Following a successful pilot in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, and recent workshops in Cairns, the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) has announced the next step in its groundbreaking On Country Pathways Program.
The On Country Pathways Program (OCPP) aims to create pathways into film, television, radio and podcasting careers through the delivery of bespoke training to emerging First Nations creators living in remote, rural and regional areas across Australia. AFTRS is partnering with ICTV and PAKAM to deliver another two workshops during FRAIM (the Festival of Remote Australian Indigenous Moving-Image) in Bidyadanga community, two hours South-West of Broome, WA, from 13 to 20 July.
As a gathering of Indigenous video-makers from around remote Australia for workshops, peer to peer sharing, showcasing of work and discussions about issues specific to the Indigenous screen sector, FRAIM is the perfect venue for AFTRS’ next OCPP training, with workshops on podcasting and mobile content creation.
The OCPP was the inspiration of AFTRS Chair Rachel Perkins, and has been made possible thanks to the support of a Commonwealth Government grant as part of the National Cultural Policy.
Arts Minister Tony Burke said this program would not exist without Rachel.
“On agreeing to become chair, Rachel immediately started talking to me about how to make these sorts of opportunities real,” he said. “There’ll be stories told and careers forged, which would have been unthinkable without this work.”
Rachel said she was thrilled to see the positive impact the program was already having, empowering First Nations creatives with accessible world-class screen and audio training to enrich Australia’s storytelling landscape.
“The program has really been embraced by the First Nations communities who co-design the workshops with the skills needs and cultural context of local participants at front of mind,” she said. “And for the participants themselves the outcomes can be life changing.”
Collaborating with communities, First Nations media organisations and industry partners, the OCPP ran a pilot program at the PAKAM Festival in Warmun, WA from 1 to 5 September 2024. More recently AFTRS took the program to Gimuy/Cairns from 14 to 17 April in partnership with Arts Queensland.
The Gimuy/Cairns program saw 40 First Nations creatives from Townsville to the Torres Strait Islands and the Cairns area come together at the Bulmba-ja arts centre to explore storytelling through podcasting and writers room workshops in a culturally grounded space.
Radio can be the lifeblood of remote communities and the surge in the popularity of podcasts in Australia and around the world is equally shared in First Nations communities. The writers’ room aimed to equip participants of all levels and experiences with the knowledge and tools of how to tell their stories on the screen. Participants represented over 50 Nations and brought a wealth of expertise, passion and community spirit to every session. Their unique voices and lived experiences contributed to a rich and collaborative learning environment.
In a video capturing their thoughts about the training, participants said the on-Country delivery gave them the opportunity to experience “top-tier” training that they would otherwise never have access to, especially those with family and work commitments. Many commented that it provided a “sense of community” and enabled them to learn the skills to help share their stories with the rest of Australia.
“I love everything about the arts, and the course got me thinking about my career in a whole different way – it completely changed the way I’m thinking about my life,” said Casey Meager, while Samara Barlow commented on the benefit of regional training: “People speak about us going out from the community to Sydney or Brisbane but it’s nothing like being in your own community. I was able to go home to my kids and also come back to AFTRS and do what I need to do, and learn what I need to learn.”
In the podcasting workshop, participants will learn what makes a good podcast, how to develop the idea for a podcast or radio show, planning and producing, recording an episode, video and other visual elements, and publishing podcasts.
The mobile content creation workshop, which currently runs as a short course at AFTRS’ Sydney campus, will provide training in hands-on techniques for creating high-quality mobile content, photos, videos, editing on-the-go, and getting the most from mobile apps.
Planning is also in the works for future programs across Australia, including in the Northern Territory. In the final stage of the program, selected participants from each workshop will travel to AFTRS’ Sydney campus on Gadigal/Bidjigal Country in early 2026 to undertake short courses, hands-on workshops and mentoring. Travel, accommodation, and per diems are covered, minimising financial barriers.
Participants will receive networking opportunities and tailored advice on next steps, such as applying for award courses or placements. Alongside the training component, AFTRS will engage with experts to conduct a sector-wide skills audit to identify current employment and training gaps for First Nations practitioners. The findings will help shape future iterations of the Program and be made available to industry partners to guide future training initiatives and support.
Pete Noble, AFTRS’ Director of First Nations, Outreach & Events, said the program was being warmly welcomed by First Nations communities and local industry practitioners.
“We’re excited to empower First Nations talent with tailored training and mentoring and applying for placements, where there is a genuine want and need,” he said.
“AFTRS is passionate about taking our School into remote and regional areas across Australia to help create career pathways for emerging talent to thrive in the screen, radio, and audio industries.”
