Congratulations on gaining admission to the Victorian College of the Arts, and a warm welcome to you as a new member of our community.  By enrolling at the VCA you will join the many emerging artists who have availed themselves of the educational and professional development opportunities which the Faculty is in a unique position to offer.
The program of activities that makes up VCA Orientation has been designed to familiarise you with the campus and allow you to meet staff and other students, attend performances and exhibitions, and gain information about services for students.  There will be organised tours of the campus, and plenty of time for socialising.
You are warmly encouraged to take the opportunity to attend as many Orientation activities as you can.  By taking advantage of all that Orientation offers, you will give yourself a head start to your years at the VCA – years that will be productive, creative, and challenging.

Professor Andrea Hull AO
Director and Dean
Faculty of the VCA

The VCA Orientation program is made up of Host Day on Thursday 7 February, when you will meet up with your student host and host group, and be introduced to your campus and academic discipline; and Orientation Day on Friday 8 February, when you will find out about the various support services available to you as a student.

We encourage all new students to attend both these days as well as your discipline’s Academic Orientation Day which will be held during the first week of classes.

Postgraduate students are encouraged to participate in the program on 7 and 8 February, as well as the specific Postgraduate Orientation on 27 February.

Follow this link to the VCA Campus Map or download it here.

As a VCA student, you are enrolled as a student of the University of Melbourne.  Although you will have already commenced your classes at the VCA, you are strongly encouraged to attend as many relevant parts of the University’s Parkville program (Tuesday 26 to Friday 29 February) as possible. The Parkville campus is just a short tram ride up St Kilda Road/Swanston Street.

In particular, visit the twilight Student Services Carnival from 2.30 pm to 6.00 pm on Tuesday 26 February to check out all the services available to you.
 
Program details for the Student Services Carnival and other Parkville activities
are on the web at www.services.unimelb.edu.au/orientation/, and will be
provided to you at the VCA Orientation.

Events in the first part of this program are shown in daily order with details of individual activities or sessions.  This information is later provided in a condensed “at a glance” timetable which enables you to plan your attendance at Orientation.

The final page of the program consists of a campus map.  Each session in the program is accompanied by map coordinates to help you navigate your way around the campus.

New students should aim to attend all sessions listed for Thursday 7 and Friday 8 February, with the exception of the first session on each day which is designed particularly for international students.

You may collect your ID card from the Seminar Room in the Hub Building (Map ref. E10) at set times on each day.  If the queue is very long, you are welcome to come back at a later time.

About the VCA Host Program
The Host Program is a great way to meet a small group of students from your discipline at the VCA, and to get an insight into campus life from a later year student host.

You will be automatically allocated to a host group upon confirmation of your enrolment.  Your host will then contact you to arrange a place to meet at the end of the Welcome to the VCA session.

If you have not been contacted by a host before Orientation, look out for a host holding up a sign for your academic discipline (Art, Dance, Drama etc.).  You can then introduce yourself to that host and join up with the group for the remainder of the day’s activities.

9.00 – 10.00 am 
International student welcome (for international  students only)
Federation Hall
Map ref. I12 
Meet the people who can help you thrive in your new learning and living environment.  Information to be covered in this session includes visa requirements and work visas; Overseas Student Health Cover; emergency procedures and security on campus; tax issues; and academic support.

9.00 – 10.00 am 
ID cards
Seminar Room 
Map ref. E10
An opportunity to pick up your Student ID card.

9.30 – 10.00 am 
Student Host registration
Federation Hall foyer  
For student hosts only.

10.00 – 10.45 am 
Welcome to the VCA
Outside the Wilin Centre
Map ref. G9
Address by Professor Andrea Hull, Director and Wilin Centre Dean of the VCA, followed by a traditional Indigenous Welcome to Country ceremony.

10.45 – 11.45 am 
Get to know your Student Host and group
Designated meeting places 
Meet up with your Student Host, and be introduced to your group.
 
11.45 – 12.45 pm 
Get to know your campus
Designated meeting places
Once you have settled in and got to know your group, your Student Host will take you for a tour around the campus.

12.45 – 2.00 pm 
Lunch
Outside Café 
Map ref. G10 
Enjoy a delicious lunch with your group.

2.00 – 3.00 pm 
Get to know your discipline
Academic disciplines
At the end of lunch your Student Host will take you to your academic discipline, where you will meet key staff and find out everything you need to know to survive the first week of your studies.

3.00 – 5.00 pm 
ID cards
Seminar Room 
An opportunity to pick up your Student ID card.

and/or

3.00 – 5.00 pm 
Library tours
Map ref. F11
Library Tours courtesy of your friendly Library staff.

and/or

3.30 – 4.30 pm 
Skilling up for the academic year:
Getting the most out of lectures
Art Auditorium 
Map ref. F5 
See details later in this program.

8.45 – 9.45 am 
International students:
Skilling up for the academic  year (for international students only)
Art Auditorium
Map ref. F5 
Cultural differences in the classroom
See details later in this program.

