Driving pass the Griffith Film School at night is like witnessing a cinematic set for a devil's…read moredinner party. The dramatic up-lighting emphasises the red stain glass which looks just like hell's hearth and dark shadows play dramatically across the window panes. By day it is just an educational institution, home to emerging filmmakers, game designers, animators and scriptwriters. The Griffith Film School boasts impressive facilities with its computer labs, editing facilities and film studios. Its new 92-seat cinema features a five metre screen, digital projection and Dolby 7.1 surround sound. It is a learning facility as well as being available to hire for private screening functions. Some of Australia's most respected filmmakers are amongst their Alumni including Peter and Michael Spierig, documentary filmmaker Peter Hegedus, scriptwriter Alice Addison and director Anthony Mullins. So if you fancy a career in filmmaking, you can't go wrong with a degree from this worthy institution.

The Film School (or GFS) is the hub for the filmmakers, animators and game designers of Griffith…read moreUniversity, the building is beautiful, the amenities are clean and kept and the facilities are second to none. As a third year film student I have had the privilege of meeting industry professionals and award winning creatives, I have learned the latest techniques on the most up to date software, I have had a chance to use some of the best and most recent cameras in the field and have had a blast doing it. The teaching staff are friendly and truly care about each student and each project as if it was their own. As a soon-to-be graduate I feel confident that I can leave this school with the skills I need and the knowledge to get me to where I want to go.

This may not be the university for the real world, but this is the place you go to follow your…read moredreams in the face of everyone asking you how you're going to get a job afterwards. This is the place to go when the desire to work in a creative field outweighs logic and parental approval. This is the place to study fine arts, design, photography, sculpture and a myriad of visual arts. As a professional student, I've enjoyed walking the paths of many educational institutions. There's been University of Queensland, Southbank institute of Technology and Macquarie University but none compare to Griffith, Queensland College of Art. On the exterior, the QCA is in desperate need of refurbishment - walls need to be repainted, the main shoebox building should be razed and resurrected taller, angular with a funky facade made of colourful panels and glass. Strip back its worn exterior though and you'll find plenty of resources to help you achieve your career goals. The college has three gallery spaces at the Southbank campus for student exhibitions. They facilitate regular educational seminars through their network with industry and international art schools. The relative smallness of the campus promotes a sense of community and encourages collaboration across creative disciplines. I remember during my time studying an animation degree, I decided to exhibit some ceramic pieces. Even though I was not enrolled in the ceramics course, the staff from that department was extremely generous sharing their knowledge and equipment for my project. So if you've ever thought your childhood scribbles had potential or if you were begging your parents for acrylic paints by the time you were five because of the limitations of crayons, perhaps now is the time to consider a creative career.

Let your creativity flow and don't be afraid to dream. At Queensland College of Art you'll be able…read moreto develop yourself as an artist as you grow up. Let your imagination free and express yourself in your own way.

The pathway to any creative career is never straightforward. This is particularly true for aspiring…read morefilmmakers now that technology is so cheap and accessible. Why go to a film school when you can buy a decent camera, editing software and a laptop and cut together a home movie? This is where QPIX comes in. You don't need to have a university qualification in filmmaking to access this organisation. QPIX is set up by Screen Queensland to provide professional and educational support for all aspiring filmmakers. There are master classes for specialty areas within filmmaking, semester long courses for people wanting to learn in a structured environment, short courses for people who want to learn on their own but require some guidance and even holiday courses for school kids. In addition, they also produce a slate of Queensland short and feature length films every year using Queensland cast and crew. Without this support, local emerging filmmakers would have difficulty breaking into the Australian film and television industry. So if you're the sort of person who enjoys shooting movies on your iphone and then spending hours playing with editing software, perhaps it's time to talk to QPIX about taking the next step.

Writing may be a solitary craft but aspiring wordsmiths and word nerds need loving too. That's why…read moreI've been a member of the Queensland Writers Centre (or QWC for short) for the past three years. While I do spend the majority of my time tap, tap, tapping away at my keyboard (or when I'm feeling nostalgic, click, clack, clacking away at an old fashion typewriter), I'm not by nature an anti-social person. I'd go crazy without the professional, moral and social support provided by the QWC. In January, they've organised the Rabbit Hole - a free three day group writing workshop at the State Library of Queensland. On the first Monday of every month, they host the letter writing club where everyone works on an old fashion typewriter. It's a cathartic experience, worlds away from the millions of emails we shoot off on a weekly basis. This organisation is not just for writers, but anyone who enjoys reading. This is the mob who organises the Brisbane Writers Week every October. Last year's festival had a stellar line up of interviews and Q & As with Australian and international authors, not to mention master classes, podcasts and illustration workshops. Queensland Writers Centre is definitely one to write home about. For more information, visit http://www.qwc.asn.au

During semester, the QUT Creative Industries Precinct becomes my second home. I'm sure in its time…read moreit has witnessed some amazing creativity, teamwork and tears, and that's just from me. I find it a fantastic place to study, and (as geeky as this sounds) hang out. The facilities at Z Block (as it's lovingly referred to by people who spend too much time there) are second to none. There are numerous computer labs, the studio for the fashion students as well as editing suites for Film & Television studies. There's also opportunity to hire spaces for exhibitions, fashion shows and events. I've been to a launch party and a fashion graduate show in the facilities in the precinct, and they were fantastic venues with plenty of space. I love studying at QUT, and I especially love being a Creative Industries student so I can utilise the world class facilities on offer at the Creative Industries Precinct on Musk Avenue. If you're toying with the idea of studying in a creative stream at QUT, know that the spaces available are incredible.

