September CEO Update - Judith Blake

Since my last update, we’ve had a busy month making steady progress on various projects.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the recent issues paper consultation for manufacturers of prefabricated construction. Related to this initiative, some of our team attended a Modern Methods of Construction Showcase in Sydney earlier this month. Read more about this below, along with an update on the CodeMark Certification Scheme. 

Another area of focus for us has been working on a new online contact form to make it easier for you to get in touch with the ABCB to share feedback or ask questions. I’m pleased to let you know about this new initiative in this month’s update. 

Thank you for your continued interest and involvement.

As part of the ABCB’s ongoing modernisation strategy, we are making some changes to the way we manage enquiries. 

As part of this change, our 1800 contact number will be closed from 1 October 2025. While the ABCB Office team may still contact you by phone to discuss your question, all enquiries will need to be submitted through our online form. This form is now up and running and you can find it on the help and support page on our website.

This new approach allows us to better manage growing demand, provide fair and consistent access to information, and respond to your questions more efficiently.

To support this transition, we’ve developed a comprehensive set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). These FAQs are designed to provide quick answers to common questions. We will regularly update the FAQs to ensure the information stays relevant and current. 

We appreciate your understanding as we continue to improve our processes to make it easier to get the help and information you need.

The issues paper consultation for the National Voluntary Certification Scheme for Manufacturers of Modern Methods of Construction closed at the end of August. 

We were pleased to receive 94 responses to the consultation. Thank you to everyone who submitted their input, feedback and perspectives. This information will help us to make more informed decisions on the development and delivery of the scheme. 

We are now reviewing all submissions and will provide a summary to the jurisdictional and technical working groups, our Board, and senior government officials. 

We’ve also been working closely with Building 4.0 CRC and other stakeholders to develop the definitions of modern methods of construction (MMC) to be included in the National Construction Code (NCC).

As work on this project continues, there will be more opportunities to have your say before the Scheme is finalised. Keep an eye on our website and social media pages for updates or subscribe to our newsletter. 

Continuing our engagement activities, representatives from the ABCB Office and Treasury’s Housing Group attended the Modern Methods of Construction Showcase event in Sydney on 4 September. This event, held by Homes NSW in conjunction with Building 4.0 CRC, was an opportunity to meet with experts and industry representatives from across Australia. 

The event showcased a fully built, 2-bedroom demonstration apartment and an explanation of its construction and function. As a systemised construction model built around offsite manufacturing, it can be delivered quickly to site and scaled to accommodate housing solutions that meet different community needs. Visit Building 4.0 CRC to learn more.  

The ABCB Office has embarked on a project to review the current CodeMark Certification Scheme. The CodeMark review aims to make sure this certification scheme provides a more uniform approach to product evaluation. This is intended to provide greater confidence and certainty for regulatory authorities and the building industry. 

We have completed the preliminary review focusing on the regulatory design of CodeMark. The next stage for the ABCB office is to determine if any changes to the certification scheme are needed. We’ll be looking at whether the scheme is appropriate and well designed. We will also look at the potential for changes to ensure that the scheme is administered effectively and efficiently. Following this, we’ll present recommendations for any proposed improvements to the Board of the ABCB.

In mid-November, ABCB and JASANZ will be holding an online forum with CodeMark Certified Accredited Bodies (CABs) to discuss the scheme and the certification process.

Regards, 

Judith