Brilliant Futures Brisbane
Brilliant Futures Brisbane is a dynamic two-year preparation enrichment initiative for highly capable students. It aims to prepare students for future academic challenges and ensure a smooth transition to Queensland Academies Creative Industries (QACI) for Year 10. Students who are in Year 6 in 2025 can apply for entry into the 2-year program commencing 2026. Brilliant Futures Brisbane is aimed for students when they are in Year 7
and Year 8 and provides impactful, collaborative extra-curricular learning
experiences aligned with the International Baccalaureate (IB) learner profile attributes, including inquiry, critical thinking, and reflection.
Brilliant Futures Brisbane Introductory Year Program Outline.
Applications for commencement into the
2-year program for 2026/7 will open 28 January 2025.
Key dates to join the program are below.
*If your student is interested in the program from 2026 and beyond register by clicking here and we will email you when applications are open.
"Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected."
- William Plomer
Program Objectives
- Enrichment: To provide challenging experiences that develop global perspectives and align with IB learner attributes.
- Collaboration: To foster a collaborative community that sparks curiosity and a passion for learning among highly capable students.
- Partnerships: To engage in impactful teaching and learning opportunities with QACI and its industry and university partners.
Program Benefits
- Enhanced Collaboration and Community Building: Students connect with like-minded peers in a nurturing environment, promoting social and academic growth through strong relationships and teamwork.
- Enriching and Challenging Learning Experiences: Activities are designed to broaden global perspectives, foster critical thinking, and support a lifelong passion for learning, preparing students for future academic and personal development.
- Seamless Transition and IB Alignment: The program prepares students for QACI through innovative teaching and learning strategies, with a broad and holistic curriculum, ensuring a smooth transition into the IB Diploma Programme and developing students into reflective, open-minded individuals.
Program Calendar
The program spans two (2) years, featuring two (2) learning engagements each term. Designed to accommodate students' school and extracurricular commitments, these engagements include both in-person and online activities tailored to their nature and location. Sessions may occur on weekdays after school, or on weekends—Saturday mornings, afternoons, or occasionally for the full day. Activities will be hosted both on the QACI campus and at various locations with our university and industry partners.
The first year, the Introductory Year introduces students to the IB approaches to learning, including research, self-management, critical and creative thinking, effective communication, and collaboration, preparing them for academic success and personal growth. Students will engage in academically rigorous and multidisciplinary experiences, such as Putting the A into STEM, Developing Critical Thinking and Global Learning, Leveling-Up Maths Challenges and Creative Endeavours.
The second year, the Collaborative Year, emphasises collaborative learning, offering opportunities for students to explore teamwork and continued engagements with our industry and university partners. A highlight will be the Creative Collaborations Camp and culminating in the Creative Collaborations Project at Graduation in Year 8.
Additionally, throughout the year, students can participate in Industry Experience Workshops within the Creative suite of subject offerings at QACI, which may include Dance, Theatre, Film, Music, Design, and Visual Arts. Please note that these workshops may incur an additional cost.
| 6 | - Application process
- Admissions Test
- Notification to selected students
|
| 7: Introductory Year | The focus of the year is to introduce and develop students as IB learners through a blend of online and in-person activities and engagement with our university and industry partners.
Two (2) engagements per term, plus optional industry experience workshops.
|
8: Collaborative Year
| This year emphasises collaborative learning experiences, providing opportunities for students to interact and learn with others and our continued engagement with our university and industry partners.
Two (2) engagements per term including Creative Collaboration Camp and Creative Collaboration Project, plus optional industry experience workshops.
|
9: Pre-academy engagement
| For students offered placement at QACI for Year 10:
- Admissions Interview (final part of the Year 10 process)
- Engagement Opportunities
- Student Orientation Day
|
| 10 | Commence Year 10 at QACI Campus
|
Program Expectations
Active
engagement throughout the two-year Brilliant Futures Program is
essential for success. Designed to fit with students' existing school
and extracurricular activities, the program requires participation in at
least one learning experience each term, but preferably both learning engagements each term.
Students should engage in both online*
and in-person activities as outlined in the program calendar and are
encouraged to attend various arts-based Industry Experience Workshops,
which may involve a small additional fee.
As a member of the Brilliant Futures Brisbane program students are expected to:
*While some workshops may be offered in an
online format, members of the program will be required to attend
on-campus workshops, and collaborate with their likeminded peers.
For general enquiries about the program please email engagement@qaci.eq.edu.au or phone (07) 3552 9333
"Critical thinking and curiosity are the key to creativity."
- Amala Akkineni
Key Dates to join the program in 2026
Students in Year 6 2025 can apply until the close date below. If you are not in Year 6, please register your details and we will let you know when applications will open for you.
Applications Open
| Tuesday 28 January 2025
|
Applications Close
| Wednesday 10 September 2025
|
Admissions Test - QACI
| October 2025
|
Notifications of Offers for 2025 Program
| November 2025
|
Fees
- Application fee $250
- Program fee $300* each year
- Camp Levy (Year 8) approximately $150-$175.
*Extra optional workshops, including the Industry Experience workshps may entail an additional fee.
Applying
Applicants seeking special consideration for the entrance test need to speak with the Queensland Academies Admissions Team on (07) 3377 9366 prior to lodging an application.
About Us
Queensland Academies Creative Industries (QACI) is a proudly inclusive community of innovative and creative thinkers who opportunities to ignite their curiosity, develop global and intercultural perspectives and foster a love of lifelong learning. Our learners are students from Year 10 through to Year 12 who have high levels of natural abilities with a record of strong academic performance who are motivated to learn.
Queensland Academies offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme—an internationally recognised pre-university level qualification that allows graduating students to study at Australian tertiary institutions as well as overseas universities. The aim of all International Baccalaureate Programmes is to develop internationally minded young people who, recognising their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world. As IB World Schools, Queensland Academies support all students to develop the attributes of the International Baccalaureate learner profile.