Applications have now CLOSED for the 2023 Traineeship Program as part of the Regional Crew Development Program. 

If you are a production company or mentor that is interested in taking on a fully paid trainee between March and November 2023, we’d love to hear from you! Please email [email protected] to register your interest and we will be in touch.

Get your start in the screen industry by applying for the Screenworks Regional Crew Traineeship program, supported by Netflix, the NSW State Government and Screen Queensland. 

The program is an entry-level paid trainee scheme for those who want to embark upon a career in the screen industry.

The selected trainees will undergo off-the-job and on-the-job training through a combination of study and work placements. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn about the industry, develop knowledge and build up screen contacts to find future work. Participants will also graduate with a nationally recognised Certificate III in Screen and Media from TAFE NSW Lismore.

Screenworks will hire two trainees from Northern NSW and one trainee from North Queensland on a contract of either 12 months or shorter. The trainee will undertake practical and theoretical training and (assuming all competencies are met) be awarded a Certificate III in Screen and Media from TAFE NSW Lismore in November/December of that year. 

Who can apply?

We are looking for people who are passionate about starting a career in the screen industry (not as an actor) and can commit 12-months full-time to the traineeship. We particularly want to hear from young people from diverse backgrounds or those that would otherwise not have the opportunity to study or start a career in the industry.

These traineeships are aimed at school leavers who have not already completed a Cert III or IV in Screen & Media or a degree course but if your degree is in an unrelated subject you may be eligible to apply.

Screenworks and Netflix are strongly committed to increasing diversity across all sectors of the screen industry. We encourage anyone to apply to this program regardless of their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability status.

Key eligibility criteria:

  • FOR NSW: You must reside in one of the 9 following LGAS of the North Coast of NSW, which includes:
    • Ballina, Bellingen, Byron Shire, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley, Tweed Shire.
  • FOR QUEENSLAND: You must reside in one of the 14 following LGAS:
    • Cairns Region, Isaac Region, Whitsundays Region, Mackay Region, Townsville City, Charters Towers Regional, Palm Island Aboriginal Shire, Hinchinbrook Shire, Burdekin Shire, Cassowary Coast Regional, Tablelands Regional, Mareeba Shire, Douglas Shire, Etheridge Shire, Croydon Shire, Carpenteria Shire, Burke Shire, Cook Shire.
  • You must be 17 or over by 31st January 2023 or provide proof you have completed year 10 or equivalent.
  • You must not be in full-time education by 31st January 2023.
  • If you have already completed or are in the process of completing a Cert III or Cert IV in Screen & Media you will not be eligible to apply.

How do I apply?

  • Please complete the application form for Northern NSW or North Queensland
  • When filling in the form, you will be asked to demonstrate your commitment to the program and there is also the option to upload a current resume.
  • The closing deadline for applications is 08:00am Monday 28th November 2022 AEDT
  • If you require assistance with your application, please contact Screenworks on [email protected] or (02) 6681 1188
  • Screenworks will shortlist candidates based on their application and invite them to interview either via Zoom or in person. We expect to be able to confirm the 3 successful trainees by early January 2023.

Key Dates:

  • 2nd Nov 2022: Applications open
  • 28th Nov 2022: Applications close
  • Early December: Shortlisted candidates invited to interview
  • Early January: Successful candidates notified
  • Jan 2023: Contracting
  • Jan 2023: Meet & Greets / Inductions as required
  • Feb 2023: Traineeship Commences

What to expect during the traineeship:

The traineeships will start and conclude with paid TAFE study weeks and during the period in-between, Screenworks place them with professional work placements to complete the on-the-job crew training

  • Feb 2023 (exact dates tbc):
Each traineeship will start with 8 weeks of paid study towards a Cert III Screen & Media at TAFE. This will take place on campus at TAFE Lismore for the two NSW trainees and a combination of online and in-person learning for the QLD trainee (location and delivery will depend on the trainees residential address).
It is expected that each trainees time will be split by 4 days per week at TAFE and 1 day working on Screenworks briefs and taks.
  • May 2023 – November 2023 (exact dates tbc):
On-the-job training and work placements on productions. These will be based as close to the trainees place of residence as possible, however out of region travel could be required.
  • November – December 2023:  (exact dates tbc):
Each trainee will be required return to TAFE complete their final paid study period for 4 weeks (5 days per week). This will conclude the traineeships.

Frequently Asked Questions:

No experience is required but a commitment to the program and a passion for the screen industry are essential.

If you have completed a Certificate III in Screen and Media at TAFE at the time of application, you will be ineligible to apply for a traineeship. Similarly, having a Certificate IV, Diploma of Advanced Diploma counts you out of being able to be funded to do a Certificate III.

Yes, you will be employed by Screenworks for the traineeship period and paid the level 1 MPPCA minimum crew rate for a 40 hour week which is currently $900.71 plus 10.5% superannuation guarantee and loadings. In the event of a larger production requiring their crew members to work a 10 hour day (industry standard), trainees will be remunerated for a 50 hour week by Screenworks. 

You will be introduced to a variety of entry-level roles during on-the-job training whilst being supported by your work placement manager.

As long as you meet the eligibility requirements.

If you have something that you’ve created related to Screen & Media (such as a short film), please upload to a hosting website such as Vimeo or Youtube and provide us with a link on your CV or in the body of your application. Please ensure it is password protected and that you have shared the password with us.

Travel can sometimes be unavoidable in the screen industry. You may need to be flexible around commuting interstate or being based away from home for some of your on-the-job training.

If you are a NSW based trainee, you will be responsible for making your own travel arrangements to attend classroom sessions at the TAFE NSW Lismore campus in Northern NSW and attend on-the-job training requirements at the Screenworks office in Ballina, Northern NSW.

If you are a Queensland based trainee, your TAFE sessions will be conducted through a mix of online and in person training. If you are required to travel to NSW for assessments, your travel and accommodation will be covered.

A minimum of 10  traineeships will be delivered over 3 years.  4 trainees in 2022, 3 trainees in 2023 and a final 3 trainees in 2024.

It is currently only being delivered in Northern New South Wales region and North Queensland. We hope to secure resources to scale the program throughout regional Australia in the future

Trainees have specific roles and responsibilities when they sign up to complete their traineeship training and Screenworks will work closely with TAFE NSW Lismore and NSW Education to ensure selected candidates are aware of them. The NSW Education website is a fantastic resource of information around traineeships:

https://education.nsw.gov.au/skills-nsw/apprentices-and-trainees

Yes, a Certificate III in Screen & Media from TAFE NSW Lismore

Each trainee will be required to complete a training plan to confirm their work and placement experience are of a standard to achieve a Certificate III in Screen & Media from TAFE NSW Lismore or online for the Queensland trainee. Objectives for placements will be set and monitored with the help of your nominated work placement manager and Screenworks. All trainees must provide a production report of their experience to count towards their unit credits. This is likely to take the form of a short video presentation, filmed and edited by the trainees themselves.

If the trainee is not successfully completing work and progressing in their qualification,  Training Services is required to be notified and a Training Advisor will work with TAFE NSW Lismore, the trainee and Screenworks to try to resolve any issues. If the issues cannot be resolved and the trainee cannot reach competence they will not successfully complete the traineeship.

Production companies and heads of departments interested in taking on trainee placements in 2022 should contact Screenworks via email [email protected].

Screenworks are delivering the Regional Crew Development Program in partnership with Netflix with the support of the NSW Government and Screen Queensland, through their North Queensland Regional Program.

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