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Launched in February 2025, Green Star Communities v2 is a comprehensive rating tool designed to guide the planning, design and delivery of master planned precincts and communities. It responds to the evolving needs of the built environment by promoting healthy, resilient and thriving places for people to live, work, learn and connect.

This course is a must-have for professionals planning to use this new version of the rating tool. By completing this training, you will be positioned to confidently deliver projects seeking recognition of sustainability outcomes through Green Star.    

We will explore the most significant credits and share practical guidance for using the rating tool.  

This course will cover:

• the category framework

• credit structure and scoring mechanism

• minimum expectations

• the annual assessment cycle

• significant credits

• tips from assessors  

What’s included in the course:

• online learning modules

• Green Star Communities v2 submission guidelines

• enrolment into the CPD program

• access to the online Green Star Accredited Professional (GSAP) exam

*Please note, capacity is capped so we can deliver a collaborative course with opportunities for discussion throughout.

Accreditation pathway

It is essential to complete the Green Star foundations course prior to attending any advanced rating tool training courses.  

This advanced course is the next step to becoming a Green Star Accredited Professional in the Green Star Communities v2 rating tool. Find out more about our accreditation pathway here.  

FAQ
When must new projects register under Green Star Communities v2?

From 1st July  2026, new projects must register under Green Star Communities v2.  During the transition period, projects may choose to register under v2 or Green Star Communities v1.1.

To be considered registered under Green Star Communities v1.1 prior to 1 July, both of the following must be completed by 30 June 2026:

–    The Green Star Certification Agreement must be executed by lodging the online project registration application
–    The certification fee invoice must be paid.

If you’re planning to register under Green Star Communities v1.1, we recommend starting your registration as soon as possible.
 

Developed for those who work on a Green Star Buildings v1 project on site – whether a contractor, subcontractor and part of the wider project team. This course has been developed to help your business prepare for compliance, increase your knowledge on how to manage your risk from the tendering stage through to how you can review  data sheets and manage the documentation for compliance.
 

We will be exploring the contractor-centric credits and take a deep dive into the materials credits, such as Responsible Structure, Envelope, Systems and Finishes as well as the Exposure to Toxins credits. You’ll learn how construction materials must be vetted for compliance against VOC and Formaldehyde content as well as the responsible products framework that offers points for materials with higher consideration to environmental sustainability. Take away essential information to improve your processes, making them more efficient and effective.

Key areas of learning include:

• the what and how of Green Star – and how you contribute to a project

• what are the tools for the most effective approach to Green Star

• understanding Green Star requirements from start to finish

• the materials-related credits and how you demonstrate compliance

• hints and tips from past projects and how to ensure the best assessment outcome

Places are limited. 

Developed for those who work on a Green Star Fitouts v1 project on site – whether a contractor, subcontractor and part of the wider project team. This course has been developed to help your business prepare for compliance, increase your knowledge on how to manage your risk from the tendering stage through to how you can review data sheets and manage the documentation for compliance.

We will be exploring the contractor-centric credits and take a deep dive into the materials credits, such as Responsible Finishes and Joinery, Partitions, Fixtures and Equipment as well as the Low Toxin Materials credits. You’ll learn how construction materials must be vetted for compliance against VOC and Formaldehyde content as well as the responsible products framework that offers points for materials with higher consideration to environmental sustainability. Take away essential information to improve your processes, making them more efficient and effective.

Key areas of learning include:
•    the what and how of Green Star – and how you contribute to a project
•    what are the tools for the most effective approach to Green Star
•    understanding Green Star requirements from start to finish
•    the materials-related credits and how you demonstrate compliance
•    hints and tips from past projects and how to ensure the best assessment outcome

Places are limited.

Green Star Buildings v1.1 is the latest evolution of the Green Star Buildings rating tool. Five years in the making, this update sharpens the focus on climate action, nature and circularity, while introducing greater flexibility to make certification more accessible and practical for a wider range of projects.

This short course provides a detailed insight into the update, and is specifically for Green Star Accredited Professionals (Buildings).

In this session, you will:

• Gain a clear understanding of the key updates in Green Star Buildings v1.1, including the Climate Positive Pathway, Nature Positive Pathway and new circularity requirements

• Understand how v1.1 aligns with emerging regulatory and market drivers, including climate reporting, embodied carbon requirements, TNFD and the Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy

• Explore the new stepped point structures and usability improvements designed to offer greater clarity and flexibility for project teams

• Learn what these changes mean for your project pipeline and how to confidently transition from v1 to v1.1
   

FAQs

Do I have to be a GSAP in Buildings to do this short course?  
The intent of this course to explain the key updates in Green Star Buildings v1.1. A strong understanding of Green Star Buildings v1 will be assumed. 

Does this course offer GSAP accreditation in Buildings v1.1?
This course is not part of the GSAP accreditation pathway. If you’d like to become a GSAP in the Green Star Buildings tool, you will be required to attend a Green Star foundations course followed by a Green Star Buildings advanced course. Please see our website for further information on the accreditation pathway and our calendar of upcoming courses.

I am targeting the Green Star Accredited Professional criteria under the Industry Development credit for a Green Star Buildings v1.1 project. Can I use my existing Buildings GSAP accreditation?
Yes, a Green Star Buildings GSAP accreditation will be applicable for Green Star Buildings v1 and v1.1 projects. A new accreditation for v1.1 is not required.

When must new projects register under Green Star Buildings v1.1? 
From 1st May 2026, new projects must register under Green Star Buildings v1.1, and updated Climate Positive benchmarks will apply. This includes the requirement for all buildings to be all-electric regardless of the targeted star rating (a change that would have come into effect on 1st January 2026 under Green Star Buildings v1). Projects registering under Green Star Buildings v1 before 30th April 2026 will be assessed using the current (2023) Climate Positive Pathway requirements. This course will help you understand these changes.

As cost pressures continue across the built environment, organisations are under increasing pressure to balance commercial outcomes with meaningful social impact. This session explores how social value is being defined, embedded and applied in practice, and why a more consistent, outcomes-focused approach is becoming essential across the sector.

We’ll examine how social value is framed and measured in different ways depending on intent, and why clarity of purpose is critical to making it useful in practice. Speakers will share how organisations are using targets, indicators and minimum requirements to better connect social value with decision-making across operations, projects and supply chains.

The session will also explore the practical mechanisms through which social value is delivered, including procurement, workforce development, placemaking and project integration, and how these levers can be used more deliberately to strengthen outcomes across the value chain.

What you will learn:

• How to distinguish between different purposes of social value measurement and apply the right approach for each context

• How social value indicators and targets can inform decision-making across project lifecycles

• Practical ways procurement, workforce development and placemaking can be used to deliver social value outcomes

• How to identify and integrate social value opportunities through project design and delivery processes

• How stronger alignment between intent, measurement and delivery can improve consistency and impact

Who this is for
This session is designed for sustainability, ESG and social impact professionals across the built environment, including design, development, construction and asset management, as well as procurement, planning and project delivery professionals responsible for embedding and reporting social outcomes.

Speakers:

• Min Seto, Executive Officer, Alliance Social Enterprises

• Professor Martin Loosemore, Distinguished Professor of Construction Management, UTS

• Edmund McCombs, Head of Social Impact and the Lendlease Foundation, Lendlease

• Richard Mullane, Managing Principal/Board Director, Hassell Studio

• Helen Bell, Senior Manager, Research, Green Building Council of Australia 

Achieving circular outcomes requires more than good intentions – it demands clear strategies, informed decision-making, and a commitment embedded from the very beginning of a project.

This short course offers a practical, grounded exploration of how to move from ambition to action. Drawing on project examples and  initiatives, the session unpacks how circular strategies are identified, prioritised, and successfully implemented across the full project lifecycle from concept through to operation and end-of-life.

With a focus on design intent, waste and material use participants will learn how to apply circular principles in ways that are both achievable and impactful. The course also addresses the complexities of stakeholder engagement, cost considerations, and whole-of-life thinking, equipping attendees with the tools to make confident, informed decisions.

What you’ll learn:

• Core circular design principles and practical pathways to implementation  

• How to identify, assess, and prioritise circular strategies within projects  

• The role of stakeholders and effective decision-making frameworks  

• Approaches to whole-of-life costing and carbon assessment  

• Insights and lessons from leading circular projects and fitouts

Who is it for:

This session is ideal for professionals seeking to translate circularity from concept into measurable outcomes, while navigating the constraints of design, delivery, and operations.  
 

Our speakers:

Karolina Bäckman Faulkner, Associate, Circular Design Specialist, 3XN  

Clayton Bristow, Managing Director, FF&3  

Tom Dean, Director, Carbon Planning, Slattery

Sophie Kebbell, Senior Interior Designer, Hassell

Dr. Jim Goddin, Head of Circular Economy, thinkstep-anz

Renae Tapley, Founder, Future Materials & Perth Studio Director, Foolscap 

Katherine Featherstone, Senior Manager –  Products and Materials, Green Building Council of Australia 

This course will be recorded and made available for those that cannot attend in our on-demand library for purchase . Note, group discussion and group work will not be included in the recording.

This short course will equip attendees with practical insights into how modularity and modern methods of construction (MMC) can be scaled to deliver low carbon, resource efficient and circular outcomes.  Through a series of case studies and a dynamic panel, participants will explore how sustainability ambitions can be embedded into modular design, procurement and delivery from reducing embodied carbon and construction waste to enabling circular material flows.
 

The course bridges design and delivery perspectives, focusing on what it takes to move from pilot projects to repeatable, scalable modular solutions. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how MMC can support organisational sustainability goals as well as social and community outcomes through project examples. 
 

What you will learn:

• Understand how modularity and modern methods of construction (MMC) can be applied to achieve low-carbon, resource-efficient, and circular outcomes
  Identify practical ways to embed sustainability into modular design, manufacturing, procurement, and delivery processes

• Gain insight into real-world case studies demonstrating successful modular and circular approaches

• Understand the key challenges and enablers in scaling MMC from pilot projects to repeatable, industry-wide solutions

• Develop an understanding of how MMC can contribute to organisational sustainability goals and climate targets

This course will be recorded and made available for those that cannot attend in our on-demand library for purchase . Note, group discussion and group work will not be included in the recording.

How can we amplify Indigenous design voices and move beyond consultation to true co-creation?
Join us for a thought-provoking webinar exploring how meaningful First Nations collaboration can shape more inclusive, connected and enduring places. Through real project examples, we’ll examine how design outcomes informed by First Nations wisdom, storytelling and Country-centred principles can create richer community experiences and stronger project outcomes. Discover practical insights for embedding authentic collaboration into the design process and delivering places with lasting cultural value.

Product carbon disclosure is becoming a critical requirement for manufacturers, designers, and project teams  yet confusion remains around the roles of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs).

This webinar provides a clear, practical overview of how EPDs and PCFs are used, how they differ, and how they work together to support informed decision making across the supply chain. Featuring perspectives from certification bodies and manufacturers, the session will explore real-world applications, costs, benefits, and challenges.

The discussion will also address how product carbon data is measured, benchmarked, and applied within Green Star. 

What you’ll learn
•    The purpose and value of EPDs and PCFs  and why one does not replace the other
•    When to use each tool and how they coexist in practice
•    Manufacturer experiences implementing EPDs and PCFs
•    How carbon disclosure is applied within Green Star