As they prepare to graduate, Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production (BA) students are gaining valuable insights into the screen industry through the AFTRS Industry Placements program, working alongside professionals and learning firsthand about career pathways across the sector.
This year, 33 students are undertaking placements across 24 of Australia’s leading broadcasting, production and post-production companies, including ABC, Beyond Productions, Channel 7, CJZ, Endemol Shine, Fremantle, ITV Studios, SBS, See-Saw Films and WildBear Entertainment, as well as interstate placements with Manimal Post (Melbourne) and KOJO (Adelaide).
Easy Tiger Productions is part of the program for the third year and ARC continues to support the program since 2023, giving students hands-on experience within leading production and post-production environments.
This year AFTRS is also delighted to welcome Spectrum Films to the program, hosting two students, in the Spectrum Films Sound and Spectrum Films VFX departments.
Through direct industry engagement, students gain valuable insight into the departments and roles they may pursue after graduation, while building professional networks and deepening their understanding of career pathways within the screen sector.
Dr Marty Murphy, Program Convenor for the BA, said the Industry Placements program plays an important role in connecting students with industry.
“Our third year students are on the runway out to industry, and they see this opportunity as a launch pad into future work,” he said.
“Industry loves it because they get to work with enthusiastic emerging practitioners, and the students love it because they are bursting to get out into the world of work and put their skills in action through work-integrated learning.”
Marty said it was great to see leading companies supporting the program from year to year, as their ongoing commitment provided students with meaningful exposure to professional screen development and production environments.
Rebecca Muya who completed her work placement at CJZ said: “Doing my Industry Placement at CJZ has given me so much insight and hands-on experience within the industry. From the moment I started it was so clear that they wanted to make my learning a top priority, taking interest in what I am wanting to learn and guiding me through it. Taking part in this placement definitely helped me build confidence to enter the industry, a perfect end note to my time at AFTRS!”
Tahlia-Jade Sciarrone shared her industry placement experience at See-Saw Films: “What I have enjoyed most about my experience at See-Saw Films is being welcomed into writers’ rooms and slate meetings, where I’ve gained insight into how people communicate, develop and work through stories together, while also learning how they manage multiple projects simultaneously. As an aspiring screenwriter and filmmaker, it has given me a deeper understanding of what it takes to get a project off the ground, and how ideas are initiated and carried through from the very beginning. Most importantly, the connections I’ve made with people who have been so caring and generous with their knowledge have been the most valuable part of the experience.”
Miriam Arnold shared about her experience at ITV: “ITV Studios Australia has taken the time and effort to create a uniquely educational and actively practical Industry Placement experience. ITV has been incredibly supportive of my professional development, with the CEO meeting me personally within my first few days, and everyone making a concerted effort to include me in the work tasks and working culture of the company, from company pickleball, to visiting the set of The Chase, and inviting me to contribute to high-level meetings.”
2026 Industry Placements:
ABC: Marko Majetic, Arjun Hariharasuthan, Eamon Alwakal, Campbell Hyam
ARC: Anya Dunstone, Lavanya Wickramasinghe
Beyond Productions: Finn Thomas
7 News: Tin Win Hlaing, Lu Xiuyuan
CJZ: Rebecca Muya
Easy Tiger Productions: Zali Hamilton
EndemolShine Australia: Ella-Maree James
FINCH: Jonathon Copson-Pacal
Fremantle Australia: Deanna Stevens
Home and Away: Alana O’Donnell, Max Reidy
I Shot Jerry: Isabella Austin
ITV Studios Australia: Miriam Arnold, Leticia Ng
KOJO (Adelaide): Ronak Suthar
Lingo Pictures: Lisa Coleman
Manimal Post (Melbourne): Aryan Gorasia
KRITIKEM: Emilio Broodryk
Odd Studio: Sofie Mae West
Photoplay: Conor McCoy
SBS: Abhishek Tarafdar, Dominic Taffa
See-Saw Films: Tahlia-Jade Sciarrone
Spectrum Films: Keshet Bates, Lachlan Gilbert
The Solid State: Alexander Laycock
Wildbear Entertainment: Lola Bennett
Two Giraffes: Gabriel Pamintuan
