A note-taking training program for emerging First Nations screenwriters.

Applications closed 2025.

Need a Note-Taker?

If you’re a writer, showrunner, producer or from a production company, and you need a talented note-taker for an upcoming writers room, we want to hear from you! Please get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]

About

Seeding Storytellers is a note-taking training program for emerging First Nations Screenwriters, supported by Screen Australia, Screenrights’ Cultural Fund, and delivered by Screenworks in partnership with the Australian Writers’ Guild.

Designed to provide the appropriate professional development required for the role of a note-taker, Seeding Storytellers sets up emerging First Nations Screenwriters for the best chance of success in their careers. 

A writer’s journey into the industry is far from linear and the variety of roles a writer takes on in their early career, with the appropriate training, benefits their creativity. Note-taking is a fundamental entry point in a writer’s creative pathway and a key skill in the professional development of early career writers. Awareness of the procedures and etiquette in writers’ rooms are an important part in understanding the administrative aspects of building a story for screen.

More Info

Applications closed March 3, 2025, following a deadline extension.

In the first part of Seeding Storytellers, selected participants underwent three day-long online workshops on the 3rd, 10th and 17th of May 2025, run by the Australian Writers’ Guild and delivered by highly-experienced, working writers Sara Khan, Catherine Kelleher and Terence McCarthy. The workshops covered note-taking, script coordinating and the basics of a writers’ room, and provided participants a culturally safe, supported environment to learn in. Participants finished equipped with all the skills required to work as a note-taker in the film and television industry.

Program Manager Sara Khan, a proud Wailwan, Gomeroi and Pakistani woman and writer on Heartbreak High, said on announcement of the program, “For First Nations People, our stories and perspectives are invaluable to the writers room. How we utilise and share these for creative purposes requires protections. Providing First Nations writers with the essential skills for note-taking will seed the growth for more visibility and representation of First Nations People in writers’ rooms.”

Catherine Kelleher is an experienced writer-director and recently the Scripted Development Executive at SBS. While at SBS, Catherine advised on how to facilitate culturally appropriate working environments. During the workshops, she was responsible for the note-taker training and resources components. 

Terence McCarthy is a writer, development executive, script department manager and script editor with fifteen years’ experience in the Australian and US film and television industries. He was responsible for the script coordinator training components during the workshop.

In the second part of Seeding Storytellers (currently ongoing), following the conclusion of these workshops, participants are guided by Screenworks to secure work as note-takers thanks to support from Screen Australia. 

Seeding Storytellers participants are also showcased to the industry via the AWG’s Pathways website. Pathways is a permanent resource for industry figures on the hunt for talented new writers with valuable skills to offer in writers’ rooms.

Sara Khan (She/Her) is a proud Wailwan, Gomeroi, Pakistani woman. Currently writing for television, she has a strong background in story telling within a range of industries. Working across education, museums and radio, Sara’s work focusses primarily on platforming First Nations and People of Colour’s voices. As a programs officer at the Australian museum, Sara ran tours that centred around dismantling false narratives of First Nations People. Writing for television, Sara earned her first credit as script editor for season one of the international Emmy nominated series Heartbreak High (Netflix). Beyond Heartbreak High she has written for Gold Diggers (ABC), Paper Dolls (Paramount+) and Erotic Stories (SBS). Her episode for Erotic Stories, was selected for a worldwide premiere at SXSW Sydney. In addition, she became an episodic writer for the second season of Heartbreak High. Alongside writing for television, Sara hosted and produced The Brekky Show on Koori Radio from 2019-2021. This extended into FBi radio where she co-hosted the award-winning program Race Matters from 2018-2022.

“First Nations People have a lens on this world that is invaluable, intentional and deeply honest. Having the tools to shape our stories into a format that’s accessed globally greatly benefits all audiences. This program is vital in ensuring the longevity of First Nations People’s stories and careers as writers.”

Program Terms and Conditions (Including Regionality Definitions):

By submitting my application for Seeding Storytellers (also referred to as the program), I agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions:

  1. I have grown up with a continuous First Nations experience.
  2. I understand that submitting my application does not guarantee selection for the Seeding Storytellers program.
  3. If selected for Seeding Storytellers, I confirm to be available – or will make myself available – to participate in the program’s scheduled workshops, delivered online on the 3rd, 10th and 17th of May, 2025. 
  4. If selected, I agree to be interviewed, photographed and/or recorded during any part of the program. Any interview, photograph and/or recording may be used across any media format for promotion and/or reporting purpose.
  5. I agree to tag Screenworks and the program partners in any social media posts I may create and share.
  6. If selected and once my participation in the program concludes, I agree to complete and submit a program report on my experiences.
  7. I warrant and confirm that the information that I give in this application is true and correct and I understand that it will be used to determine my suitability for inclusion in Seeding Storytellers.
  8. I acknowledge that Northern Rivers Screenworks Inc. has the right to withdraw any offer to participate in Seeding Storytellers if it is discovered that any statement made by me in this application is incorrect, incomplete or misleading, in a way that may have affected the application assessment process. 

Please note: The program assessment committee, including representatives from Screenworks and from the Australian Writers Guild, will assess all eligible applications against a set of guidelines and assessment criteria. The assessment committee is under no obligation to read all content provided. The assessment committee will not redress errors in applications. If an application is deemed ineligible, it will not be assessed. The assessment committee will make the ultimate decision regarding the successful applicants. This decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Preference will be given to applicants from regional areas, as defined below.

ACT, NT and TAS: All areas.

NSW: All areas outside of metropolitan and Western Sydney, including the Blue Mountains.

VIC: All areas not listed as metro on VicScreen’s regionality map.

QLD: All areas outside of a 100 kilometre radius of the Brisbane and Gold Coast Central Business Districts (CBDs).

SA: All areas outside of a 50 kilometre radius of the Adelaide CBD.

WA: All areas listed as regional on Screenwest’s regionality map.

Seeding Storytellers is supported by Screen Australia and Screenrights’ Cultural Fund in partnership with the Australian Writers’ Guild.