# Australian College of the Arts

Australian College of the Arts Pty Ltd (Collarts) alternatively styled COLLARTS is an Australian independent tertiary education provider, with four campuses in Melbourne, Victoria.
Originally operating as AusMusic, Collarts was founded in 1993 and offers undergraduate degrees to on-campus and online students. Collarts also works closely with a number of secondary schools to provide VET music programs, offering music programmes to school students. Upon successful completion of a VET program, students are awarded a nationally-accredited vocational training certificate.
Collarts has four campuses across Melbourne, on Wellington Street and Cromwell Street in Collingwood, and George Street and Brunswick Street in Fitzroy.
As of May 2021, there were 1200 students enrolled at Collarts, studying both online and on-campus.

## Acquisition

In 2017, Collarts acquired the Mercer School of Interior Design, in order to expand further into the creative arts education industry. The merger coincided with the introduction of two courses: Music Production and Content Creation.

## Accreditation

* Registered Higher Education Provider
* Registered Training Organisation
* Accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)
* Accredited by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)
* Registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)
* Member of the Australian Council of Private Education and Training (ACPET)
* Nationally recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework

## Courses

Collarts offers undergraduate courses in:
* Acting
* Animation & VFX
* Audio Engineering
* Digital & Social Media
* Dramatic Arts (Comedy)
* Entertainment Management Entertainment Journalism
* Fashion Marketing
* Fashion & Sustainability
* Interior Design
* Music Performance
* Music Production
* Photography
* Screen media - digital, broadcast and electronic media
Bachelor degrees are offered in Trimesters, and are completed within 2 years at a full time study load.
Since Trimester 3, 2019, Collarts has offered their Diploma and Bachelor degrees in Dramatic Arts (Comedy). The course is recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework, accredited until 28 March 2026.
As of 2026, Collarts will collaborate with National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) to continue delivering their VET courses and a Bachelor of Circus Arts program, which is currently facilitated by Swinburne University of Technology. Collarts will accredit the courses delivered by NICA and deliver academic guidance and regulation.

## Notable staff

* Simon Ashford – Worked in animation on projects such as Balto, The Tales of Beatrix Potter, and The Silver Brumby
* Dallas Frasca – Front-woman of Dallas Frasca
* Ella Hooper – 4-time ARIA Music Awards winner and co-founder of Killing Heidi and The Verses
* Jesse Hooper – 4-time ARIA Music Awards winner and co-founder of Killing Heidi and The Verses
* Broden Kelly – Member of comedy group Aunty Donna
* Steve “Stevic” Mackay – Lead guitarist of Twelve Foot Ninja
* Ben O’Hara – Owner and operator of music business resource centre thebiz.com.au
* Tommy Rando – Australian performer, producer, singer-songwriter and composer
* Luke Cincotta – Australian music producer and audio engineer, who has worked with artists such as Karnivool, Jet, Dead Letter Circus, and Airbourne.
* Jon Toogood – Frontman of the New Zealand rock band Shihad
* Jason Torrens – Member of bands Bugdust and The Reefers, and owner/manager of Debasement Recording Studios.
* Chrissie Vincent – Worked with Grammy Award-winning artists and supported acts such as The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Tim Rogers and Pete Murray
* Tim Watson – Member of ARIA Award winning group Taxiride.
* Tim Wild – Member of ARIA Award winning group Taxiride.

## Alumni

* Carla Bonner - Australian actress who played Steph Scully on the Soap Opera 'Neighbours'.