Department of Education - Victoria

The Northern College of the Arts & Technology, (NCAT), caters for Year 10-12 and tertiary students in Melbourne's North and across Melbourne seeking a specialised education in the Visual Arts, Design, Photography, Performing Arts or Trades and Technologies. As well as being a Senior College it is also an RTO running over 25 VET programs from Certificate II to IV and Diploma level.

NCAT provides individualised programs and pathways for students wanting to pursue further study, employment or training in areas such as Art, Multimedia, Animation, Photography and Digital Imaging, Fashion & Graphic Design, Dance, Music, Sound Production, Screen/Video, Automotive, Electro-Technology, Integrated Technologies, Engineering, Plumbing, Furniture & Musical Instrument Production, Building & Construction, and Sport & Fitness.

NCAT received The Age newspaper 2022 Schools that Excel Award for its VCE results. In the same year, the Vocational Major Learning Specialist was awarded Teacher of the Year Award for the outstanding and unique integrated VCALs/Vocational Majors running at NCAT. In 2024 an NCAT student, Carly Brown, was named Vocational Student of the Year at the Victorian Training Awards.

From Year 10 students can choose to follow an Arts or a Technology or stream and then continue to specialise at Years 11 and 12 where they can do VCE, VET or a variety of specialist integrated VCE Vocational Major programs. Post Year 12 students can do Certificate IV programs in Music, Sound Production, Design, Visual Arts and Photography and the Diploma of Photography and Digital Imaging. NCAT is the only training provider in Australia running the Certificate III and IV in Musical Instrument Making and Repair.

As well as running programs for its own full-time students, NCAT is also a regional provider of VET in Schools training to 700 students from 75 other State, Catholic and Independent schools who come for training one day per week.

NCAT has specialist Arts facilities includes purpose-built studios for drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking and textiles/fashion disciplines as well as Apple Mac labs. Its Photography centre includes four photographic studios and black and white and colour darkrooms. In the area of Music NCAT has ten fully equipped music practice rooms, two large music technology labs, its own industry level music recording studio, Music recital room and performing arts centre. The college also has two dance studios and a dedicated theatre studies centre.

The college is a recognized leader in Technology Education with Leading School status. Its VET programs are highly regarded for the quality and innovativeness of the delivery and the close links with industry. NCAT has unique, trades and technology facilities including a Trade Training Centre. Facilities include extensive workshop for automotive, building & construction, engineering, electrotechnology, furniture/wood, integrated technologies/ robotics & telecommunications, musical instrument making & repair and plumbing.

Overview of NCAT    https://youtu.be/mQIOejWVOQM

 

SC1    Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant curriculum, including the capacity to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated capacity to respond to student learning needs.

SC2    Demonstrated capacity to implement high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth. 

SC3    Demonstrated capacity to monitor and assess student learning. Demonstrated capacity to use data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.

SC4    Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated capacity to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, wellbeing and engagement.    

SC5    Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated capacity to reflect upon practice and engage in professional learning to continually improve the quality of teaching.