Creative and performing arts (CAPA)

Music

Music focuses on developing students’ musicianship, creativity, and appreciation of diverse musical styles and traditions. Students gain foundational skills in performing, composing, improvising, listening, and music theory through practical activities. They explore Australian and international music genres such as classical, contemporary, popular, and traditional music, which fosters cultural understanding and aesthetic appreciation. Technical skill development is supported on voice or instruments, with attention to tone production, timing, and ensemble collaboration. Through active listening and analysis, students strengthen their ability to interpret and evaluate music. Technology integration with music software and digital audio tools enhances creativity and engagement in learning. Group performances and ensemble experiences build confidence, teamwork, and communication skills. Reflective practice supports self-assessment and decision-making, enabling students to develop a personal connection to music and prepare for future studies or lifelong participation.

Visual Arts

Visual Arts provides students with a solid foundation in artistic knowledge, skills, and processes that foster creativity, critical thinking, and personal expression. Throughout the course, students explore a variety of art forms, materials, and techniques including drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and colour theory. They develop confidence by producing and presenting their own artworks while learning to analyse and interpret artworks from historical and contemporary perspectives. This encourages an understanding of art’s cultural significance and diverse influences. Emphasis is placed on the creative process, including research, experimentation, problem-solving, and reflection. Students also engage with digital technologies to enhance their visual creativity. The practical component nurtures individual artistic style and voice, culminating in projects that challenge imagination and creativity. In addition to developing artistic techniques, students build transferable skills such as observation, communication, critical analysis, and resilience. These skills support learning across the curriculum and promote lifelong engagement with the arts. Stage 4 Visual Arts sets a strong foundation for elective studies in creative fields at Stage 5.

Dance

Dance Elective offers a comprehensive introduction to the expressive art of movement through practical and theoretical learning. Students develop technical skills and physical fitness by studying a variety of dance styles such as contemporary, jazz, hip hop, and traditional cultural dances. Body awareness, strength, flexibility, coordination, and spatial awareness are emphasised. Choreography tasks encourage students to apply choreographic elements and structures to create original works, often collaborating with peers. Theoretical studies explore dance history, cultural contexts, and the communicative power of movement. Through rehearsals and performances, students build confidence and an understanding of audience engagement. Stage 5 Dance fosters creativity, discipline, resilience, and cultural appreciation, providing a strong foundation for further study in Stage 6 Dance or performing arts careers.

Drama

Drama Elective immerses students in theatrical performance and production, blending creativity with collaboration and critical reflection. Practical work includes acting, improvisation, script work, voice and movement training, and stagecraft. Students study diverse dramatic forms and genres from classical theatre through to contemporary and multicultural performance traditions. Devised and scripted performances give students hands-on experience in researching, rehearsing, and producing theatre. Collaboration and communication skills are developed through ensemble work. Students also analyse dramatic texts and performances to understand themes, dramatic techniques, and cultural contexts. Reflective learning underpins skill development and assessment. Stage 5 Drama nurtures creativity, confidence, cultural literacy, and communication, preparing students for Stage 6 Drama and future opportunities in theatre, media, and related fields.

Music

Music Elective offers students an enriched experience to deepen their technical skills, creative capacities, and theoretical understanding. Building on Stage 4 foundations, students refine their proficiency on instruments or voice and engage with a broad repertoire from diverse musical genres and cultures. They explore more complex performance techniques and collaborative ensemble work. Composition and improvisation tasks encourage originality and stylistic diversity, supported by detailed music theory and history studies. Aural training further develops musical perception and sight-singing skills. The course incorporates digital music technologies for recording, sequencing, and editing, reflecting contemporary music production practices. Collaborative projects, public performances, and reflective learning foster communication, confidence, and artistic growth. Stage 5 Music Elective prepares students for Stage 6 Music courses and pathways in performance, composition, music education, and media industries.

Photographic and Digital Media

Photographic and Digital Media Elective introduces students to visual storytelling using photography and digital imaging. They learn core photographic techniques including camera operation, exposure, composition, and lighting while exploring creative use of digital technologies and editing software. Projects encourage students to develop visual narratives across genres such as photojournalism, advertising, and multimedia art. Critical analysis of images develops media literacy and understanding of symbolism and genre conventions. Ethical considerations such as copyright and responsible media use are also explored. Students undertake practical tasks from planning and shooting through to digital editing and presenting their finished works. The course fosters creativity, technical skills, and critical awareness, providing pathways to Stage 6 Visual Arts, Multimedia, or careers in creative industries.

Visual Arts

Visual Arts Elective extends students’ artistic knowledge and skills, encouraging greater independence, conceptual thinking, and experimentation. Students develop and refine techniques across multiple mediums including drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and digital art. Research and investigation of themes, artists, and art movements inform their creative practice and help shape meaningful artworks. Critical thinking and analytical skills are cultivated through interpreting artworks and articulating ideas visually and verbally. Projects often challenge students to consider audience and context while encouraging innovation, risk-taking, and problem-solving. Documentation of the creative process supports personal reflection and learning. The course promotes cultural literacy, artistic confidence, and creative thinking, preparing students for Stage 6 Visual Arts and related creative pathways.

