Arts and Screen Employment Pathways Pilot Program

The Government is designing a new pilot program under Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan (Equity) called the Arts and Screen Employment Pathways Pilot Program (the Program). 

The Program will match early to mid-career d/Deaf and disabled artists and arts workers with arts and cultural organisations, including in the screen and digital games sectors, for temporary job placements of up to 12 months for any art form and any position level across Australia. Placements are expected to start in 2026-27.

The main objectives of the Program are to support d/Deaf and disabled artists and arts workers to build professional skills and networks to advance their careers, and uplift disability confidence and cultural safety within the arts, cultural, digital games and screen sectors.

Consultation

Have your say! Help us build a picture of what should be included in the Program.  

What are the key elements, accessibility requirements and other supports or opportunities you would like to be included in the Program?  

We would especially like to hear from:

  • arts, cultural, digital games and screen organisations
  • d/Deaf and disabled artists, arts workers, digital games and screen workers
  • arts and disability organisations
  • disability organisations.

Feedback from the consultation will be provided to the Implementation Advisory Group for Equity to inform their advice on the design and implementation of the Program.

You can provide feedback by:

  • completing our survey (it will take around 10-15 minutes)
     
  • sending a written response to Arts.Disability@arts.gov.au or by mail addressed to:
    • Access, Participation and Inclusion Section
      Office for the Arts
      GPO Box 2154
      Canberra   ACT   2601
  • submitting an audio or video response. If you would like to do this, please contact us by:

The consultation is open now and closes at 5:00pm AEST on Wednesday 20 August 2025. 

Support

If this consultation raises any concerns or you feel distressed, you may wish to contact a support service. The following services are available 24 hours, 7 days a week, and can be accessed at:

  • Support Act (for people in the music and arts industries):
    • Phone: 1800 959 500
  • Lifeline:
  • Beyond Blue:

Additional information about mental health and wellbeing support is also available on the Creative Workplaces website.

Further information

As it is developed, more information about the Program will be available on this page and the department’s social media channels on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

If you would like to stay updated, you can also register for the Equity e-newsletter through our contact form.

Privacy

We are not collecting names or contact details of individuals or organisations. 

We have responsibilities for how we handle your information. You can find out more through the Privacy Policy for the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts. 

We have also developed a Privacy Collection Notice for this consultation. It provides information about how we handle the information we collect as part of this consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits for artists and arts workers?

The Program will support d/Deaf and disabled artists and arts workers to further build professional skills and networks to advance their careers. Participants will be employed under applicable award or agreement wages and conditions.

What are the benefits for placement organisations?

Placement organisations will benefit from taking part in the Program by gaining access to skilled talent whose salaries will be paid through the Program.

What are the benefits for the organisation/s managing the placements?

Organisations that currently provide services to d/Deaf and disabled artists and arts workers and have experience in improving organisational accessibility can apply to deliver the placement program. They can do this either by themselves or in partnership with another organisation/s, to build their experience and networks through program delivery.

How can my organisation apply to deliver the Program?

A competitive grants process is expected to open in the first half of 2026. This will involve the selection of an experienced organisation or multiple organisations to deliver the Program. If you would like to stay updated, you can register for the Equity e-newsletter through our contact form.

Can anyone provide feedback for the consultation?

Yes. However, we would especially like to hear from:

  • arts, cultural, digital games and screen organisations
  • d/Deaf and disabled artists, arts workers, digital games and screen workers
  • arts and disability organisations
  • disability organisations.

What if I am having difficulties accessing or submitting the survey?

If you have any issues or would like help with completing the survey, including requesting it in another format, you can contact us by:

What if I make a mistake in my survey?

If you would like to make a correction or update your survey response, please contact us as soon as possible by emailing Arts.Disability@arts.gov.au or phoning 1800 090 090.

Do I have to answer every question in the survey?

All questions are voluntary and you can skip any questions you do not want to answer. 

Is there a word limit for my responses in the survey?

Yes. While most questions in the survey require tick box answers, there are also some options to provide additional information if you would like to. The word and character limits are clearly explained in the relevant sections of the survey. For most of these options, the word limit is 50 words or less. A few options have limits of 500 characters or less.

Will my feedback be anonymous?

If you choose to provide feedback via our survey, you will be anonymous unless you choose to provide any identifying information in your answers.

What will you do with the feedback?

A summary of collated feedback from the consultation will be provided to the Implementation Advisory Group for Equity to inform their advice on the design and implementation of the Program. This will not include any personal information.

