'Enrolment crisis' for performing arts students at Virtual School Victoria
Many singers, actors and dancers who are attending private performing arts colleges get their high-school education from Virtual School Victoria (VSV), formerly called Distance Education Centre Victoria.
The industry peak body, Ausdance VIC, has told the ABC if change comes into effect at VSV next year, the academic future of over 100 high-school students could be in doubt.
From 2026, performance students enrolling in VSV require support from specific creative organisations. The problem, according to Ausdance VIC, is the listed companies cannot provide references.
"None of the organisations on that list knew they were going to be required to give these references," Ausdance VIC spokesperson Eilannin Harris-Black said.
"Accordingly they've got no policies in place, and they are just generally unable to provide these [references] through lack of remit, lack of insurance, lack of procedures and no communication at all from the Department of Education.
Since April, Ausdance VIC has been trying to negotiate with VSV and the Department of Education to find a way forward.
It is calling on VSV to "urgently suspend" the new criteria until a workable solution has been found in consultation with the sector.
Only students re-enrolling for years 11 and 12 can apply under the existing requirements.
"The dance sector is happy to participate in proper checks and balances — but there needs to be consultation before action."
The Department of Education said the enrolment criteria had been strengthened to ensure the category remained focused on elite students.
A spokesperson said the changes were to "ensure alignment with the category's original intent — to support elite athletes and performers with extraordinary commitments, and to support students to engage meaningfully in their education and meet minimum instructional hours."
"VSV is supporting students and their parents to explore alternative educational options if they are no longer eligible to attend VSV and can give special consideration on a case-by-case basis".
Following questions from the ABC and stakeholders, the ABC understands the Department was reviewing VSV enrolment requirements for 2026 and will update the school community in term 3.
VSV was contacted for comment.
Transit Dance trains around 30 high school students annually.
The school's artistic director and Ausdance board member, Jayden Hicks, said if the proposed criteria goes ahead in 2026, it would create an "enrolment crisis".
"Anyone below year 10 couldn't continue and we couldn't accept new students, even if they were exceptional."
He wants VSV and the Department of Education to see how performance arts high schools operate before making any changes.
"We have classroom set-ups, we have high school teachers — we are a great alternative to mainstream school for creative students," he said.
Mr Hicks said he was happy for independent oversight of incoming students, but the current list of "recognised organisations" was unworkable.
"Our governance body is Ausdance, they should be able to assess if students are elite or advise on who would be an appropriate referee."
Imogen Premraj knew she wanted a career in musical theatre from the moment she saw MAMMA MIA! on stage as a three-year-old.
Now 14, Imogen has already performed professionally with the Melbourne Theatre Company, and at Melbourne's Regent Theatre.
When she was accepted into the Ministry of Performing Arts College (MOPAC) for year 8, she was elated.
"The community at MOPAC is amazing and my skills have definitely improved," she said.
"I think my academic performance is going really well with VSV."
Imogen's mother, Bridie Premraj, said the planned enrolment changes for 2026 "don't make sense".
She hoped performance students, including her daughter, could continue with the virtual school.
"Having access to VSV means communities like MOPAC can exist, accessing really high-quality [performance] training while also accessing high quality education," Ms Premraj said.
"Since starting at MOPAC we have seen a huge growth in her confidence and skills, far beyond what we would have imagined.
"It would be disappointing if Imogen couldn't continue with VSV."
VSV describes itself as "the state's leading virtual school".
In recent years enrolments at VSV have exploded — from 3,530 students in 2018 to 6,673 in 2025.
Most pupils are school-based students completing VCE subjects not offered at their home school.
Others attend VSV full time because they cannot attend a mainstream school due to elite sports or performing arts commitments, mental or physical health conditions, travel, or living remotely.
Of the non-school based students, it appears most of the enrolments come from the medical "mental health" category, which was previously named "social emotional".
VSV's 2022 annual report said there were "1,431 students enrolled in this category including 895 students referred to the school by medical practitioners due to school refusal".
Some people questioned whether the change in criteria for the sports/performance category was an effort to reduce enrolments and push students back into mainstream schools.
This was despite the sports/performance category accounting for just three per cent of VSV's total enrolments in 2025.
VSV and the Department of Education didn't respond when the ABC asked if the new criteria are designed to reduce enrolments.
In October 2024, VSV announced an update to the sports/performance enrolment category to "clarify and standardise the requirements for elite athletes and performers seeking enrolment at VSV".
Previously students were required to get a letter from their current school stating the student had left for performing arts commitments and that "in their view, VSV is an appropriate alternative educational experience".
The students sporting or performing arts organisation was then required to confirm:
New criteria means that from 2026 only Victorian residents entering years 9-12 with exceptional abilities will be eligible.
Applicants will also require support from a recognised sports or performing arts organisation.
The problem for these performing arts schools is that even if students are "exceptional" the artistic companies listed are not in a position to provide references, according to Ausdance VIC.
The ABC has contacted several of the listed organisations — those that responded said they were not notified of the change and could not provide the detailed endorsement asked for in the guidelines.
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