Programs and Activities

English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) Program

This program provides additional support to improve the educational opportunities and outcomes for students who are new residents to Australia. The EAL/D program provides support and offers a range of activities to assist students to feel connected to the College and their studies. Students participate in a specialised English subject, plus three or four other subjects where they are provided with extra teacher assistance.

Learning Support

Newstead College has a strong commitment to equity and the provision of inclusive education for all students. Students with disabilities or additional learning needs who require educational adjustments have the opportunity to study subjects suited to their interests, goals and abilities. All Learning Support students have individualised programs supported by Support Teachers and Teacher Assistants. Their program consists of core subjects and is extended further by access and participation across the broad curriculum offerings of the College.

The College also provides a supported work placement program and the opportunity to meet and hear from a range of people from outside organisations to assist transition to employment and adult life. Through participation in varied applied learning activities students are provided opportunities to explore the wider community and prepare for social and vocational pathways, preparing them for positive futures.

Student Leadership

All students are welcome to be a Student Leader and work with our leadership group to actively represent the student body at College and community events. Our Student Leaders have the opportunity within this group to:

Build friendships, self-esteem and confidence
Develop communication and teamwork skills
Experience opportunities in public speaking and event management
Demonstrate awareness of youth and global issues
Organise the College Ball and fundraising events.

Sport at Newstead College

Newstead College teachers are passionate about providing extra-curricular sport for students. We offer a wide range of sporting opportunities to help you stay fit, improve your skills or represent the College in a variety of sports.

Newstead College has a strong reputation in futsal, netball, volleyball and basketball. Our netball culture is something we are extremely proud of. We regularly have netball teams that compete in the NHSSA Saturday netball roster and have a number of 11/12 netball premiership pennants that are proudly on display. We have sent teams to the Gold Coast for the World Sport International Netball Tournament and the International Netball Festival – the only Tasmanian school to do so. We also have teams that compete in volleyball, basketball (including Basketball State Championships), Futsal Championships, cross-country, Burnie 10 (awarded College Champions multiple times), Launceston Running Festival, many other running events on the race calendar, touch football, trout fishing, triathlon, surfing, equestrian and mountain biking.

Newstead College offers extra-curricular interstate trips, with students previously travelling to Melbourne to experience an array of sporting activities, including tours of an AFL Club, the MCG and the Victorian Institute of Sport, plus time to catch an AFL game at the MCG. This was balanced out with a trip to the Channel 10 studios to see The Project, and some important shopping time.

Staff vs Students events run each term and our College gym is open during lunchtimes for students to use recreationally. We offer a Fitness Experiences program for students outside of normal class times, where students can work on their fitness and gain an extra 5 TCE points. Our outside courts have been resurfaced and along with the oval are also available for student use during the day.

Our extensive Outdoor Education and Outdoor Leadership subjects offer half-day and full-day trips, as well as overnight and multi-day camps with activities ranging from walks to sea kayaking, mountain biking, volleyball, rock climbing, abseiling, kayaking, rafting and much more.

Our Athlete Development program offers a tailored volleyball program, allowing students to focus on specific skills and training for volleyball competition. Teams also compete in the local volleyball tournament and in 2023, the Turbochooks were C Grade premiers. In 2025, will add Basketball to our specialised Athlete Development program offerings, allowing students to focus on developing and refining their basketball skills and knowledge.

HPE, Sport and Outdoor Education at Newstead College are all great ways to connect with the College community, meet new people and develop leadership and teamwork skills that are highly valued in the workplace. Two of our VET offerings fall under the HPE umbrella, Certificate II in Sport and Recreation and Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation, allowing students to develop and refine workplace-ready skills.

College Production

Newstead College has staged many outstanding musicals including Cats, Peter Pan, Godspell, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, The Wizard of Oz, Little Shop of Horrors, The Addams Family and Legally Blonde. Our 2024 production is Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella.

For those who love working as part of a team and enjoy acting, singing, dancing, being part of a band or undertaking technical theatre work, these subjects are for you. Students who want to be on stage enrol into the Musical Theatre 2 subject which seeks to build social skills, self-confidence and team skills resulting in a major theatrical production on stage in Term 3. Students who would like to be part of the crew enrol in Technical Theatre Production 2.

College Production takes up one line of your timetable and by the time the musical hits the stage you will have completed well in excess of the usual 150 hours of work required. Therefore, when the Production is over you have the option to get involved in some other performing arts projects or you can devote the time to your other studies, which is especially important if you are studying Level 3 or 4 subjects.

You don’t need to have any previous experience in these areas to enrol, you just need to commit to the extra hours required.

Esports (Gaming Community)

Due to the popularity of competitive and recreational gaming among our student community, Newstead College has created an esports area. This has regularly been filled with eager students since its official opening a few years ago. Students can access the room during most lunchtimes for general use, with structured competitions run regularly. Our College is involved in the META High School eSports national competition in multiple sports, with a great deal of success.

Newstead College has designed an educational pathway with gaming as a focus. This pathway can be explored over two years at the College and can often cater, quite specifically, to an individual’s interests.

In our esports course, students explore the competitive gaming industry, content creation, team management, coaching and event management. Students also learn about how health and fitness relate to performance in the esports industry and the social and ethical issues related to technology in society.

