Australian Film Television and Radio School Annual Report 2003–2004 Australian Film Television and Radio School Cnr Epping and Balaclava Roads North Ryde NSW 2113 PO Box 126, North Ryde NSW 1670 Tel +61 (0)2 9805 6611 Fax +61 (0)2 9887 1030 [email protected] http://www.aftrs.edu.au http://www.aftrs.edu.au/publications State Offices and Representatives Queensland Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts 420 Brunswick Street PO Box 1480 Fortitude Valley QLD 4006 Tel +61 (0)7 3257 7646 Fax +61 (0)7 3257 7641 [email protected] Contact: Alex Daw South Australia 3 Butler Drive Hendon SA 5014 Tel +61 (0)8 8244 0357 Fax +61 (0)8 8244 5608 [email protected] Contact: Ann Walton Tasmania Level 3, 33 Salamanca Place Hobart TAS 7000 Tel +61 (0)3 6223 8703 Fax +61 (0)3 6224 6143 [email protected] Contact: Craig Kirkwood Victoria 1st Floor, 144 Moray Street PO Box 1008 South Melbourne VIC 3205 Tel +61 (0)3 9690 7111 © Commonwealth of Australia 2004 Fax +61 (0)3 9690 1283 ISSN 0819-2316 [email protected] Contact: Simon Britton This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no Western Australia part may be reproduced by any process 92 Adelaide Street without earlier written permission from the Fremantle WA 6160 Commonwealth available from AusInfo. Tel +61 (0)8 9431 6700 Requests and enquiries about reproduction and Fax +61 (0)8 9335 1283 rights should be addressed to the Manager, [email protected] Legislative Services, AusInfo, GPO Box 1920, Contact: Tom Lubin Canberra ACT 2601. Senator the Hon Rod Kemp Minister for the Arts and Sport Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Dear Minister It is with great pleasure that I deliver to you my fourth annual report as Chair of the Australian Film Television and Radio School. AFTRS works hard to fulfil its mandate as a centre of excellence. Each year we vigorously assess our performance; achievements and relevance, to ensure that the goals we are setting are in the best interest of our industry. The employment record of our graduates demonstrates how integral our role is. We produce people that provide the skills needed to navigate our way through the future of digital interactivity and its outcomes. With this in mind much effort has been made to ensure the School is nationally focused and industry connected. AFTRS is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to enhanced industry training. Australia’s regional areas are as vital to industry success as our major cities; our National Industry Training Program is ensuring our reach is felt across the entire country. Throughout this financial year many strategic links with industry have been made. The key to our industry’s artistic and economic health is linked to the strengthening of these alliances. AFTRS is also determined to produce leaders with vision and entrepreneurial screen business skills. AFTRS is committed to promoting the development of Indigenous talent. The School has one of the highest ratios of Indigenous students enrolled as a proportion of full-time curriculum, in Australian education. This is an important achievement and one we want to continue. Maintaining Indigenous leadership within the School is a priority. We recently honoured the contribution of retired Council Member Rachel Perkins whose term was six years in length. Her wisdom and guidance have greatly shaped our Indigenous programs. The 2003–2004 Annual Report has been prepared in accordance with section 9 of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997. Yours sincerely D T Gilbert Chair of AFTRS Contents Director’s Perspective 7 Corporate Governance 9 Organisation Chart of AFTRS 17 Report of Operations Introduction 20 Key Achievements against the Corporate Plan 21 Operational Activities 2003–2004 26 Film, Television and Digital Media 26 Radio 35 National Industry Training Program 36 State Offices 38 Indigenous Program Initiative 40 Corporate and Student Services 41 Technology and Infrastructure Management 44 Marketing and Community Relations 46 The Network 49 Statutory Reports 50 Effects of Ministerial Directions 50 Judicial Decisions and Reviews by Outside Bodies 50 Indemnities and Insurance Premiums for Officers 50 Freedom of Information 51 Privacy 51 Commonwealth Disability Strategy 51 Equal Employment Opportunity 52 Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation 56 Occupational Health and Safety 56 Appendixes 1 Statistics 58 2 Graduates 63 3 Guest Lecturers 65 4 Student Productions 71 5 Film Festival Awards and Recognition 79 6 Sponsored Awards, Grants and Scholarships 82 7 Sales of Student Productions 85 8 Supporters of AFTRS 86 9 AFTRS Legislation 88 10 Glossary 90 Financial Statements 93 Index 128 Director’s Perspective In the past year AFTRS has been reviewing its operations and strengthening its core education