After cancelled classes and months of uncertainty, students are slowly returning to CIT campuses but questions remain for those close to graduation.
Moving online has been a savior during the coronavirus pandemic to keep society running, as schools and universities shifted entire courses to digital delivery, but it wasn't an option for hands-on training.
Canberra Institute of Technology fashion design student Krishna Warrier was due to graduate this year but after several of his classes were cancelled from March, he is unsure what will happen next.
"Through the whole of March it was pretty uncertain. We didn't go into online classes for quite a while so it was really up in the air," he said.
"I don't see us finishing at the end of this year."
A spokeswoman for the vocational education provider said many classes couldn't be conducted online, but the switch had been made for some classes.
"[CIT] is different to universities," she said. "It's not a one-size-fits all approach."
CIT began a staged return to campus this month giving hands-on courses priority access.
Mr Warrier and his classmates are among that cohort. He is still learning remotely but has access to campus facilities two days a week to use equipment.
"The practical nature of vocation education and training uniquely relies on hands-on, practical skills instruction and learning and therefore not all courses can be moved to online or remote delivery," the CIT spokeswoman said.
She said students close to graduation, apprentices and year 12 students had been among the first allowed back on campus.
"CIT students are working full or part-time across Canberra, many are coming from interstate, and therefore have greater interaction with the rest of the community," she said.
"The movement of students over five campuses and throughout the city and the region is something CIT must take into account to ensure the safety of students, staff and the community."
Under step three teaching and administrative staff would be "assessed for a gradual transition" back.
CIT has not outlined dates for when that would be reached or when face-to-face classes would return but said classrooms would look vastly different.
Classes will be smaller to allow for physical distancing and those rules will be enforced in common areas.
At the moment, Mr Warrier said the campus was a "ghost town".
He had been looking forward to completing his diploma this year but said the impact of coronavirus was being dealt with as best it could be.
The CIT spokeswoman said work placement was a critical part of graduation for many courses which couldn't be offered under current restrictions.
"Work placement experience is reliant on industry placements and many businesses, health and community organisations don't have the capacity at the moment to provide a workplace to our apprentices," she said.
She said students had been given more time to complete subjects and online support had been provided.
