22 03 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces $1 million to boost screen industry skills around the country
On the set of Rosehaven (Photo: Scott Bradshaw)
Screen Australia has announced $1 million of funding will be shared among the state screen agencies to support their vital training and skills development programs for the screen industry, including placements for below-the-line roles.
Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said, Supporting Australia's screen sector is vital to ensuring our nation's stories are seen and heard at home and around the world. This funding will help ensure creative talent is nurtured, and artist and arts workers have career structures that are long-term and sustainable among the key priorities of Revive, the Australian Government's National Cultural Policy.
Screen Australia's Head of Industry Development, Ken Crouch said, With such a wealth of production taking place around the country, it's a priority for us to improve the industry's capability and set the sector up for a consistent pipeline of work and opportunities for filmmakers to advance their skills in below-the-line roles. Screen Australia is proud to be working with the state screen agencies to address areas of immediate need. By partnering with each of the states we can support the work they are doing and help them to build crew capacity with a tailored approach.
It's important that we all work together to ensure we are in the best position to keep up the pace, and this is an important first step. In order for Australia to capitalise and enable a booming local screen industry, attractive globally, it will be critical to have further skills development investment in industry-ready training, Crouch continued.
In 2021/22 there was an unprecedented spend of $2.29 billion in Australia on producing scripted drama alone, including $1.51 billion on local titles. In response to the sector's immediate issues and to build resilience for the Australian screen industry, Ausfilm, on the back of the production infrastructure and capacity audit it commissioned, convened a national Workforce Capacity Working Group in December 2021 to bring together government, industry and education to collaboratively work together. The working group is made up of the Office for the Arts (as Chair), Screen Australia, Australian Film Television and Radio School, Ausfilm, NIDA and the state screen agencies.
Crouch joined Screen Australia last month in a newly created role to drive coordination across all industry stakeholders and levels of government, and to develop and implement national programs that support capacity building and skills development for the Australian screen sector.
Immediate actions to address identified skills shortages include the following funded programs:
Screen Canberra: Training and placements in crew positions including locations and unit management on local productions.
Screen NSW: On-the-job training and upskilling opportunities for practitioners through placements on productions across film, television including post-production. Screen NSW will work in partnership with industry and training bodies.
Screen Queensland: Placements for key crew roles on domestic and international productions such as in Accounts, Location Management, Art Department, PDV and Script Supervision.
Screen Tasmania: Crew placements on productions in key crew roles, including increasing the number and length of attachments already being facilitated. Screen Tasmania will increase opportunities and financial support for Tasmanian practitioners to undertake training and attachments in interstate productions as well.
Screen Territory: Providing five paid attachments for Northern Territory creatives to work in the Art, Locations, Sound, Camera or Makeup Departments on local productions.
Screenwest: Supporting a 12-month program to provide targeted skills development and placement opportunities for below-the-line roles. The funding will be used to train Western Australian practitioners in roles including Production Accounting, Location Management, Production Management, Script Supervision, Grips and LX, Camera.
South Australian Film Corporation: Expanding the agency's existing attachment scheme to double the length of roles from six to 12 weeks, allowing the attached creatives to gain a deeper learning experience.
VicScreen: Supporting on the job training for key roles of acute screen industry need, across Digital Games, Film and TV, Post-production and VFX companies, including an expansion of the Specialist Placement Program. The Specialist Placement Program fast-tracks the development of early to mid-career Victorian crew in technical roles. To find out more click here.
The funding announced today is in addition to a range of initiatives Screen Australia is running to support above-the-line practitioners including:
Screen Australia's newly launched Enterprise program
NCIS: SYDNEY S1 Script Department Program in collaboration with Paramount Australia and New Zealand, CBS Studios and Endemol Shine Australia (A Banijay Company)
Emerging Writers' Incubator in partnership with SBS and the state agencies
The Creators in partnership with the Australian Writers' Guild and Australians in Film, with Writers' Guild of America
Imagine Impact in partnership with Impact, VicScreen and other state agencies
The Writer's Journey in partnership with Netflix and Australians in Film
Credit Maker in partnership with the Australian Cinematographers' Society, Australian Directors' Guild and Australian Guild of Screen Composers
Talent Gateway and Global Producers' Exchange in partnership with Australians in Film
Untapped in partnership with Australians in Film
Skip Ahead in partnership with YouTube Australia
Digital Originals in partnership with SBS and
Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories
11/09/2025
SBS shares Australian National Anthem in over 60 languages to foster belonging a...
05/09/2025
SBS kicks off a confident slate with the 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026 , premium dram...
05/09/2025
Today's Historic Settlement Underscores SBS's Powerful New Series The Pe...
04/09/2025
SBS kicks off a confident slate with the 2026 FIFA World Cup2026 , premium drama...
04/09/2025
Watch the Record-breaking Koori Knockout 2025 LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on NITV and SBS...
03/09/2025
World-first opt-out function to become full feature on SBS On Demand
3 September, 2025
Media releases
National broadcaster SBS will elevate the world-class...
03/09/2025
SBS On Demand to take consumer experience to next level with introduction of res...
03/09/2025
SBS highlights effectiveness of advertising in uncluttered environments
3 September, 2025
Media releases
New market-first research, done in conjunction wit...
03/09/2025
SBS extends exclusive Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift free-to-air broadcast dea...
03/09/2025
Record number of brands driving investment in NITV and First Nations media
3 September, 2025
Media releases
Beyond 3% continues to support the growth of Na...