We believe that students involved in our esports culture, whether it be students signed up to our Digital Technology classes or students who come and use the esports room at lunchtime, can learn valuable skills such as teamwork, effective communication techniques, computing skills in both software and hardware, and how to deal with criticism and adversity in a professional manner.

The esports community at Newstead College is active and growing rapidly. We hope to build on this in coming years through fun events for students and the broader community.

Driving for Jobs Program

Driving for Jobs (DfJ) provides assistance to eligible students to gain their L’s and/or P Driver Licence. Newstead College is a registered Learner Licence Assistance Program Provider.

Pre-learner support includes one-on-one assistance to learn the Tasmanian Road Rules and practise the learner driver knowledge (practice) test. When the participant feels prepared, DfJ can also conduct the actual learner test.

Assistance for eligible students who already have their Learner Licence includes the facilitation of driving lessons with accredited local driving schools.

If you are interested in learning more about accessing support from DfJ, please email: leanne.morrison@decyp.tas.gov.au to determine your eligibility

International Students

Newstead College has welcomed International Students as a valued part of our diverse and multi-cultural student population. Students from Japan, Sweden, Italy, Argentina, Brazil, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Thailand.

Teachers and students from international schools have also completed Study Tours at the College.

The College hosts students for several months of the year or some students complete two years of study. Students can enrol into any of our extensive range of Year 11 and 12 subjects or programs. There is a particular focus on improving English skills whilst also completing a number of educational and sightseeing excursions across the state.

These are valuable cultural experiences for both our local students and our visiting students and are particularly beneficial in some of our Arts, Outdoor Education, Foods and English classes. Students often make lifetime friends from across the globe.

If you are an international student, we can provide you with a rich, high quality and enjoyable learning experience in a welcoming, safe, supportive and friendly environment. You can improve your English language skills whilst you focus on your academic pathway. We will provide extra tutorial assistance in English as well as your other subjects. You will also be offered extra-curricular opportunities to view our lovely state and enjoy the social and cultural life offered here at Newstead College and in Tasmania.

Cafe Cypress and Sip on Cypress

Newstead College’s vibrant and contemporary hospitality space provides students with authentic learning experiences in a commercial-grade hospitality facility. During morning tea, Cafe Cypress comes alive, with the Newstead College community sharing a full range of beverages, including espresso coffee and delicious treats prepared and served by students. Students have the opportunity to cater for events and serve breakfasts, lunches and dinners to paying customers via eat-in, takeaway and delivery.

Students interested in becoming trained baristas have the opportunity to hone their skills and build industry-standard competencies through the preparation of
perfectly crafted espresso beverages for customers across the campus.

On Friday evenings, Cafe Cypress is transformed into a training bar, Sip on Cypress. Students provide responsible service of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to customers.

The varied subjects within the Food and Hospitality area provide students with wide-ranging opportunities, leading to meaningful employment or further education and training pathways.

Student Accommodation - Newstead Residence

The Newstead Student Residence is located next door to Newstead College. The Residence provides accommodation for students from the East Coast, Flinders Island, North East and Central Tasmania undertaking Year 11 and 12 studies at Newstead College or Launceston College. The Newstead Residence aims to provide students living and studying away from home for the first time, with a safe, supportive and friendly environment. The Residence provides a marvellous opportunity to experience life as an independent young adult. Students are responsible for their own meal preparation and cleaning of the unit, with an emphasis on being a good neighbour.

The Residence has a shared accommodation arrangement and caters for 50 students. It is comprised of 12 self-contained, fully furnished and equipped three, four and five bedroom units which accommodate all male or all female students. Each student has their own bedroom and study with a shared lounge, bathroom and toilet. The lounge is fully furnished and the kitchen is equipped with white goods, cooking equipment, crockery, cutlery etc.

Facilities provided at the Newstead Residence include a study room with networked computers including email and internet access and a common room with recreational facilities. The common room provides students with an area to relax and socialise. A laundry with coin operated washing machines and dryers, as well as a clothes line are provided.

Residents stay for either a five-day period, from Sunday night through to and including Thursday night, or a full seven day period for Flinders Island students or in certain individual circumstances.

The Newstead Student Residence is closed during term breaks and also for the following periods:

9 March to 11 March inclusive for the Eight Hour Day Public Holiday and Moderation Day/Student Free Day
8 June to 10 June inclusive for the King’s Birthday Public Holiday

To be eligible for selection students must be:

A rural or isolated student from the East Coast, North East of Tasmania or Flinders Island. Selection is based on distance from Launceston. Students from these areas will take priority over students from other areas of Tasmania including the North West Coast and Hobart.
A full-time student enrolled in Year 11 or 12 at Newstead College or Launceston College. Year 11 and
12 students take priority over Year 13 students.
16 years to 19 years of age.

Students must also:

Have independent living skills – capable of cooking, cleaning, attending to personal hygiene, following hostel routines/rules and maintaining appropriate social relationships with other residents.
Maintain an average attendance of at least 75% prior to and whilst residing at the Residence.
Have a parent/carer who can act as the student’s legal guardian at all times in relation to accommodation provision and payments, and adherence to policies, procedures or practices.

Newstead College Resident's Handbook 2024

Newstead College Residence Application Form 2024