Course Overview

Entertainment is a 2 unit Board Developed Course 

Category B status for the ATAR 

Preliminary (120 hours) or HSC (240 hours)

Minimum mandatory work placement – 70 hours   

Course Fee $40 per year
Mandatory White Card $30

Course Description

This course provides students with the opportunity to obtain national vocational qualifications for employment in the entertainment industry. Students will be able to gain skills in communication, safe work practices, working with others, customer service, staging, audio, lighting and vision systems. Possible occupations include stage hand, booking/front of house clerk, lighting, vision and sound technician. 

Compulsory Units of Competency 

Unit code                  Unit title             

BSBCMM201A          Communicate in the workplace     

BSBOHS201A           Participate in OHS processes            

CUESOU07B             Apply a general knowledge of audio to work activities        

CUEAUD06B             Apply a general knowledge of vision systems to work activities           

CUESTA05C             Apply a general knowledge of staging to work activities        

CUFLGT101A            Apply a general knowledge of lighting to work activities              

CUECOR01C            Manage own work and learning 

CUCCOR02C            Work with others        

CUECOR03B            Provide quality service to customers             

CUECOR04B            Deal with conflict and resolve complaints      

CUEIND01C              Source and apply entertainment industry knowledge

Elective Units             – minimum 100 HSC indicative hours

AQF VET Qualification(s)

On successful completion of all core and elective units students will receive a Certificate III in Live Production, Theatre and Events (Technical Operations) (CUE30203)   

Recognition of Prior Learning

Students may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning by submitting current evidence of their competency against relevant units of competency. If a student is assessed as competent in a unit of competency there is no need for further training for that unit.

Students with Special Education Needs

Students with special education needs may access this course under regular course arrangements.

Competency-based Assessment
Students work to develop the competencies, skills and knowledge described by each unit of competency. To be assessed as competent a student must demonstrate that they can effectively carry out tasks to industry standard. Students will be progressively assessed as 'competent’ or ‘not yet competent’ in each unit.

HSC Examination and Assessment

Students completing this course are eligible to sit a written HSC examination which may be used in the calculation of an ATAR. The examination is independent of the competency-based assessment undertaken during the course and has no impact on the eligibility of a student to receive an AQF VET.

N Determinations
Where a student has not met Board of Studies course completion criteria, including meeting work placement requirements, they will receive an ‘N’ determination (course not satisfactorily completed). The course will then not count towards the HSC although units of competency achieved will still count towards an AQF VET qualification.

Appeals
Students may lodge appeals against assessment decisions or ‘N’ determinations through your school.

FAQ about Entertainment

What is the Cert III in Live Production, Theatre and Events (Technical Operations)

This qualification is designed to reflect the role of individuals who work in technical production areas and perform a range of skilled tasks. Certificate III is generally accepted as the industry entry-level qualification. This qualification is designed to meet a broad range of industry needs. 

Who is the course designed for?

Students who have an interest in the Entertainment Industry and related fields. This course can supplement student learning in a specific performing arts discipline, especially in the areas of design, presentation and technology.  Students work collaboratively with the performance students on projects and concert presentations, however this course DOES NOT include the practical skills of performing.

What will students be doing in the course ?

In the Compulsory units of this course students concentrate on developing the skills to work effectively in a entertainment environment including organisation and industry awareness, working with others, applying first aid, work, health and safety regulations, and apply general knowledge of lighting, audio, staging and vision systems to work activities.   

How will this course help me in the future?

The entertainment industry is a diverse industry covering a wide range of occupational areas including technical operations,  costume, make-up, props, scenic art, sets, audio, lighting, staging, vision systems, customer service,  front of house and event management. 

Work placement 

Students must complete a minimum of 70 hours work placement in an industry workplace. This may range from live productions/performances, corporate functions, fashion to technical production companies. Students and parents must be aware that this industry is not a 9am – 5pm working environment and that evenings and weekends will be demanded as part of the assessment and work placement requirements. The minimum hours are accumulative and can be achieved anytime during the course, including school holidays periods. However advance notification will be given as soon as confirmation is received.

How are students assessed in Entertainment?

Competency-based Assessment

This is a competency-based course. This means that students work to develop the competencies, skills and knowledge described by each unit of competency. To be assessed as competent a student must demonstrate to a qualified assessor that they can effectively carry out the various tasks and combinations of tasks listed to the standard required in an entertainment environment. There is no mark awarded in competency-based assessment. Students are assessed as either ‘competent’ or ‘not yet competent’.

How are student skills assessed for competency in this course?

The following tasks are used to assess students in core and elective units:

Regional Assessment Tasks

Task 1    - Participate in OHS

Task 2a  - Apply Audio

Task 2b  - Apply Vision

Task 2c  - Apply Stage

Task 2d  -Apply Lighting

Task 2e - Production Management

Task 2f  - Production Logistics

Task 3   - Provide Quality Service

Validated Assessment Tasks

Task 4 - Maintain Physical Elements

Task 5 - Work With Diversity

Task 6 - Customer Complaints

Task 7 - First Aid

Task 8 - Use Hand Tools

How do I develop my skills in this course?

