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.