For many years, the Australian screen industry has voiced a need to address attitudinal barriers and enhance diversity and inclusion. Our Screen Access and Inclusion Masterclass program has been developed in consultation with screen professionals with lived experience of disability in order to address these barriers and boost accessibility confidence through the provision of practical guides, achievable solutions and shareable resources. Due to popular demand, we’ve scheduled some more Masterclasses for 2024.

This program comprises two dedicated workshops for industry professionals both with and without disability:

Masterclass for Screen Practitioners with Disability or who are d/Deaf:

This course has been expertly designed to boost confidence through acquiring practical knowledge about navigating the screen industry, understanding your rights and responsibilities and effectively communicating access requirements. The course will include:

• The social model of disability (including guidance on appropriate language and etiquette)
• When should you disclose?
• Identifying and implementing your reasonable adjustments
• How to write and submit an access rider
• How to confidently and effectively communicate access requirements on-set
• Getting started in the screen industry
• Where and how to access support if needed

FREE workshop – bookings essential. Please note places are limited.

Thurs 18 April
1pm – 2.30pm (Online)
Click here to book

“It was amazing hearing everyone’s stories and sharing my own with the group. Bridie was an incredible facilitator and helped me feel welcomed and created a non-judgemental atmosphere.”
– Masterclass Participant, 2023

Masterclass for Industry (General Industry and Employers)

This disability-led training has been expertly designed to upskill employers in better understanding and responding to access requirements through providing practical knowledge and building disability confidence. Learn about the social model of disability (including guidance on appropriate language and etiquette), the language of disability, creating an inclusive workplace and where and how to access advice.

Thurs 20 June
This will be presented at AFTRS and also livestreamed online
1:30pm – 3pm
Click here to book

This Masterclass was also presented as part of Screen Forever, Australia’s Premiere Screen Industry Event in March 2024.

“The Masterclass was absolutely brilliant and a real crowd pleaser. Everyone had such positive feedback from the session. It was a breath of fresh air.”
– Screenworks, 2023

Access

 

Closed captioning and Auslan interpreting are available for these Masterclasses upon request. You can request these services during the booking process. Please note that we require at least 4 working days’ notice.

All in-person sessions are wheelchair accessible.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your access requirements, please email Michelle Teear at training@aarts.net.au or call (02) 9251 6499.

About the Course Facilitator

Bridie McKim

Bridie graduated from NIDA in 2018 and at the same time became the first disabled actor to play a lead role on Australian television as Sabine in the drama “The Heights“ produced by Matchbox Pictures for the ABC.  In 2019, Bridie starred in Fat Salmon Production’s short film “Cinderella”, for which she won Best Australian Actor at the Focus On Ability Short Film Festival. Bridie has also made guest appearances in the Stan original series ‘Bump’, as well as ‘Dive Club’, which aired on Netflix, and Hulu’s ‘Joe Vs. Carole’. Bridie is also set to appear in Peacock and Netflix’s new show “Irreverent”. In 2020, Bridie hosted the television special “Reframe” for the ABC. The program was developed to celebrate International Day of People with Disability by showcasing films created by filmmakers with disability. Bridie has also worked as a facilitator and host of Q&As and forums for both Accessible Arts and NIDA’s In-Conversation series. This work required her to research, profile, and interview professional practitioners within the industry. Throughout 2022, Bridie has also been working as an associate and consultant with Get Skilled Access to help remove the barriers between organisations and people with disability.

This initiative has been made possible by Screen NSW with support from Screen Producers Australia, AFTRS, Showcast, Queer Screen, Sydney Film Festival, and the Australian Writers’ Guild.

ENDS

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