Enrol now for 2025
Academy Student Journey
Year 10 alternative
Rookie year is a chance for students to “un-school”, recalibrate, make connections, and open their eyes to future possibilities.
Students build confidence and learn to take opportunities that push them out of their comfort zones. They are given the opportunity to build fundamental skills for project-based learning, work readiness and creative thinking strategies, setting them up for success on their IDEA journey.
Rookies typically complete the following credentials as an integrated component of the program. Additional qualifications, courses, and tailored experiences may be added to the program, co-designed based on each student’s interests and aspirations:
BSB20120 Certificate II in Workplace Skills*
ICT20120 Certificate II in Applied Digital Technologies**
*In partnership with IDEA’s Registered Training Organisation, NUA Learn (RTO Code: 46284)
**In partnership with Skills Strategies International (RTO Code: 2401)
Year 11 alternative
In Intern year, students begin to ideate, considering how their particular skills, interests and talents might be applied in the context of their careers. They look at multiple career ‘clusters’ and start to explore fields of interest. They design their resume and engage in work placements and volunteering, building their professional networks. They begin to develop their digital portfolio and engage in micro-credentials relevant to their interests. They may add university units, additional qualifications and internships to their portfolio.
Interns typically complete the following credential as an integrated component of the program. Additional qualifications, courses, and tailored experiences may be added to the program, co-designed based on each student’s interests and aspirations:
BSB30120 Certificate III in Business*
*In partnership with IDEA’s Registered Training Organisation, NUA Learn (RTO Code: 46284)
Year 12 Alternative
In Graduate year, students prepare for their transition from IDEA by bringing together and implementing the skills and experience they have developed during their time at IDEA. It is a year to deep dive into a topic of choice through their graduate project and to develop a comprehensive and strategic pathway plan. They finalise their digital portfolio and complete higher-level credentials to ensure they have a competitive portfolio. They build their professional profile on LinkedIn and attend events to boost their professional networks. They may begin to apply their skills by engaging in contract work.
Select IDEA students in their Graduate year may join the Diploma program by application.
Graduates typically complete the following credential as an integrated component of the program. Additional qualifications, courses, and tailored experiences may be added to the program, co-designed based on each student’s interests and aspirations:
BSB40120 Certificate IV in Business*
*In partnership with IDEA’s Registered Training Organisation, NUA Learn (RTO Code: 46284)
- Students: 15 to 18 Years
- Mode: Full-time
- Location: IDEA campus / work placements
- Next intake: 3 February 2025
- AQF Levels: 2 - 4
How the academy program works
On co-learning days, students attend one of our co-learning hubs and complete projects which integrate our vocational qualifications. A typical co-learning day might include:
Project sprints
Project sprints take up the majority of each co-learning day and are a student’s opportunity to complete their work. At the start of each sprint, students decide what they will work on, and what they want to achieve by the end of the sprint.
During sprints, mentors may bring small groups together for tutorials. We follow the Pomodoro Technique during sprints: 25 minutes of focussed work, followed by a five-minute break before returning to work.
Coaching
One-on-one coaching sessions with IDEA mentors take place throughout the week and include:
- Portfolio coaching: focussing on overall portfolio progression and qualification completion.
- Well-being coaching: focussing on the student’s well-being plan.
- Pathways coaching: focussing on the student’s pathway plan and brokering flex learning experiences
Team meetings
Team meetings support students with project management and goal tracking. This includes developing skills such as scheduling, time management, task prioritisation, follow up, feedback, and asking for help.
Students build Kanban boards and use our online project management workspaces to monitor their progress and report to their team of IDEA Mentors.
Masterclasses
Masterclasses focus on the key skills students will need to be successful at IDEA (and beyond) such as project management, design and entrepreneurship, technology, career development, self-development, and life skills.
Masterclasses may also be used to unpack content and tasks from our vocational qualifications.
Community Connect
Community Connect activities bring the hub community together and invite the community in to present to students.
- Topical Talks: students come together to discuss topics of interest. The principle of good-faith dialogue is used to demonstrate healthy dialogue across a spectrum of ideas and perspectives.
- Speakers: we invite speakers to attend the hub regularly to discuss their career and industry areas, and tell their ‘path less travelled’ story. The aim is to spark curiosity and ignite student interests.
- Activities: these are ‘added extras’ that are co-designed with students as an optional activity within the week. Past activities have included boxing, breathwork, STEM club, Reformer Pilates, and art-hour.
- Excursions: we aim to take students on short excursions at least once per term.
Portfolio builders
Portfolio builders are additional opportunities curated by the IDEA team each term. Typically run by IDEA partners or other external providers, portfolio builders may include:
- Events
- Workshops
- Competitions
- Micro-credentials
Portfolio builders are optional but highly recommended activities which are designed to boost a student’s portfolio and help them explore a range of possibilities relevant to their transition while at IDEA.
Flex learning days are completely personalised, and students typically engage in activities relevant to their interests. If it helps to develop a student’s portfolio, then it makes sense for a flex day.
Though students are welcome to attend our co-learning hubs on flex learning days, flex learning is about shifting learning into the world beyond IDEA. As such, students are encouraged to engage in various off-site activities, including:
- Industry project briefs
- Job shadowing
- Work experience
- Paid work
- Volunteering
- Apprenticeships and traineeships
- Training e.g. elite sports, arts
- Additional qualifications and credentials at TAFE or university
Embarking on the IDEA journey means so much more than just gaining credentials and building a portfolio! Designed in collaboration with rite of passage experts like Mike Dyson, Founder of Good Blokes Co, and Dr. Arne Rubinstein, founder of The Rite of Passage Institute, the Academy's Rites of Passage program, Compass, is all about developing self- awareness, creating lifelong memories, and forging strong bonds with peers.
As well as engaging students through themed topics that nurture essential life skills and self-awareness, this includes access to typical rites of passage such as:
- Camp
- Gala
- Exhibition
- Graduation
IDEA Connect is our NDIS-covered course for eligible students. IDEA Connect offers students additional support to connect the dots between our Academy program and the real-word application of the skills students develop.
During IDEA Connect, students work together with an IDEA mentor to unpack key work and life skills and how they can be applied in the real-world. They engage in supported IDEA learning activities such as networking, job shadowing and social events.
As part of the IDEA Connect course, we work closely with allied service providers to ensure that students make a successful and supported transition to their next step beyond IDEA.
Academy Student Fees
ENROLMENT FEE
A non-refundable enrolment fee of $300 is required to secure a place at IDEA.
ANNUAL FEE
$13 000
FEE SUPPORT
Scholarships and payment plans are available. NDIS may also cover a portion of our fees for eligible students on a self-managed plan. For a full-breakdown please download our fee schedule below.
Availability
Enrolments are currently open for our 2025 cohort.
IDEA programs are highly personalised and, as such, availability of places is determined by a cohort’s needs and our ability to provide a quality program.
We recommend getting in touch with us early.
Get Started
Feeling curious? We'd love to meet you.
If you think an IDEA Academy enrolment is the right fit for you or your child, book an information session below:
