NCAT Photography students undertaking a Certificate IV and Diploma of Photography and Digital Imaging recently had their Graduate Exhibition entitled ‘Simulacrum’ at No Vacancy Gallery in QV Melbourne. With over 60 artworks on display, students demonstrated their refined print making skills across inkjet, gelatin silver and Type-c prints; the latter two of which were made in a traditional darkroom. It was incredible to see so many friends, family and industry partners on the opening night, with a number of artworks being sold to the public.

This is the fourth year NCAT Photography have exhibited at No Vacancy Gallery.

‘Fever Dream’ a musical theatre revue was performed by Year 11 Theatre Studies students in the NCAT auditorium this week. The performance was a compilation of fun, catchy and upbeat musical theatre songs from Grease, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Matilda to name a few. The songs were woven into a theme of a young woman having a feverish dream. For the performance the students also performed the roles of choreographer, performer, stage hand and stage and sound production.

Congratulations to our talented Year 11 Performance students on an amazing performance!

Planting Trees for the Queen’s Jubilee

Earlier this year the Office of the local Federal Member of Parliament, the Hon Ged Kearney, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Federal Member for Cooper informed NCAT of a Federal Grant Program for the planting of trees to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee. The College applied for the grant and as a result  received a grant to plant approximately 100 small to medium sized Australian native trees. The planting of the trees was completed over the September holidays.

Plaque Unveiled by Ged Kearney, Federal Member for Cooper

A plaque to mark the Australian Government’s Tree Planting Program to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was unveiled on November 3,2022 by the Hon, Ged Kearney.

She said, “This planting benefit the local area with important native flora and offer a lovely tree canopy in the future. I am so pleased to have attended its unveiling and look forward seeing the landscape flourish.”

Benefits for Local Flora and Fauna

The College Principal, Raffaela Galati-Brown, said that with the Queen passing away the Tree Planting project had special significance. “Planting trees, particularly native trees, is vital to our natural environment and helps to address climate change. It is also honours and celebrates the Queen’s life. Our students, our community and our bird and insect life will benefit from the trees for many years to come.”

Martin De Boerr, NCAT Maintenance Coordinator, has counted up to 26 different types of birds at the college. These include the Australian Kestrel, Rainbow Lorikeet, Sacred Kingfisher and the Little Corella. With the increased numbers of trees this number will increase. As the trees grow, they will provide for more nesting opportunities and their flowering will attract more insects and local birds.

The tree planting was done by Summit Landscape Consultants. George Cotsonis, the owner of the company, is also the coach of the Preston Bullants Football Team. His apprentice, Felix Morgan Styant-Brown, is a former NCAT student. Felix enjoys his apprenticeship and studies at Melbourne Polytechnic.

This project received funding from the Australian Government’s Planting Trees for The Queen’s Jubilee Program.

Congratulations to all students, staff, volunteers and performers of this year’s NCAT Couchfest. After running smaller versions over the last two years, NCAT Couchfest was back with the biggest one yet. Originating in 2015, Couchfest is a student-led event showing the incredible talents of our VCE Vocational Major (VM) students across Visual and Performing Arts and General VCE VM.

Performance VCE VM students studying  a Certificate II in Dance or Music or a Certificate III in Music Performance or Sound Production, worked as a production company to plan and organise the music and performance event with over 30 bands, solo acts, dance and theatre performances. The performances wowed the 500 strong audience across a number stages.

Visual Arts Immersion VCE VM students worked tirelessly to create artworks and products for sale at over a dozen student-run market stalls and General VCE VM students ran recycled clothing stall and sustainable cafe.

The well-known food truck Taco Truck sold out all its food. Many past students visited, and it was great for visitors to come and see exactly what NCAT students can do.