INTRODUCTION
The Advanced Diploma of Stage Management is available to those students who demonstrate potential for, and wish to acquire expertise in the technical and production aspects of the entertainment industry. The program is structured to provide skills and experience consistent with the growing needs of the entertainment industry. The skills and knowledge gained will equip graduates to find employment in the areas of theatre, film, television, concerts, festivals, events management and trade presentations.

Units provide training in the organisational and management skills needed for managing rehearsals and performance including: the development and use of the prompt copy, production documentation, score reading, movement and voice instruction, safety in the theatre, communication and people/time management skills and production and company management.  A range of technical production skills and techniques as well as an understanding of the staging and performance requirements for drama, dance, music, music theatre and opera will be developed. Professional placement will occur in the final year.

This VET course is offered by ECU as a Registered Training Organisation under the Australian Quality Training Framework. The course incorporates Units of Competence from the nationally accredited Entertainment (CUE03) and Film, TV, Radio and Multimedia (CUF01) Industry Training Packages.

Students apply directly to the Academy for admission. Admission is based upon comprehensive interview and the submission of a prescribed project for evaluation. Interviews are normally held in November-December. Students are assessed against the following criteria:

• presentation
• originality
• demonstrable empathy for the discipline
• technical ability
• capacity to complete the course with excellence

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING AND CREDIT TRANSFER
Students may apply for credit for acquired skills or previous studies provided they meet the Academy’s Recognition of Prior Learning criteria or supply transcripts or academic records from the appropriate institution.

PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE
Students work as directed on productions mounted by the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Students begin by assisting until sufficiently skilled to perform designated tasks. In the final year students will be expected to collaborate on productions at a professional level of competence.

PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT
Professional placement to industry in the graduating year is a compulsory and practical component. Students undertake an appropriate attachment for production experience. The purpose of this work is to develop and strengthen the proficiencies and skills required in the industry.

The course achieves endorsed national units of competence principally from the entertainment industry training package (CUE03). The units of competence are clustered within course delivery units. Details of the specific delivery arrangement for each unit of competence are available from the relevant Course Coordinator or the Programme Director. Students commence the programme at AQF level 4 – Certificate IV, and over a period of three years full-time study achieve the standard required to graduate at AQF level 6 with an Advanced Diploma of Stage Management.