Implementation Advisory Group for Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan

Are you a d/Deaf or disabled artist or arts worker interested in providing advice to guide the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities under Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan (the Plan)?

This Expression of Interest (EOI) invites people with disability who have experience in the arts, screen, digital games or cultural sectors to apply for paid roles as part of the Plan's Implementation Advisory Group (the Advisory Group).

More information about this opportunity is included in the EOI Form linked below.

Easy Read and Auslan versions of the EOI can also be found further down this page.

The Expression of Interest is now closed.

Who should apply?

We are looking for people who have:

  • lived experience as a person with disability in the arts, screen, digital games and / or cultural sectors
  • experience working in, or engaging with, the Australian arts, screen, digital games and / or cultural sectors (including as an artist or arts worker, at any stage of your career)
  • an awareness of arts and disability policy, including an understanding of the Plan's priorities.

There are two types of Advisory Group roles: Regular Members and Observer Members. When you are completing your application, you can choose which suits you and your level of experience best.

Regular Members will help design actions and activities to make the arts, screen, digital games and cultural sectors more accessible. This is an opportunity for people who want to share their own experiences and who have a passion for creating opportunities for people with disability.

Observer Members will gain experience in how an advisory group works with government, increasing their knowledge and skills. This is an opportunity for people who want to help make change but may not have as much experience in arts and disability advocacy.

What will the Advisory Group do?

Over the life of the Plan, the Advisory Group will:

  • shape how we implement the Plan's actions and commitments
  • contribute to how we monitor and report on the Plan'sactivities
  • help make arts grants more accessible, including how they are assessed
  • provide expertise on issues affecting people with disability.

The Advisory Group will also advise on Priority Actions under the plan. In the first year, these are to:

  • design the Plan's evaluation framework
  • inform the design of a new grant program, the Arts and Screen Employment Pathways Pilot.
  • consult with Creative Australia, Screen Australia and Creative Workplaces to develop new best-practice accessibility guidance with a National Arts and Disability Code of Practice or Guidelines.

How to Apply

The information we need to consider your application is in the EOI Form linked below.

You can apply in several ways:

  • Download the EOI Form complete the application questions, and send it as an attachment to Arts.Disability@arts.gov.au. It must be under 12 MB.
  • Record your responses to the application questions in the EOI Form as an audio or video file (up to 15 minutes). If you would like to apply in this way please email us at Arts.Disability@arts.gov.au for more information on how to upload the files.
  • By phone on 1800 080 090—an Office for the Arts (OFTA) staff member will note your responses to the application questions in the EOI Form and confirm them with you. The phone line is open Monday to Friday during business hours (9—5 AEDT / AEST), until the EOI closes.
  • By printing the EOI Form, completing the application questions and returning the completed form by mail addressed to:

    Access, Participation and Inclusion Section
    Office for the Arts
    GPO Box 594
    Canberra ACT 2601

Please contact us by email to Arts.Disability@arts.gov.au or phone on 1800 080 090 if you have any accessibility needs during the application process.

The Expression of Interest is now closed..

What happens next:

All applications will be assessed based mainly on responses to the three 'Suitability Questions' in the EOI Form.

After you submit your application:

  • It will be reviewed by a panel of independent experts, including d/Deaf and disabled artists and arts workers.
  • Staff from OFTA, Creative Australia and Screen Australia will shortlist applications, considering advice of the independent experts' panel.
  • Shortlisted candidates may be invited to attend a short online interview or conversation.
  • Staff from OFTA, Creative Australia and Screen Australia will identify potential group members that represent a balance of location, demographics, interest and experience.
  • OFTA Senior Executive Staff will review and approve appointments of Advisory Group Members.
  • OFTA will contact all applicants to advise the outcome of their application. Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.

Accessible Materials—Easy Read and Auslan

Easy Read
Please use the link below to access an Easy Read version of the EOI Form:
Implementation Advisory Group—Easy Read

EOI Implementation Advisory Group for Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan

https://youtu.be/rw8CG231Gnw

EOI Implementation Advisory Group: Application Questions

https://youtu.be/LN0m92BR3Ps

Contact us

If you have accessibility needs, any questions about the Advisory Group, or the EOI,  you or your representative are welcome to contact us to discuss how we can help you.

You can:

We will aim to respond to your email within 3 business days and/or answer your call during normal business hours. You can also leave a message with your contact information so an OFTA staff member can get back to you via phone or email. 

