Diploma of Performing Arts

Express your creative talent and start building your career. Get to know the industry better and bring your creative vision to life with our 10606NAT Diploma of Performing Arts.

ACPA’s diploma equips you with the technical ability and knowledge to accelerate your career from the start.

It develops your artistic style and creative thinking, setting a strong foundation for working with new people and opportunities as you journey through different jobs and life situations.

Over 15 units (six compulsory, nine Stage & Screen, Music and Dance electives) you’ll learn:

performance skills and theory
improvisation and rehearsal skills
audition techniques
storytelling through different genres, with respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture
which of your talents have stronger potential
how to refine your abilities to excel in your chosen major
how to plan and develop your career as an artist
about workplace expectations and processes

This diploma also teaches you about the commitment required for a professional career in your chosen genre and develops life skills that will serve you well in any career.

Indigenous peoples are encouraged to apply.

10606NAT Diploma of Performing Arts

This qualification is made up of six compulsory core units and a minimum of nine elective units as described in the Course Units section. While most participants select elective units from their particular genre specialisation (i.e. acting, music, dance), the course structure is designed to enable choice flexibility. For example, if you want to develop musical theatre skills, you may combine relevant elective units from dance, music, stage & screen and/or acting.

Total supervised hours: 630 – 1,005 hours comprising 280 core hours and the remainder in elective hours depending on specific selections.

Total unsupervised hours: 255 – 480 hours which may comprise individual or group warm up sessions, external performance activities, research, individual practice times for such things as vocal development, choreography, learning of performance parts or lines, character development, rehearsals, meetings, interviews or interactions with relevant personnel in the performing arts and related industries.

There are no pre-requisites for any of the units, nor are there any sequencing requirements; they may be completed in any order.

There are no specific exits points from this course to provide for vocational or educational outcomes.

Diploma Core Units

Unit Code	Unit Title	Core/Elective	Nominal Hours
CUAIND304	Plan a career in the creative arts industry	Core	35
BSBWHS201	Contribute to health and safety of self and others	Core	20
CUAPRF304	Develop audition techniques	Core	25
CUARES503	Analyse cultural history and theory	Core	70
CUAPRF501	Refine performance techniques	Core	95
CUAPRF503	Prepare for performances in a competitive environment	Core	35

Stage & Screen

Unit Code	Unit Title	Core/ Elective	Nominal Hours
CUAVOS302	Develop vocal techniques for use in performance	Elective	30
CUAPRF301	Create and tell stories	Elective	25
PATPAC501	Play a character	Elective	100
PATESI501	Extend skills in improvisation	Elective	80
PATASF501	Develop stage & screen skills for film	Elective	60
PATVOI501	Develop vocal skills for stage & screen	Elective	80
PATPTS501	Develop physical theatre skills and techniques	Elective	60
PATICT501	Investigate and perform classic texts	Elective	80
PATTRS501	Perform theatre from a range of styles	Elective	160

Dance

Unit Code	Unit Title	Core/ Elective	Nominal Hours
CUAPRF301	Create and tell stories	Elective	25
PATPTS501	Develop physical theatre skills and techniques	Elective	60
CUAWHS501	Maintain a high level of fitness for performance	Elective	80
CUADAN501	Refine ballet technique	Elective	140
CUADAN505	Refine contemporary dance technique	Elective	120
CUADAN305	Increase depth of jazz dance technique	Elective	50
CUADAN405	Develop expertise in street dance technique	Elective	70
CUACHR403	Develop choreography skills	Elective	50
CUAVOS302	Develop vocal techniques for use in performance	Elective	30

Music

Unit Code	Unit Title	Core/ Elective	Nominal Hours
CUAMPF501	Prepare a program for performance	Elective	70
CUAMLT202	Apply knowledge of music culture to music making	Elective	25
CUAVOS302	Develop vocal techniques for use in performance	Elective	30
CUAMPF410	Perform music from written notation	Elective	70
CUAMLT501	Refine aural perception skills	Elective	60
CUAMPF403	Develop repertoire as part of a backup group	Elective	60
CUAMCP302	Write song lyrics	Elective	30
CUAPRF301	Create and tell stories	Elective	25
PATPTS501	Develop physical theatre skills and techniques	Elective	60

A Certificate IV in Performing Arts and a Year 11 or equivalent education is desirable, but not mandatory. Participants seeking entry must be physically capable of developing the required performance skills for a diploma qualification.

Entry flexibility is possible for a person without Year 11 equivalence. Considering individual personal circumstances will include, but is not limited to mature entry, portfolio of work, and/or a performance audition.

Students who wish to submit evidence of prior learning are requested to complete the Recognition of Prior Learning Form (available from ACPA administration), attach supporting evidence, and submit everything to ACPA for consideration at admin@acpa.edu.au. Further information is available upon request.

It’s important for all potential students to also note that in line with the Queensland Department of Education and Training’s policy guidelines, after completing a diploma or advanced diploma level qualification, students will no longer be eligible for a government-subsidised training place in an equivalent program at another Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

Diploma of Performing Arts

Express your creative talent and start building your career. Get to know the industry better and bring your creative vision to life with our 10606NAT Diploma of Performing Arts.

Course Outline

Course Units

Entry Requirements

FEES

Diploma Core Units

Stage & Screen

Dance

Music