Unleashing intelligence at scale to build a digitally capable workforce for Australia and Asia-Pacific’s critical industries.
Melbourne, Australia – Octave Intelligence plc (Nasdaq: OCTV), a global leader in software for the world’s most critical facilities and infrastructure, has launched a new initiative to equip students with practical skills for critical industries. The Octave NextGen Builders Program will prepare students for decision-making across design, build, operate and protect, with Curtin University confirmed as the inaugural partner.
Across Australia, demand for skills in construction, infrastructure and engineering continues to exceed supply, with persistent shortages across trades, engineering and related professions. Similar pressures are playing out across the Asia-Pacific region, where major infrastructure, data center and energy transition projects are increasingly constrained by a lack of digitally capable talent.
The Octave NextGen Builders Program has been created to help address this gap by giving students hands-on experience with how data and intelligence are applied across real-world construction and infrastructure projects before they graduate. It also aims to change how careers in these sectors are perceived by showing that modern construction and infrastructure roles are technology-driven, data-led and central to shaping cities, economies and the energy transition.
The Octave NextGen Builders Program provides students with access to professional tools used across engineering, construction and infrastructure projects, helping bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world industry practice. Through the partnership, Curtin University will integrate Octave OnSite Visualize software (formerly iConstruct) into selected construction and built environment units, supporting practical, project-based learning.
Curtin Bachelor of Applied Science (Construction Management) Course Coordinator Dr Vasilios Papastamoulis said strong industry alignment was key to preparing students for the workforce. “This partnership equips our students with in-demand digital skills and real-world experience, while highlighting the vital role careers in construction and infrastructure play in shaping Australia’s future.”
As part of the program, Curtin students will be able to transform complex Building Information Modelling (BIM) models into rich, construction-ready work packages by aligning engineering, procurement and construction in a single environment. This supports advanced work packaging, sequencing, constraint management and more efficient project delivery.
“Critical industries are facing a dual challenge: a growing skills shortage and an ageing workforce, combined with the need to attract a new generation of digitally minded talent,” said Fabio Yada, VP APAC for Octave. “The Octave NextGen Builders Program is about making sure graduates are ready for the reality of modern projects, where decisions across design, construction and operations are increasingly interconnected, but also about demonstrating that careers in these industries are innovative, high-tech and genuinely exciting.”
As it grows, the Octave NextGen Builders Program will expand to support additional universities to encourage greater interest in working in asset-intensive industries. The Octave NextGen Builders Program forms part of Octave’s broader commitment to workforce development, digital capability and building a sustainable talent pipeline for critical industries across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Andy Sommer, Group Manager, PR and Communications, APAC, Octave
Tel: +61 (0)481 749 967
Email: [email protected]
About Octave:
Octave provides mission-critical software that empowers organizations to make informed decisions across every stage of the asset lifecycle — Design, Build, Operate and Protect — where performance, safety, and reliability are non-negotiable and failure is not an option.
Turning complex operational data into actionable intelligence, Octave connects expertise, real-world conditions and enterprise-scale insight to improve performance, resilience and incident response where it matters most.
Octave has approximately 7,200 employees in 45 countries. Learn more at octave.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
About Curtin University Curtin University is Western Australia’s largest university, with close to 60,000 students. In addition to the University’s main campus in Perth, Curtin also has a major regional campus in Kalgoorlie, and a campus in Midland, as well as five global campuses in Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. Curtin staff and students come from Australia and more than 140 other countries around the world, with about half our international students studying at Curtin’s offshore campuses.
Curtin is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide and has achieved a QS Five Stars Plus rating, the highest available for a tertiary institution and one of only four to do so in Australia.
The University has built a reputation around innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit, being at the forefront of many high-profile research projects in astronomy, biosciences, economics, mining and information technology. It is also recognized globally for its strong connections with industry, and for its commitment to preparing students for the jobs of the future.
For further information, visit curtin.edu.au.