FAQs

Why do you need to know about my disability?

The purpose of the Advisory Group is to co-design activities that provide more opportunities for people with disability. We know how important it is for people with disability to give advice about policy that affects them. This is why Advisory Group member positions are reserved for people with disability. The 'Demographic information' section of the EOI form asks you to tell us whether you identify as a person with disability or who is d/Deaf. This will help us ensure the implementation of activities under the Plan are shaped by people with disability or who are d/Deaf. If you have any concerns and would like to talk to us about this, please contact us by emailing Arts.Disability@arts.gov.au or phoning 1800 080 090.

What information do you need to know about my disability?

To help us consider applications, one of the 'Suitability Questions' in the EOI Form asks you to tell us about your experiences as a d/Deaf and/or disabled artist or arts worker. Please note you are not required to tell us specific details about your disability, diagnoses or health conditions to apply for the Advisory Group. We encourage you to only include the details that you are comfortable providing.

The 'Demographic Information' section of the EOI Form also asks some other questions about your lived experience that are optional for you to answer.  This includes a question seeking further details about your disability, if you are comfortable providing this. If you choose to respond, this information will help us make sure that Advisory Group members include people with different experiences of disability. Please note you can submit your EOI Form without completing this section, so please only answer these questions if you are comfortable doing so.

What information do I need to apply?

The EOI Form asks a range of questions about you and your experience in the arts, screen and cultural sectors. These questions are designed to help us decide who should be a part of the Advisory Group. We are looking to include people who have different backgrounds and experiences with disability in the arts, screen and cultural sectors. Please read the instructions carefully and only provide the information we've asked for.

What type of experience do I need to have to be considered for the Advisory Group?

When completing your Application Form, we encourage you to think about how your experience and skills would help the Advisory Group give advice to Government on arts and disability issues. We are looking for people who have lived experience with disability, as well as experience in at least one area of the arts, screen or cultural sectors. The 'Artform Expertise' question in the EOI Form includes examples of these areas. Prior experience in co-design, community or advocacy groups is excellent, but not necessary.

What if I am having difficulties accessing or submitting the EOI?

If you have any issues with the EOI Form, please contact us as soon as possible by emailing Arts.Disability@arts.gov.au or phoning 1800 080 090.

What if my details change or I make a mistake on the EOI?

If your details change or you make a mistake and would like to update your responses you can contact us at Arts.Disability@arts.gov.au or by phoning 1800 080 090.

How will I know my EOI has been received?

We will let you know we have received your EOI by email or text, using the contact details you provide. Please note this may take several business days depending on how many applications we receive. We thank you for your patience.

How will you handle my information?

As part of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (the Department), we have responsibilities for how we handle your information.

The Privacy Collection Notice in the EOI Form also gives more specific information on how we will handle your information.

Are these paid roles?

Yes, Advisory Group member roles are paid roles. Payment rates will include meeting and preparation time and will depend on the length of the meeting. For example, under the current payment rates Regular Members of the Advisory Group would initially be paid $278.40 to prepare for, and attend a 2-hour meeting.

You can find more information about remuneration for Advisory Group members on page 3 of the Expression of Interest document.

Can I still apply for arts and/or screen grants while I am a member of the Advisory Group?

Yes, you can. Being on the Advisory Group will not prevent a member being able to apply for, or receive, any other arts and/or screen grants from the Office for the Arts, Creative Australia or Screen Australia.

However, Advisory Group members may not be eligible to apply for opportunities under the Plan where a conflict of interest could happen. An example of this would be if the member is involved in designing the Arts and Screen Employment Pathways Pilot, but also planning to apply for a work placement under the program.

Please note: More information on the issue of conflicts of interest will be provided to successful applicants before they accept a role on the Advisory Group. You can also find more information in the Expression of Interest document.

Is there a word limit for my responses in the Application form?

Yes. While most questions in the application form require a tick box answer, questions 1, 2 and 3 in the Suitability section each have a limit of 'up to 450' words for your response.

Whether you respond by text or in another format, please do not exceed this word limit. Additional material beyond the word limit may not be considered during the review process.

 

Advertising material image credits:

1 and 2: Photos by Jeff Busby. Courtesy of Back to Back Theatre.
3: Photo by Raphael Recht. Courtesy of Arts Access Victoria.
4: Photo by Greg Holland. Courtesy of Arts Access Victoria.

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