03/09/2025
SBS declares FIFA World Cup 2026 Will be biggest TV audience event of 2026'
3 September, 2025
FIFA World Cup
SBS names Hyundai, Macca's, Rexona, ...
03/09/2025
SBS continues to lead Australian media in sustainability with launch of SBS Brie...
03/09/2025
SBS unifies data offering with launch of SBS Data Lab
3 September, 2025
Media releases
SBS brings together multiple audience initiatives together in one un...
03/09/2025
Turbulence, Heart and Humanity: SBS Unveils High-Flying New Airport Drama The Ch...
29/08/2025
Australian Red Cross and SBS launch training to help workplaces in the fight aga...
27/08/2025
27 08 2025 - Media release ABC, Screen Australia and ACTF unveil two new original children's series
Happy House.
The ABC, Screen Australia and the Austra...
25/08/2025
Watch SBS as 49 World Champions are crowned in nine days at the World Athletics ...
25/08/2025
Got a podcast idea? SBS Audio opens annual pitch season
25 August, 2025
Media releases
Three-time Australian Podcast Publisher of the Year, SBS, invites th...
21/08/2025
Statement on Acting Managing Director arrangements at SBS
21 August, 2025
Insights & articles
The SBS Board of Directors has today confirmed it will appoin...
20/08/2025
SBS unleashes landmark docu-drama The People vs Robodebt
20 August, 2025
Media releases
Our Government. Half a Million Victims [1]. Zero Accountability Un...
20/08/2025
Dan Bourchier appointed General Manager of NITV
20 August, 2025
Media releases
The respected journalist, presenter and accomplished leader will join Nation...
14/08/2025
Statement on the passing of David Stratton
14 August, 2025
Insights & articles
Statement by SBS Managing Director, James Taylor
SBS is deeply saddened by...
12/08/2025
SBS Managing Director James Taylor steps down
12 August, 2025
Media releases
SBS Managing Director will depart the organisation later this year
SBS Managi...
12/08/2025
Millions join SBS for a month of Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes action
12 August, 2025
Media releases
Total TV Reach of 5.57 million, including 1...
11/08/2025
11 08 2025 - Media release Screen Australia celebrates emerging creatives and cu...
07/08/2025
A bold new sporting documentary series celebrating First Nations athletes, cultu...
06/08/2025
SBS heralds sweeping historical drama King & Conqueror coming soon
5 August, 2025
Media releases
James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau star as the rivals ...
31/07/2025
31 07 2025 - Media release The Creators 2025 Participants Announced
Top (L-R): Tamara Asmar, Anna Barnes and Sarah Bassiuoni.
Bottom (L-R): Glen Dolman, Mich...
24/07/2025
NITV and SBS to celebrate the significance and spectacle of the 25th Garma Festi...
24/07/2025
Pure Drama continues with the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift hot on the wheels...
23/07/2025
SBS shortlists proponents to proceed to next stage for Western Sydney production...
21/07/2025
SBS reveals expert commentary team for the World Athletics Championships in Toky...
21/07/2025
21 07 2025 - Media release Australian gamemakers level-up with major funding from Screen Australia
Retopia
New games capture distinctive stories, landscapes ...
09/07/2025
Explore Love Without Limits in a bold, funny and unapologetic SBS Audio podcast ...
08/07/2025
SBS strengthens commitment to inclusion with new commissioning guidelines
8 July, 2025
Media releases
SBS has launched new Commissioning Inclusion Guidelin...
08/07/2025
Secrets, Spies and Sabotage: 40 years on, SBS podcast investigates historic bomb...
07/07/2025
SBS Farewells Chair George Savvides AM
7 July, 2025
Media releases
Born of Greek Cypriot parents, Mr Savvides joined the SBS Board as Deputy Chair in Febru...
30/06/2025
SBS On Demand boosts global news offering with launch of France 24 FAST Channel
30 June, 2025
Media releases
SBS is expanding its international news offeri...
27/06/2025
27 06 2025 - Media release Game, set, action! Screen Australia and ABC announce new mini-series Goolagong
Marton Csokas and Lila McGuire of Goolagong. Image c...
26/06/2025
Buckle up for Great Australian Road Trips launching 31 July on SBS and SBS On De...
20/06/2025
Hit, run, oh sh#t: NITV and SBS get RECKLESS with filming underway in Western Au...
13/06/2025
Pure Drama and Fierce Rivalries set to dominate the world's most iconic spor...
12/06/2025
50 Years Strong: SBS and NITV Supercharge NAIDOC Week 2025 in a joint 50th celeb...
06/06/2025
06 06 2025 - Media release Award-Winning TV Creators Richard Gadd, Sally Wainwri...
03/06/2025
Stories of love, loyalty and self-discovery among six shortlisted Digital Origin...
28/05/2025
SBS celebrates 50 years of reflecting a diverse and contemporary Australia
28 May, 2025
Media releases
Marking 50 years of broadcasting on 9 June 2025, SBS...
28/05/2025
ABS and Verticloud announce a Strategic Partnership to accelerate Digital Transf...
22/05/2025
SBS and Screen Australia showcase the next wave of Australian storytellers with ...
22/05/2025
Rune Pedersen unpacks How Humans Talk in new SBS Audio podcast
22 May, 2025
Media releases
Ever caught yourself using baby talk with your pet and wondered ...
22 03 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces $1 million to boost screen industry skills around the country 
