The Western Australian Government has launched a new screen industry career pathways campaign designed to illuminate opportunities for education, training and jobs within the local state screen industry.
The Careers in Screen Campaign includes the release of a special guide to ‘raise awareness’ about the breadth of careers in the WA screen industry while ‘encouraging people to pursue those opportunities.’
It also includes the launch of a new, dedicated website outlining industry needs and what a career in screen can practically look like.
WA Government launches screen industry career campaign – quick links
What the WA Government’s new screen industry careers campaign does
As the WA Government says, its local screen industry is currently growing, and this initiative is part of a concerted push to drive that growth forward and improve the available workforce, skills and industry capacity.
There is a ‘diversity of roles’ within the state’s screen industry, and the aim here is to illuminate what skills are needed, and what pathways there are to secure a screen industry job.
The program is initially targeted at secondary students considering VET and tertiary training programs, as well as tertiary and TAFE students considering a career in the screen industry who may need additional guidance on their potential, and the essential skills required.
The Creative Careers website breaks down the individual responsibilities on screen projects into multiple defined career pathways and roles, including folks who:
- Develop story for screen.
- Plan and run productions.
- Design and build screen worlds.
- Perform on screen or via voiceover.
- Film screen productions.
- Record and create sound for film.
- Create visual effects and implement virtual production.
- Create physical effects and action scenes.
- Edit and finish films.
- Reach the audience through marketing and publicity.
In each category, the website outlines key skills and interests for those keen to pursue work in these areas, with segments including a breakdown of ‘loves’ and ‘strengths’ that can be utilised.
Importantly, the website also identifies skills which are cross-industry and can be used in an array of different jobs and tasks. For example, it outlines that someone interesting in communications might be able to use strengths of communication and organisation to work on screen industry publicity campaigns, or publicity campaigns for other industries.
It’s all part of the overarching campaign goal to highlight the viable pathways into and around the screen industry, with acknowledgement these aren’t always easy to see.
The WA Government on its newly-launched campaign
‘With the Perth Film Studio now open for business we are building pathways to meet the increasing production demands of WA’s screen industry and support the State’s growing pipeline of productions,’ Simone McGurk, Creative Industries Minister says.
‘Under the WA Screen Industry Strategy, the Cook Labor Government has committed $11.2 million over four years to build the workforce and industry capacity required to support major productions attracted to our State. “There is a breadth of careers in screen, and we want to provide opportunities for Western Australians to be part of this growing local industry.’
‘Careers in Screen will encourage students and recent graduates to develop skills and pursue careers in our local screen industry and play a part in the development of the future creative content and stories that will entertain audiences around the world.’
Amber-Jade Sanderson, local Skills and Training Minister also enthused about the potential of the program and how it may inspire a new generation of multi-skilled filmmakers and creatives.
‘I want Western Australians to be skilled up and ready to take on the opportunities of our growing screen industry,’ Sanderson says.
‘These are interesting, quality jobs in a sector that is helping to diversify the local economy. That’s why the Cook Labor Government is investing heavily in skills and training – so locals can be the stars of a film industry that’s Made In WA.’
