The Academy is for young people aged 14 – 18 years. Students should have completed Year 9 or the equivalent.

There are no prerequisites for entry into IDEA.

Every aspiring IDEA student undertakes a 45 minute application meeting. This is an opportunity for you to discuss your interest in the program, your goals and aspirations, and how best we can design your program; and for the team to assess whether IDEA is the right fit for you.

No. IDEA offers a fully vocational program, in partnership with our Registered Training Organisation, NUA Learn (RTO Code: 46284), as an alternative to mainstream schooling.

Under the School Education Act (1999) the legislation stipulates that young people are to be enrolled in full-time education, training, or employment (or a combination) up until the end of the year that they turn 17 and 6 months or, turn 18, whichever happens first.

To meet the requirements for an alternative to full-time schooling, IDEA students are enrolled in full-time training, delivered by IDEA in partnership with NUA Learn (RTO Code: 46284) and/or Skills Strategies International (RTO code: 2401) as a part of the core IDEA program.

An Exemption (for Year 10-aged students) or a Notice of Arrangement (for Year 11 or 12-aged students) is required to approve an alternative option to full-time schooling.

An Exemption is only available for students in (or about to begin) Year 10 or above.

A Notice of Arrangement is required for students in the final two years of their compulsory education period (Year 11 or 12).

IDEA assists families with the process and lodgement of this paperwork with the Department of Education’s Participation unit.   

IDEA does not offer a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education.

IDEA uses VET Certificates (II - IV) as a pathway to further education and training, university, and employment, instead of a SSCE (known as the WACE in Western Australia).

The WACE is not part of the Australian Qualifications Framework, while the Nationally Recognised Qualifications integrated in or added to our program span AQF Levels 2 - 5 and become a student's ticket to the next stage of their career or study on leaving IDEA. 

For census data, IDEA graduates have "Attained Year 12 or equivalent".

Each year, our pool of successful graduates become testament to our belief, "No WACE? No Problem!"

No. As with the SSCE, the ATAR is not a qualification, it is a system used to rank students for the examination-based entry pathway to university.

IDEA is not easier than a non-ATAR pathway, it simply develops a different skill-set and enables greater flexibility and personalisation.

It is our belief that students of senior-secondary age are better off spending their final years of compulsory education exploring their options, figuring out their next steps, and building a network of mentors and supporters, as well as a well rounded resume/portfolio, rather than sitting in an exam-focussed classroom for two-years.

For students wanting to attend university, we integrate university experiences, courses and credentials into their program making them well prepared for university life and learning on graduating from IDEA.

"The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national policy for regulated qualifications in Australian education and training. 

It incorporates the qualifications from each education and training sector into a single comprehensive national qualifications framework." https://www.aqf.edu.au/ 

IDEA offers VET certificates II - Diploma (AQF levels 2 - 5). Students may choose to integrate additional qualifications and credentials into their program as part of the co-design process with the IDEA team.

Yes. If your career pathway requires you to have a university degree, your IDEA program is designed to help you to access university admissions pathways. IDEA works closely with universities to ensure that you have the necessary credentials, courses and a competitive portfolio to access university studies after you graduate.

Through our university partnerships, students can complete undergraduate units and micro-credentials while studying with IDEA to try-before-they-buy. Students may also engage in university enabling programs. We ensure that students are set up to succeed, should they choose to continue their study at university after IDEA. 

Absolutely!

Selecting business-focussed qualifications (Cert II - IV) for our program allows us to focus on the key work- and life-ready skills young people require for success after IDEA, including design thinking, problem solving, self-awareness, project management, collaboration, creative and critical thinking, networking and more.

Our business qualifications map perfectly to project-based learning and portfolio development. Each student at IDEA is treated as a young project manager. Their project is to develop a comprehensive portfolio that showcases their interests and talents, while gaining confidence in their next steps beyond IDEA.

Students can work across multiple contexts and interests - art, science, tech, humanities, weaving these into their program as part of the co-design process with the IDEA team.

Our uniform is optional. Each student is required to have at least one uniform set of a t-shirt and hoodie or jumper.

‘Startup founder’ is the unofficial dress code. If you prefer not to think about your outfit choices each morning, an IDEA t-shirt or hoodie is the way to go! 

Your laptop, Smartrider, food (or money for food) and a notebook, pen and diary.

Well, we're not a school, but we did keep the 'best bits' of school i.e. the holidays and the celebrations. 

Students at IDEA will have the option to attend a camp (each year), gala (IDEA's version of a school ball), and our Graduates attend our graduation ceremony.

Rites of Passage are an important focus of the IDEA program. Students help to design these experiences with the IDEA team - including our Leaver's jackets!

This is often the biggest worry for students when they start at the Academy. They may be leaving friends behind, and may be nervous about making new ones.

The good news is that every student starting at IDEA is new. We spend a lot of time supporting friendships to form when you start (in a non-awkward way of course!).

One of the most frequent things we hear from students and families is that they have "found their tribe' at IDEA.

Child safety and well-being is a priority at IDEA, delivered through our personalised, high-care approach. IDEA is a Child Safe Organisation. Our staff to student ratio is 1:12.

We have two hubs located in the heart of Perth's CBD, on St Georges Terrace and William St. Our students are required to attend one of these hubs in person at least 3 days per week to ensure they can engage fully with the program and experience hands-on learning in our collaborative environment.