9.00 – 10.00 am 
ID cards
Seminar Room 
Map ref. E10
An opportunity to pick up your Student ID card.

10.00 – 11.00 am 
Surviving your first year at the VCA
Federation Hall 
Map ref. I12
Surviving your first year depends on making a successful transition into VCA life: key dates to remember; why studying at the VCA is different; “safety” in the creative environment; and using your Library without Walls.

11.00 – 11.30 am 
Morning tea
Outside Café 
Map ref. G10
Enjoy a delicious morning tea generously sponsored by Spotless Catering, who look after the Café on campus. Join VCA staff and students for danishes, croissants, tea and coffee.

11.30 am – 1.00 pm 
Services for students
Federation Hall 
Find out about the services available to you as a VCA student, both at Southbank and Parkville campuses. You will discover whom to ask for course advice, as well as information on housing options; financial support; employment and professional development; medical, physiotherapy, counselling and disability services; and how student unions can help you.

1.00 – 2.00 pm 
Bands and lunch
Outside Café 
Meet staff and students from the VCA Student Union over lunch, and learn about 2008 activities and campaigns.  Entertainment highlights will include popular VCA bands.

2.00 – 3.00 pm 
Student panel session
Federation Hall  
Hear students speak about their first year experiences.

3.00 – 5.00 pm 
ID cards
Seminar Room 
An opportunity to pick up your Student ID card.

and/or

3.00 – 5.00 pm 
Library tours
Map ref. F11
Library Tours courtesy of your friendly Library staff.

and/or

3.30 – 4.30 pm 
Skilling up for the academic year:
Academic writing for assessment
Art Auditorium
See details later in this program.

In addition to introductory talks in academic disciplines on Thursday 7 February, specific Academic Orientation Days will be held within disciplines in the first week of lectures. You are strongly advised to attend both. Details are as follows:

Art 
Wed 13 February, 10.00 am – 12.30 pm
Art Auditorium (Map ref. F5)

Dance  
TBA

Drama 
Mon 11 February, 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Space 28 (Map ref. F6)

Film & TV  
Mon 11 February, 9.00 – 11.00 am
Cinema 2 (Map ref. I11)

Music 
Tue 12 February, 10.00 am – 4.00 pm: Gould Room (Room 216) (Map ref. F13)
Wed 13 February: to be advised by discipline

Production  
Mon 11 February, 9.30 – 11.00 am
Grant Street Theatre  (for undergraduate and postgraduates) (Map ref. I10)

An Orientation program tailored to meet the needs of new postgraduate students will be held in Federation Hall (Map ref. I12) from 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm on Wednesday 27 February.

Postgraduate students are also encouraged to participate in the general VCA-wide program on 7-8 February, and relevant parts of the University’s postgraduate program, which may be found at http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/orientation/postgrad/ and will be provided to you at the VCA Orientation.

An orientation program for Indigenous Australian students (new and returning) will be held on Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 February at the Wilin Centre.  It will feature specific information for Indigenous students, academic support, social activities, an overnight trip (dependent on numbers) and opportunities to interact with support staff from across the University of Melbourne.

Further information and a program will be available shortly via http://www.vca.unimelb.edu.au/wilin or email cliddle@unimelb.edu.au.  Students are asked to register their interest by 21 January 2008.

As part of the program of Orientation activities, students are being offered three workshops at the VCA to facilitate their transition into University life.

Getting the most out of lectures
3.30 – 4.30 pm, Thurs 7 February, Art Auditorium (Map ref. F5)
The main delivery mode of learning at university is through lectures.  This workshop will focus on effective ways to write and organise notes from lectures.

Cultural differences in the classroom (for international students)
8.45 – 9.45 am, Fri 8 February, Art Auditorium
Each country has a unique educational system as well as different expectations of students.  This practical seminar will address academic expectations in the classroom at the VCA.

Academic writing for assessment
3.30 – 4.30 pm, Fri 8 February, Art Auditorium
Writing for academic assessment is different from other forms of writing that you may have experienced in the past.  This workshop will look at the expectations of academic writing at the VCA.

For further information on the above academic transition sessions, please contact the Language and Learning Skills Office on 9685 9048.

2.00 – 4.00 pm, Wed 13 February, Art Auditorium
The DELA test is highly recommended by the University, for international students who are not native speakers of English and who are likely to benefit from additional English language support.  Getting help with your English can make a real difference to your academic success.  This assessment is free.

Further information on the DELA is available at:
www.services.unimelb.edu.au/llsu/international/dela

If you have a disability and require support during the Orientation period or beyond (eg. Auslan interpreter, accessible formats or sighted guides), please contact the Disability Liaison Unit for assistance.  When contacting the DLU at Parkville please mention that you are a student at the VCA.

(03) 8344 7068 (Voice)
(03) 8344 4369 (TTY)
0408 556 897 (SMS)
or email DLU-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au

• VCA Campus Map 2007: updated (219.9 KB, Adobe PDF document)
• VCA Orientation 2008 Program (250.5 KB, Adobe PDF document)
• VCA Orientation 2008 Schedule (39.8 KB, Adobe PDF document)