Jasmine awarded NIDA scholarship

NIDA is considered one of the top acting schools in the world and was the training ground for its most famous graduates, Cate Blanchett, Mel Gibson and Baz Luhrmann.

“I have been acting since my childhood, but I only started taking it seriously since enrolling in Bachelor of Creative Industries (Acting and Performance) (ARB401),” Jasmine said.

Jasmine said the two-week immersion at NIDA was something she’d dreamed of, and she's grateful for the support given to her by teachers and mentors at TAFE Queensland.

“I grew up acting, but I didn't think that it was an accessible career, so when I moved to Brisbane from Central Queensland, I elected to study film, but I didn’t love it, and I left the course.

I then went on to the TAFE Queensland website to apply for a social work course, and I saw the acting degree, and I thought, ‘why not give something I love a go again’ and here I am, a completely changed person.”

Her initial trepidation quickly dissolved when she experienced TAFE Queensland’s reputation for hands-on training – which she credits to her teachers.

“I was unsure if acting would be my overall career, but I knew I wanted a career I loved. But, training with teachers Lisa, Anatoly and Patrick, I went from being insecure to feeling much more comfortable in my abilities.”

“They've all worked extensively in the industry and care for their students and put so much energy into the course, helping you grow as an actor.”

“This community builds you up and supports you, and it’s life-changing. Because of my teachers, I've fallen in love with acting again, and the career possibilities have opened up.”

Also helping Jasmine is the learning environment because her classroom is the Norman Price Theatre, located at TAFE Queensland’s South Bank campus in the heart of Brisbane's arts and cultural precinct.

“The theatre is amazing, I’d never experienced anything like it before coming here, and we’re so lucky we get to train in a professional theatre. It has so much history and energy behind it, and working in that space is just a privilege.”

While Jasmin’s skills and knowledge to act grew with every class, her training was supercharged when she was awarded a scholarship from the National Institute of Dramatic Art.

As one of only two third-year actors to be awarded the annual scholarship, Jasmine spent two weeks in Sydney, participating in classes, seeing theatre, and observing teaching at Australia’s leading Theatre training institution.

“When I found out I’d got it; I was over the moon! I was incredibly nervous about being in that environment because the name is incredibly intimidating as a young actor.”

“For two weeks, we worked every day learning our craft under the guidance of industry professionals. It changed my perspective on many things, and I learned so much.”

“The most valuable thing I learned was NIDA may have the name, but it's still just an acting school and going to TAFE Queensland doesn't mean we're any less than that – we’re doing the same thing here. I loved training there, but it instilled that I wouldn't give up my three years at TAFE Queensland for anything.”

As she completes her bachelor’s degree, Jasmine has some sobering advice for anyone wanting to become an actor.

“If you want to be famous, then acting is probably not for you because it's challenging. I've accepted that it will probably not be my only income stream, but I’m doing it because I have a deep-rooted love for it.”

“Acting is a tool to tell stories, and storytelling has been on this land for hundreds of thousands of years, so you need to make sure you want to do it for the right reasons. If you enter this industry under external forces, I don't think you'll ever be satisfied.”