and training activities. These are ongoing tasks. The School community seeks to understand and respond to the major changes that are now occurring in the screen production and broadcast industries. Much effort has been made to ensure that our teaching is relevant and forward looking in this environment. Changes to our full-time curriculum timetable have provided extra opportunities for both students and staff to pursue a wider range of individual projects and plan course activities. The focus of our national industry training program has been on the delivery of training to industry professionals which will assist in sustaining the sector in this difficult period of Australian screen production. National training initiatives have enhanced communication, planning and the use of resources across AFTRS offices in each state. The year saw the introduction of two new strands of teaching. Digital interactivity and cross platform production techniques are now taught to all students in the AFTRS full-time program, as well as forming the basis of a range of professional training short courses. In radio the School has furthered its growing reputation as a centre of excellence in exploring the impact of digital technology in that medium. Courses and activities in screen business skills and film enterprise development have been established. The AFTRS program The Business of Creativity has been delivered within the School and to the industry nationally, drawing very positive support from participants. Considerable emphasis has been placed on the School’s external relationships in the past year. A new integrated marketing and community relations department was established to strengthen our efforts in recruitment, sponsorship, industry liaison and stakeholder communications. All departments at AFTRS are actively extending their links with screen production companies and broadcasters. These linkages offer additional opportunities for AFTRS graduating students and provide access to emerging cutting edge talent to the companies involved. New partnership arrangements in 2003–04 included those with Village Roadshow, the Nine Network, SBS Television and Foxtel. During the year the School has also been exploring the possibility of relocating its Sydney campus, predicated on the need to ensure AFTRS is a central and highly accessible resource for the screen industries in that city. Overall, AFTRS is focused on contributing strongly to the sustainability of Australia’s creative media content, which has growing importance both culturally, socially and economically. Malcolm Long 7• AFTRS ANNUAL REPORT 2003–2004 Corporate Governance AFTRS is a federal statutory authority Responsibilities established by the Australian Film Television and Radio School Act 1973. AFTRS is of the Council governed by a council, responsible to the The principal functions of the Council are to: Federal Parliament through the Minister for the Arts and Sport. • Develop and review policy about training programs and other AFTRS AFTRS Council Structure activities. •Monitor the effectiveness of AFTRS' The operations and activities of AFTRS are overseen by the Director, who manages affairs overall performance. according to general policy determined by the •Monitor financial matters including Council.The Council has nine members: annual budget estimates. • Three members appointed by the • Oversee matters about the internal Governor-General. structure of AFTRS and senior staff appointments. • Three members from convocation appointed by Council. •Provide and maintain strong communication links with the film • One AFTRS member of staff and broadcasting industries. elected by staff. • Review AFTRS’ strategic objectives. • One AFTRS student elected by students. • Ensure that systems are in place to monitor and control: • The Director, ex officio. i. compliance with the law and ethical standards 9• CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ii. financial performance John Rimmer iii. accountability to the Federal MA, FAICD Government. Non-Executive Director, Council Members Information City Australia, an incubator for commercialising innovation in The Council held nine meetings in the Australia’s information industries reporting period 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004. Council members as at 30 June 2004 Former Chief Executive, National Office for were: the Information Economy, 2001–2004 Executive Director, Multimedia Victoria, Appointed by the 1995–1997 Governor-General Member, Australian Broadcasting Authority, 1997–2001 Daniel Gilbert, Chair Chair, Australia Council New Media Arts LLB Solicitor Board, 1997–2001 Managing Partner, 21 October 2003 to 20 October 2006, Gilbert & Tobin, NSW first term Director of the Bangarra Dance Theatre Attended four meetings (current)