Good morning and it’s so great to be with you all today.
I begin this morning by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands on which I’m joining you from, the Ngunnawal people, and pay my respects to elders past and present.
I would also like to acknowledge Bus Stops Films for holding the first ever summit to explore disability employment in film, TV and commercial production – as well as all of the creative talent and champions for inclusion that are here today and have contributed to driving change.
Thank you for having me here today as we come together to celebrate and elevate the employment of people with disability across the screen industry – both in front of and behind the camera.
The importance of this summit cannot be understated.
By bringing together the disability and commercial advertising, broadcast and production sectors it presents a real opportunity to break down barriers and shift attitudes toward people with disability.
I know there have been many great sessions so far, including important discussions about the role screen agencies, broadcasters and Government have in making the screen industry more inclusive and accessible for people with disability.
We all have a role in sending the strong message that people with disability have skills, talents and perspectives that make our screen industry better and stronger.
As Minister for Social Services, I am committed to breaking down barriers so that people with disability can pursue their goals and aspirations – and build careers in the industry of their choice.
I have had the opportunity to see first-hand the impact that inclusive and supportive industry organisations like Bus Stop Films can have on providing employment opportunities for people with disability. But also provide the opportunity for them to pursue their passions and express their creativity.
Last year I visited the Australian Film Television and Radio School to meet with Bus Stop Films students and was able to enjoy a premiere screening of one of the films they had worked on called The Bystander Effect. The film showcased their talent, but also had a powerful message – and is definitely worth seeing.
Inclusion of people with disability across all aspects of society, including the film and television industry, is something I am very passionate about, which is why I am excited to get to speak to you today as we work to build a more inclusive film and entertainment industry together.
This is something all my colleagues across the Albanese Labor Government are absolutely committed to and are driving change to create a more accessible and inclusive society under the framework of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031
Since coming into this role, I have been focused on bringing the Strategy from words on a page to life – by working across the Commonwealth to drive shared leadership and through tangible actions that will improve life outcomes for people with disability.
And of course, this includes investments to support greater inclusion in the arts.
A clear example of this is the Government’s new national cultural policy, Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place.
Revive will unlock new opportunities and empower Australia’s talented artists and arts organisations to thrive and grow, reaching new audiences and telling stories in new and compelling ways – and this includes people with disability being a part of these new opportunities.
And just last week, Minister Burke and I launched Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan which is a commitment under Revive and Australia’s Disability Strategy to lay the groundwork for long-term change to achieve equity for artists, arts workers and audiences with disability in the arts and cultural sector.
Equity is backed by funding to ensure this progress against its priority areas. This includes $2.1 million for an Arts and Screen Employment Pathways Pilot Program that will commence next year.
Enabling people with disability, not just in paid employment, but to build fulfilling careers has been a mission of mine as Minister for Social Services from day one.
A key part of this is making employers aware of the talent and contribution people with disability make to the workplace, and also removing workplace barriers to people with disability entering employment and building careers.
And that’s why Government funded supports and services like JobAccess are so important.
JobAccess is a one-stop-shop that offers information and supports to drive disability employment outcomes.
Since 2006 it has supported more than 440,000 Australians living with disability.
In the last financial year alone we saw 36 large employers benefit from the expertise of JobAccess to improve their hiring practices and disability inclusion, bringing the total numbers of employers to 420 since 2010.
An important feature of JobAccess is the Employment Assistance Fund, which provides financial assistance for work-related modifications, equipment, disability awareness training and Auslan interpreting – and this extends to people working in the screen industry.
I know that yesterday you heard about how JobAccess can be utilised to support actors with disability, such as the support provided to Hannah Diviney when she worked on Audrey.
And because I understand how important funding for supports to help people with disability engage in employment are – I doubled the funding cap for Auslan interpreting services for work-related activities and building modifications through the Employment Assistance Fund – which had not changed in 13 years.
My department is also currently working with Bus Stop Films to identify and pilot ways that the Employment Assistance Fund could be more flexibly applied to better support people with disability in the screen industry – because I believe that people with disability should be supported to build a career of their own choosing.
And yet there is so much more we need to do to make meaningful employment a reality for many Australians living with disability.
This is why I have also led a complete reform of employment services for people with disability.
From 1 July next year we are introducing a new specialist disability employment program to replace the current Disability Employment Services Program.
These reforms are underpinned by a $5.5 billion investment into disability employment over the next five years.
The new program has a strong focus on providing more tailored support to employers and participants.
It will shift the culture around disability employment to focus on providing quality services, building trusted relationships between providers, participants and employers - and ensure that services go beyond just finding people any job – but one that meets an individual’s goals and aspirations.
And importantly that meets employers’ business needs.
We want providers to work with each individual and provide high-quality services that meet their individual needs, whether they are transitioning from school or a supported employment workplace; returning to the workforce; needing help to stay in their current job; or wanting to progress their career.
And providers will be required to work with employers to ensure they are well equipped to support people with disability in their role.
We have made these changes to ensure we are meeting people where they are at, and addressing the structural reforms needed for them to thrive.
But of course, there is more to improving employment outcomes for people with disability than removing barriers, helping them find a job and providing supports in the workplace. When it comes to the arts, its also about creating more opportunities.
That’s why I’m pleased that we have been able to fund projects that work directly with the disability community to create employment opportunities across our creative industries.
One example of this is Milk Crate Theatre’s NarrARTive initiative. This works to build the capacity of people with disability to access professional opportunities in creative industries through facilitated workshops by film and theatre industry professionals.
This program does an incredible job as it nurtures increased self-confidence, fosters skill development, and establishes meaningful connections that ultimately promote greater self-reliance, empowering aspirations and providing a gateway for future social and economic engagement.
Likewise, we are also funding Bus Stop Films to build employer confidence and inclusion in the screen industry and support people with disability to build toward employment.
Through one of their projects, Bus Stop Films have also supported employment opportunities on their first ever feature film that will be released in 2025 – Boss Cat.
I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate the lead actor of this film Olivia Hagroder, and writer and director Gen Clay-Smith are here today.
And in really exciting news, enrolments for Bus Stop Films new program called PLACES open today.
PLACES was developed through a co-design process with people with disability and supported by a Stronger and Resilient Communities Grant.
PLACES will offer professional filmmaking, leadership, advocacy, creative, employment and social and community connection opportunities.
Initiatives like Bus Stop Film’s “Inclusion in Action” and the “Inclusive Filmmaking Toolkit” resources support this through workshops on inclusive filmmaking and how companies can better engage people with disability.
And that’s why our Government invests in these projects – because they help grow confidence, skills and capacity, and open further opportunities and pathways to employment in the industry.
We are making these investments because we know that people with disability deserve better access to the arts and entertainment sectors in Australia.
Not only is this important for creatives to get to share their stories, but also because we know that diversity in the arts makes the industry better and stronger.
Of course, the benefits of inclusion on and off the screen goes beyond benefits to the individual – it benefits society as a whole.
Reflecting the diversity of our community across the screen industry is a critical enabler of changing community attitudes and creating a more inclusive Australia.
Thank you everyone for your participation today and for all the discussions you are having over the course of this important summit.
Forums like this one will go a long way in changing community perspectives and business practices, increasing opportunities for inclusion and employment for Australians with disability.
I look forward to hearing about the outcomes of the summit, and to working with you to take our next steps towards a more inclusive and culturally rich Australia.