In an announcement made earlier today by Arts Centre Melbourne, a new partnership between themselves, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) and Stage QLD will see a $750,000 accredited industry training program for performing arts technical crews in Queensland. The first round of this initiative will build upon Arts Centre Melbourne’s existing Arts Industry Learning initiative, and Tech Connect training program.
Tech Connect QLD training builds upon the Tech Connect Victoria program, funded by Creative Victoria, that has delivered training in regional centres including Horsham, Shepparton, Gippsland and Geelong. The Queensland program will provide and deliver accredited industry training that creates sustainable employment pathways for young technical crews within the arts sector to deliver the next generation of theatre technicians. The training model combines formal classroom-based study with structured mentoring in theatres, enabling trainees to work alongside the industry’s top technical specialists, directors, designers and performers.
Arts Centre Melbourne’s nationally accredited Registered Training Organisation (RTO) – Arts Industry Learning – will provide training to Technical Supervisors (Certificate IV level) & Trainees (Certificate III level). According to Arts Centre Melbourne, “the RTO will deliver face to face training and assessment requirements over annual 2–3-week designated block training periods with QPAC nominated as the training hub for the first year. For the following years, block training periods will align with Stage QLD conferences in other host/hub venues state-wide”.
In addition to stage training, Arts Centre Melbourne has also confirmed that industry-specific mental health sessions will be delivered by the Arts Wellbeing Collective. Despite the industry being a place of bringing stories to live on stage in often magical ways, there are ongoing mental health issues across the board which I can personally attest to. Hopefully this training, and the organisations in the industry across the board being more proactive (rather than faux invested) around the ongoing issue, will see a healthier mental health landscape among newcomers to such a wonderful industry.
Keep an eye on more information on this initiative!
