Open Days
This list updated 17/3/09
Australian Academy of Design: 03 9676 9000 – Port Melbourne, 9/8
Australian Catholic Uni: 1300 275 228 – Melb 16/8 10am–3pm, Ballarat 30/8 10am – 3pm
Australian College of Sports Therapy: 03 9670 3735 – Melb 12&19/8; 13&16/9 (TBC)
Australian Institute of Public Safety: 03 8327 2600 – Melbourne- 9/8 (TBC)
Box Hill Institute of TAFE: 03 9286 9222 – Elgar, Nelson & Whitehorse Campuses- 23/8
Carrick Institute of Education: 03 9650 6877 - Melb 9/8 (TBC)
Deakin University: 1300 334 733 – Geelong Waterfront & Waurn Ponds 9/8, Warrnambool 16/8, Melbourne Burwood 23/8
Endeavour College of Natural Health: 03 9662 9911 – Melb 30/8 10am–2pm
ESTT College of Natural Medicine: 03 9562 3312 – Glen Waverly TBA
Footscray City College Film & TV School: 03 8387 1500 – Footscray 22/3
The Gordon Institute of TAFE: 03 5225 0800 – Geelong 9/8
Grenadi School of Design: 03 9663 0001 – Melbourne TBA
Holmesglen Institute of TAFE: 03 9564 1555 – Chadstone, Moorabbin, Waverly Campuses 15/8
Institute for Design & Entertainment and the Arts (IDEA): 03 9600 2832 – Melbourne 9/8 (TBC)
International College of Creative Arts (ICCA): 03 9696 0073 – South Melbourne TBA
JMC Academy: 03 9696 4117 – Melbourne TBA
NMIT (Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE): 03 9269 1200 - Collingwood, Epping, Fairfield, Greensborough, Heidelberg & Preston 19/8 (TBC)
La Trobe University: 1300 135 045 – Bendigo 16/8, Mildura & Shepparton 10/8 , Albury-Wodonga 23/8, Melbourne (Bundoora) 30/8
Monash College: 03 9627 4852 – Peninsula TBA, Caulfield & Clayton Campuses TBA
Monash University: 03 9902 6000 – Berwick, Gippsland, Parkville, Peninsula Campuses 1/8, Caulfield & Clayton 2/8
Photography Studies College: 03 9682 3191 – Southbank16/8 (TBC)
Qantm College: 03 9329 5790 – West Melbourne 23/5 & 29/8
RMIT University/ TAFE: 03 9925 2000 – City, Brunswick & Bundoora Campuses 9/8 10am–4pm
South West Institute of TAFE: 03 5564 8911 – Warrnambool 16/8 (TBC)
Sunraysia Institute of TAFE: 03 5022 3983 – Mildura 9/8, Swan Hill 16/8
Swinburne University of Technology: 1300 275 794 – Hawthorn, Lilydale & Pahran 16/8 10am–4pm
University of Ballarat: 1800 811 711 – Mt Helen, SMB & Camp Street 30/8
University of Melbourne: 1800 801 662 - Werribee (Vet Science) 22/3, Parkville & Victorian College of the Arts 16/8, Burnley 24/8, Dookie 31/8
Victoria University/ TAFE: 03 9919 4000 – Footscray Park 9/8
Whitehouse Institute of Design: 03 9600 3625 - 9/8
William Angliss Institute of TAFE: 03 9606 2111 – Melbourne 10/8
Wodonga Institute of TAFE: 02 6055 6600 - Wodonga 23/8
Why Attend Open Days???
Each year, tertiary institutions open their doors to the public to showcase the amazing and unique features they have to offer including courses, scholarships, student services, facilities, accommodation etc. Open days are a real buzz with lots of activities going on including live bands, BBQs, competitions, information sessions, art displays and drama performances.
Open Day Upsides!
If you are in Yrs 10 – 12, it is a great opportunity to attend Open Days as you will be able to gain a better understanding about the courses or career areas you are interested in; compare facilities and services between institutions which will help you during preference time; speak directly to a lecturer or current student in the faculty you wish to study with; find out about scholarships and also view on-campus accommodation if the institution has these facilities.
Further, attending Open Days will prepare you for courses you may apply for that require you to undertake an interview as part of the selection process.
Open Day Downsides:
There are a few potential road blocks to Open Days worth mentioning. For students living away from institutions, it can be expensive to travel to and from the event and also pay for overnight accommodation. You could try calling the institution to see if they will partially fund your travel and even lunch for the day.
Melbourne Uni subsidises students who travel from rural and regional areas and Swinburne Uni subsidises travel and provides free lunch passes. You may also consider car-pooling with mates; checking out which other institutions are open on the same day and finding out if your school is taking a bus there. If you can’t get subsidised travel or car-pool with mates/ school you could contact your local Rotary or Lion’s Clubs and ask if you could apply for funding. It’s worth a try!
Another downside can be that Open Days are pretty full on and if you’re a bit shy or not used to being on a big Uni campus surrounded by lots of strangers, it can be daunting! The trick is to plan well ahead of the event so you can stay on track. Institutions often have event programs available online and your school may have copies so you can plan all of your information sessions, lunch breaks and accommodation and facility tours before you get there. The program should have the map of the campus available which will be crucial in preventing you getting lost.
Make sure you have a list of questions prepared for when you interview faculty lecturers about the courses you are interested in. This will ensure you get the information you want and you won’t forget to ask anything. A list of questions you may consider asking will be added to this entry soon…
