Support
BESS Training for Industry
BESS Fundamentals - FREE to all BESS users
BESS Fundamentals is a series of short, easy viewing videos providing detailed information on how to navigate and access the BESS tool. Learn how to set up an account, manage your projects and understand scoring in our updated and refreshed training modules.
BESS Fundamentals – self enrol here
BESS Class 1
Our Class 1 Training covers the basics of BESS, with a focus on houses and townhouses. The course uses a case study approach to working through each environmental category in detail.
The investment for this online course is $120 + GST. Trainees have access to the course and any updates that occur for a period of 12 months.
Class 1 trainees – register here
BESS Advanced (apartments and non-residential developments)
Our BESS Advanced course builds on the basic principles in the Fundamentals and Class 1 courses, with an in-depth look at apartment buildings and non-residential developments.
The course covers project setup for complex projects, scoring for mixed use projects, projects with unconditioned spaces, daylight for apartments and non-residential developments, and BESS credits that do not apply for Class 1.
Like the BESS Class 1 course, BESS Advanced also takes a case study approach.
Access to BESS Advanced is via the BESS Training Package, where you also get access to BESS Class 1 and the free BESS Fundamentals courses.
BESS Training Package
The BESS Training Package includes the updated BESS Advanced Training Course, PLUS the BESS Class 1 Training Course and the free BESS Fundamentals Training Course.
The investment for the BESS Training Package is $300 + GST. This gives you access to the courses and any updates that occur for a period of 12 months.
If you have previously enrolled in BESS Class 1 training, you can upgrade your enrolment to the BESS Training Package for $180 + GST. This also gives you access to the courses and any updates that occur for a period of 12 months.
New trainees - Register here for the BESS Training Package
Previous Class 1 trainees - Register here to upgrade to the BESS Training Package
Previous BESS Advanced / Class 2-9 trainees - Email us at support@bess.net.au to get free access to the BESS Training Package until the end of 2023.
BESS Trained Professionals
The BESS Trained Professionals page enables planning applicants who need a BESS assessment completed on their behalf to find professionals who have completed training.
In the past, this listing was available to BESS Class 2-9 (apartments and non-residential) trainees. It is now expanded to include Class 1 trainees who have completed the ONLINE training course.
Please note, you must be offering professional services to be listed as a BESS Trained Professional.
BESS Training for Council Staff
BESS training is available online for Council ESD officers and Statutory Planning teams. Contact CASBE at casbe@mav.asn.au for more information about the training options for you or your Council staff.
You are not required to complete a training course to use the BESS tool. BESS is used in the Victorian context of the planning application process and can be used for free for a project in any subscribing council area. However, if you regularly prepare complex assessments it is recommended that you undertake a BESS training course.
BESS training is not intended to provide instruction on sustainable design. It is assumed that attendees have a working knowledge of sustainable design prior to attending the training. An understanding of NatHERS rating schemes is also an advantage.