NORTHERN COLLEGE OF THE ARTS & TECHNOLOGY

The Northern College of the Arts & Technology (NCAT) is a Senior College for Years 10 to 12 and post Year 12 students seeking a specialised education in the Visual Arts, Design, Performing Arts or Trades and Technologies. As an Arts and Technology college and a nationally Registered Training Organisation (RTO), the college is unique in Australia, delivering over 30 Vocational Education and training (VET) programs extending to Certificate IV level. NCAT provides individualised programs and pathways for students wanting to pursue further study, employment or training in areas such as Design and Visual Arts, Music Performance and Sound Production, Multimedia, Animation, Fashion, Dance, Live Production and Events Management, Media and Drama as well as Furniture and Musical Instrument Making, Automotive, Electro-Technology, Engineering, Plumbing, Building and Construction, and Sport and Fitness. NCAT offers a mature, adult environment. Teachers work alongside students fostering individuality and personal growth, encouraging diversity and individual passions. The college has close relationships with industry and tertiary education providers in its areas of specialisations so that students have both traditional and alternative pathways into further study, apprenticeships or employment. NCAT also provides education to many external students from other state, Catholic and independent schools. Currently over 400 students from 42 schools come to the college one day per week to access a number of the specialist programs and qualifications.

Facilities: NCAT boasts extensive specialist facilities enabling professional workplace simulation. Arts students can develop their skills within industry standard facilities, including studios for drawing, photography, painting, sculpture, printmaking, fabric and textiles disciplines; dance studios; a modern music recording studio, music rooms with digital audio workstations and numerous music practice rooms; as well as Drama/Media spaces. Mac and PC laboratories are furnished with iPads, video facilities and full design software suites. The Trades and Technology Centre is a unique, cutting edge $17 million facility catering for emerging industries as well as traditional trades. It has extensive sustainable and renewable energy areas for green-specific skill development. It houses an extensive workshop space for Building and Construction; specialist areas for Electro-technology and Integrated Technologies including a renewable energy training facility; Automotive workshops with the latest engine analysis equipment and spray booth; an Engineering area with over $500,000 of computer numeric controlled (CNC) machines, laser cutters, milling machine, dedicated welding and thermo-cutting bays; Furniture and woodwork areas including a specialist Musical Instrument Making and Repair area with an industry standard CNC routing machine available. The college also provides a Pattern Making and Foundry facility for the training of apprentices for the Australian Foundry Industry Victoria. All classrooms are fitted out with new computers and electronic, interactive Smart Boards. Students also have access to an assembly hall/gym, large sportsgrounds and a cafe.

Curriculum: At Year 10 students can choose to go into either an arts stream or a technology stream. Each stream gives students the opportunity to experience and develop skills in a range of arts or technology areas alongside core subjects including English, Maths, Science and Personal Development and provides a solid foundation for VCE or VCAL qualifications. The Year 10 program complies with the Victorian Essential Learning Standards and the Australian National Curriculum and provides a solid foundation for VCE or VCAL qualifications. Year 11 and 12 students benefit from tailored, individualised programs that integrate a range of VET Arts or Trades and Technology certificates within a VCE or VCAL. The college also runs specialist integrated VCAL/VET and specialist VCE programs in Visual Arts, Dance, Music, Music Technology and Trades and Technologies. Pre-apprenticeship programs are available in Building and Construction, Engineering, Automotive, Electro-technology, Furniture Making and Plumbing. The college is the only Senior College in Victoria to provide apprenticeship training. It also is the only training provider in Australia to run the Certificates III and IV in Musical Instrument Making and Repairs. Other VET offerings include Certificate II and/or III level courses in Media (Multimedia), Live Production, Theatre and Events, Music, Music Technical Production, Dance, Visual Arts, Automotive, Building and Construction, Electro-technology, Engineering, Furniture Making, Integrated Technologies, Plumbing, Sport and Recreation and Fitness. The college also runs a range of post Year 12 Certificate IV programs. This includes the highly regarded Folio Preparation program for students wanting to gain entry to tertiary Art and Design courses. Students complete both the VCAL Senior Extension program as well as a Certificate IV in Design or Visual Arts. The college also runs the Certificate IV in Music, Sound Production and Fitness.

Sport: Students can participate in a range of sports.

Extra-curricular activities: These include camps, drama productions, a wide range of instrumental music tuition, participation in jazz, rock and percussion bands and ensembles, choirs, music performances, radio production, local, state-wide youth and leadership forums, SRC and structured work placement and work mentoring programs.

Student welfare programs: The college team of co-ordinators and form teachers oversee a strong pastoral care and discipline system. Students are supported by a youth worker, careers co-ordinator and visiting social workers.