Applications are now open for Ripple: Disability and Culturally Diverse Internship Program.

This valuable program is a partnership between Accessible Arts, Diversity Arts Australia, and a range of arts and cultural organisations across NSW and the ACT.

This initiative offers up to eight applicants who identify as both a person with disability or who is d/Deaf as well as culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) with networking and professional development training. This includes those who identify as people of colour, Black people, and people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

Now in its third year, this exciting program continues to provide a unique professional opportunity with a paid internship, mentoring and training. This 14-week program will assist the successful applicants to upskill towards expertise in access and inclusion for the creative industries and diversity sectors.  The program includes:

• 6 weeks of training (up to 8 hours per week)
  Customised disability and cultural diversity awareness workshops
• Mentorship
  4 x 1 hour 1:1 Mentor sessions with a contemporary cultural/arts leader
• Internship
  8 weeks of placement at a Cultural/Arts Institution in NSW or ACT (15 hours per week for 8 weeks)

This is an exciting opportunity to gain valuable insights into the kinds of organisations and work available in the arts and cultural sector, whilst forming connections as emerging creative sector workers.

The selected interns will be paid $30 per hour plus the statutory superannuation rate, for a total of 14 weeks. You will be paid for all training and work experience hours.

Participating Organisations

The internships will take place at a range of leading arts and cultural institution as listed below. The internships can be carried out entirely in person, or a combination of in person and online. The breakdown of online and in person hours will vary depending on the requirements of each arts organisation.

• 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art
• APRA AMCOS
• Art Gallery of New South Wales
• Campbelltown Arts Centre
• Powerhouse Museum
• The National Portrait Gallery
• UTP (formally Urban Theatre Projects)

What areas will the interns work in?

The internships will be in a variety of creative and technical areas depending on the arts and cultural organisation each intern is placed within. Areas include marketing, curatorial, production, front of house, arts administration, public programs, writing, producing, and editing within music, visual arts, theatre and publishing. A work program will be developed based on the skills and interests of each participant, alongside the opportunities and requirements of the organisation.

The successful applicants will be able to choose up to 3 preferences of which arts organisations they would like to work with, and up to 3 preferences of which mentor they would like to work with. While we will endeavour to accommodate preferences, all placements will at the discretion of the participating arts organisations and mentors.

Access Requirements

All interns will be provided with assistance prior to starting and during their internship, matched to their individual access requirements.

Internship Dates

The internships will run from 9 June to 22 August 2025. This will include:

• Tuesday 29 April to Thursday 5 June
  Specialised online access and diversity training with Accessible Arts, Diversity Arts Australia and other industry leaders. The training days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and training will take place over 8 hours per week for 6 weeks.
• Monday 9 June to Friday 22 August
  Internship placement – 15 hours per week for 8 weeks
• April – August
  4 x 1 hour 1:1 mentor sessions
  There are scheduled sessions on Thursday 8 May and Thursday 5 June. The remaining 2 sessions will be decided between mentor and mentee.
• Thursday 28 August
  Wrap Up Session and Graduation Ceremony at The Arts Exchange, Sydney.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any NSW or ACT-based person over the age of 18 who identifies as both a person with disability or who is d/Deaf as well as culturally and linguistically diverse who has been actively engaged in or seeking career opportunities in the arts and cultural sector is encouraged to apply.

Applications are warmly encouraged from people with all levels of previous experience, including those new to the workforce.

Person with disability includes anyone with sensory or physical conditions, learning disability, chronic illnesses, mental health conditions or who is neurodivergent.

Culturally and linguistically diverse includes those who identify as culturally diverse, people of colour, Black people, and people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

Selection Criteria

• Must identify as both a person with disability or who is d/Deaf as well as culturally and linguistically diverse, including those who identify as culturally diverse, people of colour, Black people, and people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
• Be over 18 years of age at the time of application.
• Reside in New South Wales or Australian Capital Territory
• Must be available during the above-mentioned dates
• Interest and enthusiasm as an emerging cultural or creative sector worker
• Interested in disability, neurodiversity and racial justice discourse
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently
• Competency in Microsoft Office applications
• Nurturing some form of creative/arts/crafts practice (desirable but not essential)

Apply Now

Please read the Application Guidelines prior to applying: Word | PDF

Click here to apply online

Alternatively, you can submit your application via the Word Document Application Form.

Alternative formats such as audio, or video submissions are also accepted with prior approval. Please reach out to Accessible Arts before submitting the application in an alternative format to ensure your application is received.

Applications close at 11pm on Sunday 30 March 2025

The selected interns will be notified early April 2025. Please note, all successful applicants may be asked to complete both a Police Check and a Working with Children Check. The financial costs associated with these checks will be reimbursed by Accessible Arts.

If you have any enquiries, please email Accessible Arts at info@aarts.net.au, or phone (02) 9251 6499.

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and Create NSW. Supported by Diversity Arts Australia, and a variety of arts and cultural institutions across NSW and ACT.

ENDS

Image description: The word RIPPLE appears in bold colourful, capital letters with a graphic of a white ripple effect within the lettering. Underneath pink text reads: Disability and Culturally Diverse Internship.