Box Hill Tafe, Melbourne

LittleStef, Box Hill TAFE has an excellent reputation. Continue to exammine the possibilities. For many, many years I lived in Melbourne. I have technical qualicications in radiocommunications, a hobby as a FoH sound engineer and am reasonably good as a handyman. While in Melbourne I worked with an (outer-eastern suburbs) amateur theatre company as a "set-builder/scene-shifter/props-maker/sound-tech" person. I had good practical experience but no theatrical qualifications! About four years ago, I moved to South-East Queensland. I joined a local amateur theatre company. That company has a working agreement with the near-by TAFE and we host a dozen, or so, Certificate IV (Live Theatre, Production and Events) students each year. They are taught about all the legislation, dangers and precautions; planning, rigging, and operation of sound and lighting systems that the wonderful world of theatre involves. To formalize what I already knew, I put myself through the TAFE course. (I was the oldest person in that class -- mid 50's. Now, I can do lighting as well!) So, as a teaching theatre, we benefit. Those students do a significant amount of our productions (six shows per year; about a dozen performances per show). The result is: they are technically qualified and have real, practical experience! As an aside: a some have gone on to professional gigs (a couple to Cruise Ships, one was a follow-spot operator for a Cirque du Soleil Australian tour). What this is trying to say to you is that, in my opinion, you need a mixture of practical experience -- join an amateur theatre company, or two. Do the hard yards -- and go to the TAFE to get your qualifications. You'll be able to add a very informed perspective to your life as a theatre technician. Also, to answer part B of your post: I think that you'll find entry into NIDA a really tough call without any history of practical experience. Above all have fun! Enjoy this crazy world!