UNPARALLELED CREATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES

FOR STUDENTS IN YEARS 9 TO 12


The Australian School of the Arts (ASTA) Professionals Program is a suite of audition based, specialist excellence courses that support talented Arts students in Years 9 to 12 in the areas of Combined Performing Arts, Fine Art, Fashion and Costume Design and Film, Television and New Media.

ASTA Professionals students are not typical high school students. They are focused on their future and are passionate and dedicated about preparing for it. 

In addition to their normal curriculum hours, students spend their time in lessons, practice sessions, workshops and rehearsals as they prepare for all aspects of performance, presentation, auditions, exhibitions etc.  

Through the provision of innovative and creative modules and an uncompromised high quality academic education, students become equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to follow their chosen pathways into Arts industries or tertiary institutions. 

ASTA Professionals Programs

ASTA Professionals Programs

Close ×

Combined Performing Arts (CPA)

The ASTA Professionals School of Combined Performing Arts (CPA) offers comprehensive training in Acting, Vocals and Dance. It is specifically aimed at talented students in Years 9-12 who possess a passion for performance and a vision for a career in any facet of the industry.  

The course offers creative classroom training providing solid foundations across the three major performing arts disciplines (Acting, Vocals, Dance) and regular masterclasses directed by industry trained specialists.  As students often have the tendency to lean more heavily towards one specific art form, they have the opportunity to make their own ‘elective’ based choices post Semester 1 of the Year 9-10 Program and throughout the Year 11-12 Program. Thus, whilst what underpins our philosophy is the fundamental belief that every performer should be exposed to all three genres, the ‘elective’ based approach caters for student's interests and passions. 

Throughout the four year CPA program, students work towards various performance opportunities, including in-class performance assessment, the Senior College Musical, Arts Academy Awards and the ASTA CPA Year 12 Graduation Showcase. 

The ASTA CPA course looks for students who display natural talent, coupled with a desire to become capable, well-rounded performers in the future.  Elite students in Years 9-12 are invited to audition for one of the limited places in the program. 

Close ×

Fine Arts

The School of Fine Arts offers training in a wide range of contemporary and traditional artistic styles. It is specifically aimed at conceptually mature Year 9-12 students with a talent and passion for Fine Arts and a vision for a career in a number of facets of the Fine Arts and creative industries.  

The course is unique in that it offers technical skills and functional instruction as well as aesthetic and decorative design to provide authentic creative experiences in the discipline of Fine Arts. This is complemented through participation in regular masterclasses and workshops directed by industry trained specialists and professional, practicing artists.  Weekly workshops provide further visual art exposure, skill building and practice, and students have opportunities to exhibit their works in a variety of public forums.  

The ASTA Fine Arts course is ideal for students who display natural talent, enhancing this ability by providing a strong foundation in fundamental training and industry specific knowledge.  Elite students in Years 9-12 are invited to audition for one of the limited places in the program.

Close ×

Film, Television and New Media (FTM)

The ASTA Professionals School of Film, Television and New Media (FTM) offers students extensive training in a wide range of Media styles.

Talented students in Years 9-12, who possess a passion for Film, Television and other Media and achieve quality outcomes in the curriculum subject work, are invited to join this Program.  It offers creative classroom training across the various, and constantly evolving, Media disciplines, coupled with experience and exposure gained through active involvement in filming, photographing, editing and media event management for weekly assemblies, sporting events, marketing campaigns and large scale performing arts events.  

The ASTA FTM course looks for students who show the enthusiasm and potential to pursue a career in the Film, Television and New Media industries in the future.  It is ideal for students who display natural talent, thereby enhancing this ability by providing a strong foundation in fundamental training and industry-specific knowledge. 

Year 11 students enrolled in the program also have the opportunity to apply for a School-based Traineeship. Successful students work towards the completion of a Nationally Recognised Certificate III in Screen and Media (CUA31015), while being employed in the Media Department at Sheldon College.


For further information please DOWNLOAD PDF.

Close ×

Costume and Fashion Design

The School of Fashion and Costume Design offers comprehensive training in Sewing, Pattern Making and Fashion Design. It is specifically aimed at talented Year 9-12 students who possess a passion for creating and a vision for a career in any facet of the Fashion Industry.

The course offers creative classroom training in sewing, pattern making and fashion design, complemented by participation in master classes directed by industry trained specialists. The course is comprised of three major units: 

  • Sewing: including use of machines, sewing techniques, fibres and fabrics, garment elements and construction, preparation of a portfolio of samples.
  • Pattern making: including making of a basic personal pattern, making up a garment with a personal couture fit, preparation of a portfolio of samples.
  • Fashion Design: including fashion illustration of body templates and garment design detail, fashion history, fashion research, fashion design concepts and designing a fashion range for presentation.

Students have practical opportunities to develop their skills and showcase their work through the design and construction of costumes and an entire ensemble to be worn at the Arts Academy Awards. 

Additional opportunities exist for the creation of garments to be submitted to state and national fashion competitions such as Ekka Natural Fibres Make and Model Competition, Apex Australia Teenage Fashion and Arts Youth Festival, Wool4School Australia and QUT Creative Industries RealWorld Studios

Close ×

Admissions Information

Every student wishing to gain entry into the ASTA Professionals Program participates in a selection process, whether via invitation, audition, interview or portfolio presentation. As part of each program, students are taught how the relevant industries work and how to find employment.  They realise that talent is not enough, it must be supported by skill, technique and knowledge, as well as an understanding of how to apply, interview or audition.  At ASTA, auditioning and interviewing are thus an important part of each course.

Curriculum Arts teachers are always on the look-out for students who show the potential that could be realised through participation in ASTA Professionals. During Term 4 each year, identified students are invited to join, audition, interview for or submit a portfolio for the following year.  ASTA endeavours to conduct this process in an informal, friendly manner, whilst still providing students with a valuable learning experience. 

The process differs for each area of the Program, as follows: 

Combined Performing Arts (CPA)

  • Year 8: Identified students are invited to attend a 3 part audition (Acting, Dance and Voice)
  • Years 9-11: Identified students are invited to join the program

Fashion and Costume Design (FCD)

  • Years 8-11: Identified students are invited to submit a portfolio

Film, TV and New Media

  • Years 9-11: Identified students are invited to join the program
  • Existing Year 10 FTM students: Year 10 students enrolled in the Junior ASTA FTM program and wishing to continue into the Senior Program are required to participate in an interview

Fine Arts (FA)

  • Year 8: Identified students are invited to attend an audition
  • Years 9-11: Identified students are invited to join the program

New students to the College, or existing students who would like to express interest in joining one of the ASTA Professionals Schools, can contact the Arts Administrator to apply and to organise an audition or interview. 

For further information on the ASTA Professionals admissions process, please call the Arts Administrator on (07) 3206 5594 or email [email protected] 

ASTA Professionals Prospectus

For more information on the ASTA Professionals Program, course content, timetables, assessment and admissions information, please download the ASTA Professionals Prospectus. 

SHELDON COLLEGE ARTS ACADEMY AWARDS 2018 PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS