Our Staff

Merilyn Brend

CEO and Principal Teacher

Merilyn Brend Robinson is the co-founder, CEO, principal teacher and administrator of Australian College of Dramatic Arts.

Merilyn is a drama and music teacher, secondary and primary, owner of MBCTA Youth Theatre, VCE private provider, ex agent and dialogue coach. Merilyn is active in all stakeholders of ACDA. Merilyn has also written the workbooks to accompany the courses, as well as all assessment material. She holds the Certificate IV in Community service.
Merilyn Brend course writer, administrator and principal tutor, developed the two accredited courses in consultation with industry contacts to utilise the knowledge and skills that Merilyn experienced through her diverse professional career in the performing arts industries as an actor, drama teacher, agent, dialogue coach on set. Since the change from OFFE to the VRQA, the course has undergone three reaccreditations, modernising the courses to reflect the continuing need for the course, growing technology, transferable employability.

Bill Robinson

CEO and Technical Adviser

William (Bill) Robinson is the co-founder, CEO and technical advisor to the college. Bill works in the technical aspects of camera work, lighting and editing. His expertise from being on set and experiences in the industry greatly assists the running of the college. Bill is also part of the strategic decision making of the college.

Nikki Wellington

Administration

Nikki works in College Administration. Her background is in media, advertising and make-up. She manages the day-to-day operations of ACDA, the internal system for attendance, welfare reporting, as well as processing enrolments. She liaises with all schools; VET coordinators, VASS coordinators, parents and works with the strategic direction of the college, involving advertising and publicity. Her further expertise is guest speaking with the students, updating, and editing CV’s and working extensively with the Year 2 Make-up elective students on their folios giving practical work and checking evidence.

Karen Haymes

Administration

Karen works in College Administration. She manages the Standards 2015, mapping from AQTF 2007 and the VRQA conditions to the Standards 2015. She contributes to the drafting edits of the Learners Manual and workbooks. Is responsible for the maintenance of Teacher/student induction information, Unit Guides and Policies and Procedures on Audit Answers. Creates and updates Policies and Procedures, contributes to the enrolments of students internally and on Audit Answers. Verifies student USI number. She is responsible for the creating, monitoring of purchasing contracts and fee invoices sent to VET Coordinators. Adds student’s subjects, results, also subject and program completions to Audit Answers for AVETMISS Data. Maintains and collects staff data and matrices. Contributes to the creation and recording of student certificates and SOA’s. Contributes to the emailing of promotional material to schools. Karen’s background is as a trainer and assessor in the TAFE system.

Casual Staff

Danaë Grieef

Administration

Danaë studied both VCE Drama and the Certificate III in Screen Acting, graduating in 2017 with a Mullum Cluster VET award. She recently completed a Bachelor of Film, Television and Animation at Deakin University and in 2021 will study Honours at Deakin. During the degree course she interned and worked for Parable Productions, editing their TV show, What’s Up Downunder. Danaë is an administrative assistant for the college. She works on the curriculum editing: Learners Manual, Resources Manual, UOC workbooks, UOC mapping, Google Classroom and other integral course documents. Her job role also includes key document organisation and filing systems for documents, and other works assisting administrative roles for the CEO. This often includes using systems such as Dropbox Paper and Office Online for document collaboration, to ensure overall efficiency between office staff, teaching staff and students. Danaë works as student liaison/drama assistant, often helping with filming, excursions, incursions, and visits to set, and recording student evidence and work.

Alex Lowes

Post-Production

Alex works as a video and online content producer for ACDA. He writes, shoots and edits educational content for the students, as well as promotional content for the college. Outside of ACDA, Alex’s short films have screened at various major film festivals across Australia, including St Kilda Film Festival and Flickerfest. His short screenplay ‘A Trial Before the King’ won the TAC’s Split Second Film Competition, and the completed film is screening in Village Cinemas throughout Victoria. His musical comedy sketches have been screened on 7MATE and selected by Terry Gilliam as the winner of Monty Python’s #livemostly film competition. He studied Film and Television at Swinburne University, graduating with honours in 2019.

Madeline Dundon

Drama Assistant and General Production Help

Maddie studied VCE Drama and was part of the Intermediate group of MBCTA during her high school years. She has graduated a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Drama and Psychology at Deakin University. In 2017 and 2018 she was assisting with VCE Drama classes and now teaches VCE Drama on her own as well as still helping out in productions here and with general needs.

The skills that all admin staff bring to the college are enhanced computer skills, including web design, marketing and advertising acumen, good organisational skills and an ability to communicate with students, parents, teachers and school personnel.

ACDA
Australian College of Dramatic Arts is now open for enrolments for 2020 across Victoria, Australia. If you would like more information please browse the website or to enrol contact your VET Co-ordinator at your home school.