New workshops target skilled crew for the screen sector

A series of workshops in Sydney and regional NSW will help grow and upskill the state’s screen workforce in areas of need by targeting people outside of the industry.

An initiative of Media Mentors Australia - now expanding to NSW with the support of Screen NSW - Set Educated is aimed at delivering workers with transferrable skills to meet current production demands and sustain long-term growth.

The full-day workshops will take place in Ballina this November, and in Kensington, Parramatta, and online in February and March 2024 - with plenty of opportunities for networking and job hunting.

Head of Screen NSW, Kyas Hepworth said they were pleased to support any project that helped address skilled crew shortages.

“This is a new way to show workers from outside the screen industry that the sector is not a closed shop. By creating a pipeline of better trained workers we can improve productivity and efficiency which has a direct impact on the bottom line of productions,” she said.

“The sector will also be able to meet increased demand for production services, increasing the work able to come to NSW, while also addressing issues of cultural sensitivity, workplace health and safety, both physical and mental, and disability access.”

Workshop attendees will hear about the range of crew roles available – directly from people working in them – before they meet with them and potential employers in a series of small roundtables.

After the event, participants complete an online certificated course demonstrating they have a basic understanding of on-set protocols and are directed to crew agencies and volunteer work opportunities.

Media Mentors Co-founder, Denise Eriksen said their aim is to engage people on their journey to work by creating a pipeline from the workshop to online training and finally employment opportunities.

“The current pathways into the screen industry are informal and unstructured. Like in agriculture, it’s based around people showing up and asking for work,” she said.

“There’s a general lack of understanding in the community about the range of roles available in the industry so this is really about exciting people and opening their eyes, minds and hearts to crew roles.

“Many industries have hidden jobs, none more so than the screen industry where a whopping 86% of jobs happen through referrals, recommendations, and word of mouth.

“We mentor people to create projects, have better careers, more confidence, stronger connections and, most of all, lots more satisfying work.”

The events are being supported by NIDA in Central Sydney, the Arts & Cultural Exchange in Paramatta and Screenworks in the Northern Rivers.

For more information and to buy your ticket, visit https://www.mediamentors.com.au/set-educated 

Event Details:

• Ballina – Saturday 25 November, 2023, presented with Screenworks
• Paramatta – Saturday 24 February, 2024, supported by Arts & Cultural Exchange
• Sydney - Saturday 02 March, 2024, supported by NIDA
• Online – Saturday 09 March, 2024