Running for the third time, the Indigenous Documentary Placement provides one mid-career Indigenous practitioner with a unique opportunity to undertake a four-month paid placement with the ABC, Australia’s largest public broadcaster.
The successful applicant will be embedded in the ABC for a period of four months based in Sydney. The placement’s goal is to provide the practitioner with the opportunity to develop their skills in documentary and/or factual development and production within the context of a public broadcaster with a broader view towards creating employment pathways.
The placement will commence with the ABC in mid-August 2024. The successful candidate will receive an equivalent annual producer level salary of up to $94,620 per annum which equates to approximately $40,000 for four months inclusive of statutory superannuation contributions. The participant will be contracted by the ABC.
Practitioners from all states are welcome to apply and may be eligible to seek additional relocation support from their relevant state or territory screen agency.
ABC Chief Content Officer, Chris Oliver-Taylor, said, “The ABC is committed to supporting opportunities for Indigenous creatives to expand their skills and experience. Reflecting the diversity of this nation both on our screens, and in our teams enriches the content we produce. The Indigenous Documentary Placement is a wonderful initiative and one we’re proud to support in partnership with the AIDC. We look forward to welcoming this year’s successful candidate to the ABC Indigenous team.”
In its launch year in 2021, the first recipient of the Indigenous Documentary Placement program was award-winning filmmaker, and descendent of the Yuin and Awabakal nations, Daniel King. In 2022 the placement recipient was Perun Bonser, a Ngarluma writer and director based in Boorloo / Perth, whose work has focused on telling the stories of First Nations peoples.
Perun Bonser, said, “As an independent filmmaker committed to telling First Nations stories, the ABC placement was a great opportunity to gain insights into broadcast production, commissioning and factual programming. During my time at the ABC I worked on Compass and with the documentary development and commissioning teams and gained practical hands on experience of how documentary and factual programs are created from within a public broadcaster”
In welcoming the return of the program, AIDC CEO / Creative Director, Natasha Gadd, said, “We are thrilled to be co-presenting the Indigenous Documentary Placement with the ABC for a third year. AIDC is committed to creating opportunities for First Nations practitioners that facilitate Indigenous led storytelling and new industry pathways. Since 2019, AIDC has welcomed over 390 First Nations practitioners to the Indigenous Creators Program, designed by and for Indigenous creators. The placement is an opportunity to extend this commitment outside of the AIDC conference and, following the outcomes for previous recipients Daniel King and Perun Bonser, we are excited to extend this opportunity with the ABC to another talented First Nations storyteller.”
All Indigenous practitioners interested in the placement are invited to attend a virtual information session hosted by Kelrick Martin (Head of Indigenous, ABC) on Thursday 13 June, 11:00am-12:00pm AEST.
The information session will provide practitioners with an opportunity to learn more about the placement from ABC representatives, and to ask questions. To register interest in the Information Session, email info@aidc.com.au
Applicant enquiries about the 2024 Indigenous Documentary Placement should be directed to Kelrick Martin, Head of Indigenous, ABC: martin.kelrick@abc.net.au
Applications for the 2024 Indigenous Documentary Placement close 23:59 AEST Sunday 30 June 2024. Visit the Indigenous Documentary Placement page on the AIDC website for more information and the application form.
About AIDC
Established in 1987, AIDC is a not-for-profit organisation committed to supporting and elevating nonfiction storytelling through creative and business opportunities across film, television, streaming, and digital media. Learn more at aidc.com.au