I recently read that dabbling makes you a better business person. Maybe they made it up for the…read morepurpose of their buzz word filled article, but I genuinely love the idea of being able to dabble in all types of things from arts and crafts to social psychology and photography. Thankfully, organisations like Laneway Learning make this possible. Having watched Melbourne based friends, via gloating Instagram feeds, trundle off to Laneway Learning classes it was exciting to learn they were establishing a chapter here in the Sunshine State. It's early days and the classes are still building but it seems that each week there's something new to take your dabbling fancy. My first Laneway Lesson was in the art of Miso. For $15 ($12 for the class, $3 for materials) it was a reasonably affordable night in the heart of the CBD at Bean Cafe. Gav, Bean's owner, kept the cafe open and students could buy a cold brew coffee or wine. Each teacher is just finding their feet and there's allowances that must be made during this period. I was a little disappointed that one of the recipes our teacher shared was "just from Google". I expressed this in my feedback form as, call me a cranky old woman, but with the teacher being Japanese herself, I would have loved to take home her own recipe. But like I said, allowances must be given as everyone finds their feet and way. I learnt a few tips and tricks and have experimented making miso marinated hard boiled eggs, miso soup for breakfast and more since the class. I'm really looking forward to hopefully making it along to more classes including the one to make lemon curd and another to learn more about typography. Happy Dabbling!

I have recently attended a haircuts class, organised by Laneway Learning Team. I was surprised how…read moreprofessionally the class has been organised by the team, as well as how professional was Sara Courtney, an instructor who lead the course. The class was held in friendly environment of the Bean cafe and I have received a lot of satisfaction and useful information from the class. Thankfully to Sara, I now know a secrets of how to make great Hollywood stars level haircuts in just 10 minutes. A bit thanks to Laneway Learning Team, personally to Sara Courtney for organising such a beautiful class! Hope to see you soon! :)))))

Each year, I leave the Brisbane Writers Festival (BWF) inspired, stimulated and sad that it's over…read morefor another year. For a week every September, BWF inhabits the State Library of Queensland bringing a host of local, national and international literary talents to its stages. Writers from all fields--literature, science, politics, psychology--come to talk about their work, discuss topics with other writers and deliver workshops over the week-long festival. The first four days are usually filled with events for school groups and the real events kick off with the opening night on a Thursday, followed by 3 jam-packed days of events for the adults. At BWF, there are both ticketed and non-ticketed events. I've always just stuck to the free ones and have never felt like I've missed out on anything. If happy to splash out, however, $15 to $20 will get you into a ticketed events. Master classes will set you back around $75 for 3 hours. Keep an eye on their website for the release of each year's program. Hard copies are also distributed in the Courier Mail nearing the festival and at bookshops such as Avid Reader, West End.

If the thought of books, writing, or reading makes you want to jump for joy, then the Brisbane…read moreWriter's Festival is a must. This festival has gone from strength to strength over the years, and attracts a strong variety of local and international writers every year. Last year, Jonathan Franzen, Ann Patchett, and Philip Pullman were among the big names that drew record number crowds. There are always interesting panels, workshops (oftentimes free, and many of them geared towards kids), and author interviews every day of the festival, and the venues for each event alternate between the clean, modern State Library facilities. The catering has also improved; this year they offered festival-goers a variety of sandwiches and freshly baked muffins, as well as rice paper rolls. Each year there is also a surprise flash mob too; two years ago a group of dancers executed a choreographed routine in one of the tents, and last year, a choir began singing on the ground level of the library.

Visited the campus for the first time in a while, and I was impressed…read more Look, even pre refurbishment, the cafeteria area far surpassed that of Kelvin Grove, and I suspect it's gotten even better. I'd even seen people in the bar over this side of town; better location for the partying students I think. We visited the lovely art museum, which is always worth checking out as the exhibits cycle regularly, and pop into the old Governor's residence, which also has an art gallery inside. But you know what? Check out the The Cube. Wow. That's some impressive stuff. And if you're a QUT student, grab yourself a cubit account and load it up with some photos, videos, etc and go have a play. It's some mighty impressive technology. Beyond that, the campus is in a lovely location, squeezed between the river and the botanical gardens. I always enjoy heading into the gardens to find a spot where the city noise disappears, and just lying on the grass staring off into the sky.

Good old QUT, or as some losers like to call it "the univeristy for the second world" or "the super…read moreTAFE", ignore all of those comments because QUT is neither of those, it is "the University for the real world". And that was probably one of the corniest sentences I have ever written. Regardless of that, QUT really is a solid university. UQ snobs may think their uni is better but I have been very satisfied with my learning experience at QUT. At QUT, you are encouraged to work hands on; it will not always be about memoriseing what you read in a text book. They really want you to be prepared for the work you will do once you leave uni (hence, "the real world"). At QUT I felt, I was often left to analyse topics and make up my own mind over certain arguments. Another thing UQ snobs will go on about is the facilities that their university offers but QUT also has some excellent shops and cafes surrounding the campuses (at both Kelvin Grove and Garden's Point). Sure UQ may have more on offer but at the end of the day, shouldn't what you learn be the main concern? So if you are thinking of studying at QUT and are unsure because of any negative comments you have herd, I would suggest you think real hard before you make such decision. QUT has given me some very valuable skills and I appreciate the way they contributed to my education.