by FilmInk Staff
- BBC Studios unveils a high-impact creator pipeline program, connecting them with trusted IP and premium development pathways
- Applications now open for Creator Lab Australia
BBC Studios has launched Creator Lab Australia – a new initiative designed to marry creator originality and audience with BBC Studios’ scale, craft and reach by connecting creators with premium development opportunities, trusted IP and industry-leading expertise – helping to build the next generation of Australian storytelling. The program for YouTube creators is supported by SBS and will be delivered in partnership with Changer Studios and BBC Studios TalentWorks.
Building on the success of BBC’s UK program, Creator Lab Australia will connect established Australian YouTube creators with trusted IP, premium development pathways and the tools to grow ambitious ideas into enduring creator businesses. Delivered with Creator Economy specialist Changer Studios, the Australian program brings together BBC Studios’ world-class storytelling and IP expertise with Changer’s proven expertise of global creator development, audience growth, platform strategy and commercial opportunity. The initiative aims to equip creators with the tools, relationships and experience needed to build sustainable careers and help shape the next wave of new media.
Throughout the program, participants will have the opportunity to work on selected established IP from the extensive BBC Studios global catalogue, including from Werner Film Productions (part of BBC Studios), as well as SBS-owned IP, and be supported as partners for growth in the future of media, building the next generation of Australian content brands.
BBC Studios works across a diverse slate of leading local productions and represented formats, including Return to Paradise, Mastermind Australia and The Great Australian Bake Off, building audience connection, cultural relevance and new opportunities for each brand beyond the screen. This local expertise is underpinned by BBC Studios’ global track record behind internationally recognised brands including Bluey, Doctor Who, Top Gear and Dancing with the Stars, with deep experience in developing, growing and extending powerful IP across platforms and audiences.
Kylie Washington, EVP & Creative Director BBC Studios Australia Productions said, “There is extraordinary creative power within Australia’s Creator Economy, with talented storytellers building loyal communities and shaping culture every day. Creator Lab is our commitment to investing in that potential. Locally, BBC Studios has delivered hugely successful collaborations with creators across our shows, such as Ghosts Australia, The Office, The Great Australian Bake Off and Mastermind. By connecting creators with trusted IP, premium production expertise and the development frameworks that have helped build globally recognised brands, we’re creating a bridge between audience connection and long-term growth. Our ambition is to help creators further develop and scale their ideas by utilising new and shared existing IP, while establishing a network that supports the future of Australian storytelling for years to come.”
Joseph Maxwell, Head of Unscripted, SBS said, “This is a great opportunity for a new generation of creatives. SBS is delighted to support an initiative that provides new platforms, new opportunities and new pathways for talented Australian storytellers.”
Farhad Meher-Homji, co-Founder and CEO Changer Studios said, “At Changer, we’ve spent over 10 years helping creators build sustainable channels and businesses. Creator Lab Australia gives that mission an extraordinary accelerant – pairing Changer’s Creator Economy expertise with BBC Studios’ world-class IP and craft. It’s about building the infrastructure for a genuinely new generation of Australian content businesses, together.”
Creator Lab will deliver opportunities into the BBC Studios’ global creator partnerships development and commissioning initiatives, and has been designed to be more than a one-off program, to create a lasting creator network, connected to and help influence the creative, editorial and commercial ecosystems that help great ideas grow.
The program will be delivered in two stages: The Sprint and The Accelerator. During The Sprint, creators will participate in a 2-day intensive masterclass in Sydney, gaining insights from YouTube, SBS Commissioning Editors sessions and the BBC Studios Unscripted & Scripted teams. Participants will explore audience development, content strategy, format creation and long-form storytelling.
From this cohort, creators will be selected for The Accelerator, an 8-week hybrid program featuring one-on-one mentoring and specialist workshops focused on content development, audience engagement, multi-platform growth and building globally relevant IP.
Applicants must:
- Be based in Australia, with the right to work
- Be over 18 years of age
- Have a) over 50K following on YouTube and/or b) developed, created, and published at least two videos that have reached over 100K views on YouTube
- Made a positive creative or innovative impact across social platforms
- Be available to attend the in-person Sprint masterclass in Sydney on 21-22 September 2026
- Be available to participate in the 8-week hybrid Accelerator program throughout October and November 2026
Applications are now open and close Sunday 6 September at 11.59pm AEST.
For more information, eligibility requirements and application details click here.
Any questions about the program or how to apply can be directed to creators.anz@bbc.com.
