Supporting jobs and growth in Melbourne's booming north

As Melbourne continues to grow -  and global challenges, including rising transport costs, influence how people live, study and work - place‑based education and training is becoming increasingly important. 

Melbourne Polytechnic is working with government and industry to ensure training opportunities are accessible and aligned to the needs of growing communities. 

As part of this approach, Melbourne Polytechnic has expanded its presence in Melbourne’s north and has committed to opening a new training site in Wallan later this year. 

Workforce and skills partnership with National Intermodal 

A key focus of Melbourne Polytechnic’s engagement in the region is the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct (BIP), a nationally significant infrastructure project officially launched by the Commonwealth Government in December 2025. 

Located on the Inland Rail route, the BIP will serve as the southern connection for Inland Rail and is expected to play a critical role in Australia’s freight and logistics network. 

In support of early workforce planning for the Precinct, Melbourne Polytechnic and National Intermodal Corporation Limited have signed a Strategic Workforce and Skills Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). 

The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration focused on workforce development, skills intelligence and the exploration of future education and training pathways aligned with emerging workforce needs as the Precinct develops.  

Slated for completion in 2029, the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct is expected to provide a direct freight link between Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, with capacity to handle up to 500,000 20‑foot containers annually. The project is projected to generate up to 17,000 local jobs and remove an estimated 167,000 truck trips from Victorian roads each year. 

Meeting existing and future training needs 

Alongside its partnership with National Intermodal, Melbourne Polytechnic is also working with La Trobe University and other stakeholders on discussions regarding a potential future campus at Cloverton - a planned new city in Melbourne’s north. 

Cloverton is expected to support a population of around 380,000 people across the northern growth corridor, including Mickleham, Kalkallo, Donnybrook, Beveridge and Wallan. Future education provision in the area would aim to support skills development across key sectors such as construction, education and health. 

To meet more immediate training needs in the region, Melbourne Polytechnic has recently secured a lease for a new training site in Wallan, which is expected to become operational later this year.