Are you in Sydney SpoonSamba?
If so, consider Uni of Western Sydney, Uni of Wollongong, Uni of Newcastle.
For acting colleges, start with WAPA in Perth, then NIDA, then try Melbourne. There is one really good one in Melbourne but I've forgotten the name. I can find that out, one of my mates sisters is doing a degree in Dance and she loves it there.
The issue is what you want to do really. If you want to manage actors or work in the business higher up than struggling to make casting auditions, get a degree and if you want, a major.
If your determined enough to start at the bottom with thousands of other people, get a good agent, get a set of headshots done, either professionally (dont pay less that $150 or more than $300) or get a mate with a nice camera to take some headshots for you. If you want info on places I can send you a few details of places that do it reasonably cheaply, or I can give you details and a webpage on taking your own. Get a headshot, write a portfolio (name. age. previous experience. skills eg speak a different language, juggle, dance) and get an agent. if you want details on doing that let me know. (ps: with all these "let me knows", u hav to be specific lol)
also, depending on how much money you have to spend on this career choice, dont rule out overseas study. im working towards studying in London, at their equivalent of NIDA. i was lucky enough to get to visit europe on a family holiday, and i made sure i visited the national institute of drama in london and did an unofficial tour just by asking the fornt office. if you study overseas in UK for example, you will increase your exposure to getting cast for something larger than single adverts.
on the topic of getting cast for larger roles, make sure you tell your agent you want this. there are quite a few bad agents out there who will take you on, sometimes without even asking for a headshot or showreel (ask if you dont know what that is) and will simply get you easy, low paying advertisment castings that you can usually get cast in pretty easily, but thats all the agent will do for you. research the agent before you sign with them, and once your signed, stress to them that you want jobs such as lead roles in short films, supporting roles in feature films etc. Obviously you wont get an audition in front of hollywoods leading directors immediately, but the agent gets the idea that you dont want just ads. of course, you will still get offered auditions for ads, but hopefully your agent will not just limit you to them.
Understand the difference between dignity and fussyness.
If you are offered audition (by this I mean the casting call for everyone trying out for a role, where you usually sit in a room for a few hours, then get called in in front of about 4 people depending on the event, and read from a small peice of paper a few lines) then look at what the role is before you immediatley say YES!
Again, this comes back to the quality of your agent, and you integrity as an actor. You have to start somewhere, but dont take everything that comes your way. A lot of actors and teachers will advise otherwise, saying that as an actor any role will benefit you. This is true, until it gets to the point where your agent simply gives you the same low-class audition all the time, and you accept them all the time. Dressing up as a vegetable and singing and dancing a 15 second jingle is fine, but is it pushing your skill as an actor? Does it help you grow and mature your skills and talent? Sure, if you've never been on a set before, this is a low-pressure time to get to know the equipment and set rules, but very few casting directors watch out for thses kind of roles. Always push yourself when getting auditions. The reason I stress this so much is that many young actors find themselves doing crappy jingles because theyve been taught to accept ANY role that comes their way, and then find themselves several years later still doing crappy jingles because they feel comfortable doing them, and because they dont think they are capable of acting to any higher standard. No actor can not improve.
Sorry I've written a small book here =P but there are a lot of mistakes that people going into the business make, and if you can be aware of a few of them before you start, it will save you time, money, and possibly a few years trying to break into the business.
Lemme know if you want more details on anything here, or anything else, I can probably help you out, or give you some websites or people you can call!
EVERYTHING I HAVE TYPED HERE IS MY OWN OPINIONS BASED ON EXPERIENCE OR ADVICE OF SEVERAL PROFESSIONALS IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE ACTING INDUSTRY. AS PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN SAYS, "MORE LIKE GUIDELINES THAN ACTUAL RULES"
