Background

The Implementation Advisory Group (the Advisory Group) is made up of d/Deaf or disabled artists and arts workers with experience in the arts, screen, digital games or cultural sectors.

The Advisory Group will provide advice to guide the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities under Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan (the Plan).

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's activities
  • 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.

We will update this webpage regularly with outcomes of the discussions and the Advisory Groups recommendations, so be sure to check back or subscribe to updates using our contact form.

Meet the Current Advisory Group members

There are 13 members from each state and territory across Australia in the Advisory Group. They have a breadth of experience across the arts, screen and digital games sectors, representing various artforms and career experience.

Advisory Group Members are appointed by OFTA following an Expression of Interest process. The first Expression of Interest closed in May and after an extensive review and selection process, the Advisory Group members were announced by the Hon Tony Burke MP, Minister for the Arts, and Ms Susan Templeman MP, Special Envoy for the Arts on 1 September 2025. You can find a link to the Media Release here.

Contact us

If you have any questions about the Advisory Group or the Plan you are welcome to contact us, we will be happy to help.

You can:

We will aim to respond to your email within 3 business days and/or answer your call during regular 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 are Advisory Group member positions reserved for people with 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.

How did you consider diversity across the Advisory Group?

We are committed to making sure the overall composition of the Advisory Group represents the voices of people diverse lived experience of disability. This includes people who have different backgrounds and experiences with disability in the arts, screen and cultural sectors. As much as possible, this will include people of different genders, ages, and locations (including people from rural and regional areas of all states and territories); as well as people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, LGBTIQ+ and culturally or linguistically diverse.

What type of experience do Advisory Group members have?

The Advisory Group will give advice to Government on arts and disability issues and members are required to have experience in the arts, screen or cultural sectors. Advisory Group members may also have prior experience in co-design, community development or disability advocacy groups.

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.

Are Advisory Group members able to apply for arts and/or screen grants while they are members?

Being on the Advisory Group does 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.

 

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.