All skills are delivered within the workplace or through simulated practical tasks, and a range of other learning experiences including instruction, written tests/exams, diarys/logs, internet research, discussion, scenarios, role plays and book work. A component of the unit will involve theoretical work, although a large portion includes practical experiences such as organising and running the administrative and technical operations of events and shows.   

What if I miss a task or have not been assessed as competent in one or more tasks?

Students can attempt a task as many times as required to achieve competency. Throughout the course there are several opportunities for re-assessment. Also, students can negotiate with their teacher to revisit the tasks in which they need to demonstrate competency.

How Can I achieve qualification?  

• Regularly attend class and practical sessions.
• Achieve competency by participating in all core and elective tasks.
• Complete and submit all documentation for all 13 tasks and workplace journals. These documents provide written, photographic and video evidence that demonstrate all requirements and competencies have been achieved for your qualification.
• Complete the prescribed 70 hours of work placement in and outside of class time.

When a student achieves a unit of competency it is signed off by the assessor in a competency record book. Students must complete all tasks to achieve the Certificate III in Live Production, Theatre and Events.  In some instances where students have not achieved all competencies or workplace hours they might be eligible for a Certificate II or a statement of attainment. These are also nationally recognised qualifications.

How can I succeed in Entertainment?

• Regularly check the website vetentertainment.blogspot.com.au for tasks, course notes, valuable resources, news and links.
• Revise course notes and complete all tasks set by your teacher.
• Review and discuss various competencies with your teacher.
• Comprehend and support the after hours requirements of the course.
• Maintain a diary and regularly share ideas and collect feedback on entertainment practices with your teacher, industry professional s and your colleagues.
• Keep a record of all your work.

What resources do I need to complete this course? 

Students will need an email address, a USB flash drive, a workbook, regular access to a computer or tablet, writing materials and course workbooks.

Where does homework fit in?

Homework will be set on a regular basis. Usually students will be given mini-tasks to be completed over one or two weeks. All assignments will be provided through your vet entertainment blog and email. All completed tasks assignments must be returned by email. This solves lots of problems with collecting tasks and opportunities to catch-up, and build a digital portfolio. Various components of your portfolio will be used to assess a competency.

How can this course contribute to my ATAR

If a student wants this qualification to contribute to an HSC ATAR they are required to sit a written examination based on the core units  of competency and Higher School Certificate Requirements and Advice detailed in the syllabus.

The Higher School Certificate examination for Entertainment (240 indicative hours) involves a written examination consisting of multiple-choice items, short answers and extended response items.  The examination is independent of the competency-based assessment undertaken during the course and has no impact on the eligibility of a student to receive a vocational qualification.

Also, all students must complete 4 assessment tasks in each calendar year. Two tasks will be in the form of an examination similar to the format of the HSC examination, while the two remaining tasks will examine current entertainment practices.

2014 WORK PLACEMENT

Regularly check for work placement dates and times

Before attending work placement complete the following documents and return them to your teacher.
1) Student Placement Record (emailed to you by your teacher)
2) Entertainment Workplace Journal (which must be taken with your SPR to the work.lace).
3) Work Placement Sign Out Sheet (if your work placement is during school hours). 

Without all documents students cannot attend work placement.

Work placement Dates:
Term 1
Windsor Riverview Performances - TBN
Windsor Fair - TBN

Term 1 and 2
Windsor Riverview Performances - TBN
Richmond Players - TBN

Term 3
Windsor Riverview Performances - TBN
School Evening Concert - August  2014
School Matinee Concert -  August  2014
Windsor On Stage - August 2014
Hawkesbury Music Eisteddfod - August/September 2014

Term 4
Windsor Riverview Performances - TBN 
Hawkesbury Music Festival - November 2014
Battle of the Bands - December 2014
Presentation Evening - December 2014
Christmas Carols - TBN

HSC BOS Resources

The Board of Studies web site has lots of resources that will be used in this course to improve your understanding of requirements and your examination skills. They are sometimes a little difficult to locate so I have provided links to the most useful resources below. They can also be found in right hand column of this site under the heading of HSC BOS Resources.

• Entertainment Syllabus Part A
• Entertainment Syllabus Part B
• Past HSC Exam  Papers 
• HSC Sample Answers 
• Article on Preparing for the HSC Exam 

The HSC Standards Package is probably the most interesting and helpful. It provides an insight into what you can expect in the HSC examination for Entertainment. These packages will be used to prepare you for your half-yearly and yearly examinations. The HSC Standards Package contains:

• Examination papers that shows each question students were required to answer. Marking guidelines that show the criteria applied to allocate marks to the student responses in line with the quality of responses. 
• Band descriptions that summarise the knowledge, skills and understanding typically demonstrated by students who achieve each band. 
• Samples of student responses that illustrate the nature and quality of the responses produced by students whose marks in the examination placed them at the borderline between each pair of bands. 
• Tables and graphs for questions where students are required to select an answer, such as multiple choice and true/false items. These tables provide statistics on the response patterns of students. 
• Exemplary samples of non-multiple choice items. The 2005 Standards Packages include in a separate area an exemplary sample for all questions.