Visual Design

Visual Design Elective engages students in design thinking and visual communication through practical and theoretical studies. Students learn about design elements and principles and apply these across graphic design, typography, branding, packaging, and digital media projects. Technical skills in sketching, digital illustration, layout, and presentation are developed alongside proficiency in design software. Research into design history, trends, and cultural influences enhances understanding of design’s role in society and commerce. Students undertake innovative, problem-solving projects that require iterative development and feedback, refining creative ideas into effective visual solutions. This course nurtures critical thinking, creativity, and practical skills, preparing students for further study and potential careers in design and related fields.

Dance

Dance immerses students in advanced performance, choreography, and critical analysis. Students develop technical skills in various dance styles while creating and refining original choreographic works that communicate ideas and emotions. The course explores dance theory, history, and the role of dance in cultural expression, encouraging students to evaluate and critique live and recorded performances. Practical workshops and creative projects foster collaborative skills and artistic innovation. Dance develops physical coordination, creativity, and critical thinking, providing pathways to tertiary dance courses, professional performance, choreography, production, and arts management careers.

Drama

Drama in Stage 6 demands sophisticated skills in performance, dramatic theory, and production. Students engage in devising, scripting, and performing a wide range of dramatic works, exploring themes, contexts, and theatre styles. The course emphasises interpretation, characterisation, stagecraft, and collaboration while developing critical and reflective practices through analysis of existing plays and live theatre. Students also examine the social and cultural functions of drama. This comprehensive theatre education prepares students for university drama programs, acting and directing careers, theatre production, and arts administration.

Entertainment (VET)

The Entertainment VET course provides students with practical, industry-relevant skills in live production, including sound, lighting, staging, and technical support. Students gain hands-on experience with professional equipment and develop competencies in show planning, event management, and stagecraft within a collaborative environment. The qualification supports pathways into the dynamic entertainment industry, enabling students to pursue careers as technicians, stagehands, production assistants, or to continue training in live performance and technical theatre disciplines. This VET course integrates workplace learning, fostering employability and technical expertise in entertainment contexts.

Music 1

Music 1 offers students an engaging introduction to music performance, composition, and analysis. Designed to develop practical skills across a broad range of styles, students learn to perform on their primary instrument or voice, compose original music, and study music theory and aural skills. The course encourages creativity and personal expression while fostering an understanding of music’s structural elements and cultural significance. Music 1 suits students seeking a comprehensive and accessible study of music, providing pathways to further musical study, performance opportunities, and involvement in community and school ensembles.

Music 2

Music 2 provides an advanced and in-depth study of performance, composition, and musicology. Students refine technical proficiency and stylistic versatility on their primary instrument or voice, engage in sophisticated compositional techniques, and analyse a wide variety of musical works from Western and non-Western traditions. The course balances practical musicianship with theoretical understanding, including study of music history, technology, and contemporary practices. Music 2 prepares students for tertiary-level music study and careers in professional performance, composition, music education, sound engineering, and music technology industries.

Photography

In Stage 6 Photography, students expand their technical expertise and artistic expression through the exploration of photographic practices and digital imaging technologies. The course emphasises the creative use of cameras, lighting, composition, and post-production software to produce high-quality photographic works. Students develop their personal style by experimenting with documentary, portraiture, landscape, and conceptual photography, while also analysing the evolving role of photography in contemporary culture and media. Critical reflection on the social, historical, and ethical contexts of photography enhances students’ visual literacy. This subject prepares students for further education and careers in photography, photojournalism, digital arts, advertising, and media production.

Visual Arts

Visual Arts builds on foundational skills and deepens students’ understanding of art-making processes, critical analysis, and art history. Students engage in sophisticated practical projects, using a variety of materials and techniques to express personal and conceptual ideas. The course encourages experimentation and refinement of skills across drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and contemporary media, fostering individual creativity and artistic voice. Students also critically study and respond to artworks, exploring cultural, historical, and social contexts of art. Visual Arts equips students with the technical proficiency, research skills, and conceptual thinking required for further studies in art, design, and related creative fields, as well as careers in fine arts, curation, education, and visual communication.

Visual Design

Visual Design challenges students to creatively solve problems through visual communication. The course focuses on the development of design thinking, critical analysis, and practical application of design elements such as typography, imagery, colour, and composition. Students work with a broad spectrum of design fields including graphic design, digital media, advertising, packaging, branding, and environmental design. Through both traditional and digital tools, they learn to conceptualise and produce compelling visual solutions that address real-world contexts and client needs. The program fosters innovation and professional skills, preparing students for tertiary design studies and careers in graphic design, digital media, advertising, marketing, and other visual communication industries.