netherlands said the European experience showed that this style of training developed communication and decision-making skills effectively.
“In a complex, competitive and rapidly changing environment, building professionals need strong communication and problem-solving skills as well as technical ability,” Schrijver said.
“Simulation training develops the component of performance that can’t be addressed by policy, procedure and process. It targets behaviour, culture and communication.”