This page contains all the information and resources you need to ensure you succeed and, most importantly, enjoy your time in our vibrant creative community. Find out more about the open day, orientation, welcome fest and kick-start programs here at Collarts.
At Collarts, our Open Day is all about giving you the support, experiences and information you need to take the next step towards a career in creativity. Information sessions, workshops and the chance to chat with students, teachers and leaders are an important part of learning more about what makes Collarts different.
We invite you to come and experience life at Collarts: from our passion for creativity, diverse and welcoming community, state-of-the-art facilities, industry-connected faculty, and more.
Questions? Contact Us: T: (+61) 1300 818 777
Open Day
What's on?
From guided tours to vibrant demonstrations, here are some of the activities you can catch at Collarts Open Day:
Experience our campuses firsthand with guided tours led by our enthusiastic Student Ambassadors. Explore our diverse facilities, from cutting-edge equipment to vibrant student centres, while gaining valuable insights into student life directly from those who live it.
Don’t miss the chance to ask our Ambassadors about their own unique experiences and make the most of your visit.
Our info hubs provide convenient drop-in spaces where you can have direct conversations with Program Leaders, Academics, and students about your desired course. Our info hubs are open throughout the day, so you can easily fit a visit into your schedule and receive personalised support and insights.
Demonstrations are your chance to see our course content come to life. They allow you to be actively involved in projects and see our cutting-edge equipment in action, so you can get a firsthand preview of what studying at Collarts is really like.
These demonstrations serve as immersive experiences that go beyond traditional campus tours or informational sessions. They offer tangible examples of the opportunities available at Collarts to help you see yourself as an active participant in the learning process.
Our campus displays are positioned throughout different areas of our campuses, offering a showcase of our community’s achievements and journeys.
From highlighting the exceptional work of our current students to tracing the inspiring paths of our alumni, our displays serve as vibrant testaments to the excellence and accomplishments within our Collarts community.
If you have specific accessibility needs or require additional assistance, please contact us in advance, and we will do our best to assist you.
Trimester 1, 2025 On-Campus Orientation: Starts Monday 3rd February
Trimester 1, 2025 Collarts O-Week Celebration: Thursday 6th February
Trimester 1, 2025 Online Orientation: Wednesday 5th February *You will receive an email with the schedule and Zoom link.
There are some key things you need to tick off your list before starting orientation:
Submit your ECAF form for Fee-Help if you are a domestic student
Check you can access your student email and login to our Online Portal
Join Collarts private student Facebook group - Common Room
When it's time for O-Week, you need to bring:
A laptop or phone to Day 1 of Orientation
If you are having any issues with your ECAF, your TFN and we will assist you
We also host an Orientation evening for our online students via Zoom.
You will gain an overview of your course and first trimester, meet your industry expert teachers, and like-minded peers, and find out about the exclusive opportunities from our industry partnerships. You will receive the invitation link via email.
To dive into the Collarts Life experience, we urge you to attend as many events and activities as your schedule allows!
Our events go beyond just learning; they're all about having an absolute blast while connecting with new friends, mastering confidence-building techniques, and expanding your creative network.
O-Week Party
As a Collarts student, you'll receive an exclusive invitation to our famous O-Week Parties, a themed and iconic celebration that kicks off the trimester in style! In the past, we've hosted unforgettable events like a Shrek-themed movie marathon, Pink Pride party and even welcomed headliners such as Cub Sport and Broden Kelly (Aunty Donna).
Welcome Fest aims to excite and engage both new and current students, encouraging them to connect with the Collarts community.
Take part in a diverse range of activities across ALL of our campuses! From free food, industry talks and DJs, to silent disco, mini golf and student performances. Plus so much more!
The Kickstart program takes place the week before Orientation Week. For on campus students, there is a two-day intensive program of interactive workshops. You will have the opportunity to learn from some of Collarts most experienced staff, ask questions about study, work on some exciting small group activities and engage in discussions with your peers.
If you are enrolled in one of our online courses and joining us on campus is too difficult, we have a separate Kickstart session on Zoom that focuses on online learning. This interactive session will help you build confidence, connect with peers, and get ready to thrive in an online study environment.
This program is FREE and open to all students starting their studies at Collarts.
Registration is essential as places are limited. You will be expected to be on campus for both days of the program (Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th January), or for the full two hours if you are an online student.
Students will receive a certificate on completion to celebrate their achievement.
Please note: this is not Orientation but takes place the week prior.
Day 1: The Collarts Compass: Study Skills, Self-Discovery, and Setting Your Course.
Date: Wednesday 29 January 2025 Time: 10am-4pm Location: Wellington St Campus – 208 Wellington St, Collingwood *lunch will be provided.
In a safe, welcoming environment, this session will give participants a “how to” guide to studying. Participants will be encouraged to develop and hone their skills, while collaborating with their peers from a range of disciplines and backgrounds.
Day 1 will consist of a wide range of workshops aimed to give you confidence as you enter your study journey with us. Workshop topics will include:
Study 101: what does it look like
Effective note-taking
Study planning
Creative identity
Values
Success and failure: how to change your relationship to failure to see it as a learning opportunity.
Day 2: Communicating your ideas and goal setting
Date: Thursday 30 January 2025 Time: 10am-2pm Location: George St campus – Level 2/156 George St, Fitzroy
This session is about giving you the confidence and tools in areas that are essential skills to learn as a student and moving forward into your professional life.
You will walk away with some tips and tricks on how to effectively form and communicate your ideas through oral presentations and writing, through a series of practical activities.
We will also look at goal setting, and the importance of having a plan in place that allows you to see the bigger picture throughout your studies. How do you set goals, envisage your future career aspirations, say yes to industry opportunities, keep your resume industry relevant and manage your time effectively?
The day ends with our “Creative Walk” - an interactive walking tour of the Collarts spaces and surrounding environments. At key stops on the tour you’ll be prompted to explore, capture, and create as you uncover your unique perspective.
Date: Wednesday 29 January 2025 Time: 6pm-8pm Location: Online on Zoom (a zoom link will be sent closer to the date)
In this session, we will look at the most effective ways of studying online – both in and out of the class. How do you build study plans to help you work towards your goals, while juggling your life outside of class? Join us as we give you some tips on the best way to approach building skills and habits in an online study space.
At the completion of the program, you will have access to a group chat with Collarts Academic Skills Manager and your fellow participants for ongoing support, brainstorming and workshops. This will give you a useful resource that will come in handy throughout some of those crucial assessment periods. This is in addition to the support already available at Collarts which you will learn more about during Orientation.
