The Essential Screen Skills Mentor Program will be a six-month structured mentorship program connecting senior secondary school students with Screen Industry experts. Students living in rural, remote and regional Queensland will be matched with Industry professionals to advance their screen industry career aspirations, enhance their confidence and capability and provide a smoother transition into the workforce.
Essential Screen Skills delivers the Screen and Media Gateway to Industry School Program, proudly supported and funded by the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training and Essential Crew.
The Mentor Program will help to address the gaps in a rapidly growing industry by specifically targeting identified skills shortages and roles within Screen and Media, including, but not limited to Screenwriter, Animator, Cinematographer, Visual Effects Artist, Sound Recordist, Costume Designer, Art Director, Business operations, Accounting etc.
The mentor program includes:
- goal setting
- regular virtual meetings with an Industry Mentor
- an exchange where the Mentor will visit the Mentee at their school/community and Mentee visit to the Mentor’s workplace to gain industry experience
- Folio documenting mentor program.
Industry Mentors will be matched with the Mentees areas of interest and project alignment. Industry Mentors will hold a working with children Blue Card.
Schedule
| Applications open | Friday 5th May |
| Applications close | Friday 26th May |
| Offers to mentees | Thursday 8th June |
| Offer documentation submitted | Friday 16th June |
| Mentee onboarding | Monday 19th June 4:30pm |
| Mentee and Mentor goal setting | Initial consult and goal setting by mid-July |
| Regular check-ins | Dates/Times to be determined by Mentee and Mentor- July, August, September, October, November |
| Mentor school visit | To be determined by Mentee and Mentor July-October |
| Mentee industry experience | To be determined by Mentee and Mentor July-October |
| Mentee folio due | Thursday 16th November |
Eligibility
You must be enrolled at a remote/rural/regional Queensland High School in Year 11 or 12 and studying a subject related to the Screen and Media industry. This mentor program is targeted to students who are interested in pursuing a career in the Screen and Media industry and address shortages in crew. Your application must be endorsed by your Parent/Guardian, Teacher, Head of Department and Principal to demonstrate your commitment to the program.
Download the forms here:
Essential Screen Skills Mentor Program – Teacher Endorsement Form
Essential Screen Skills Mentor Program – Parent/Guardian Endorsement Form
Essential Screen Skills Mentor Program – Principal Endorsement Form
Essential Screen Skills Mentor Program – Head of Department Endorsement Form
Your application will require support material that demonstrates your area of focus, goals, project ideas and letter to your Mentor.
Selection of Mentees is at the discretion of Essential Screen Skills. Selection will be based on the viability of the completion of the Mentor Program, availability of Mentors for identified target areas/projects and eligibility of Mentees. Please note that mentees if selected will not be eligible for the Future Filmmakers Camp (this will effect gateway students from Heatley Secondary College, Ryan Catholic College, Cairns State High School and FNQ students who plan to apply for the Future Filmmakers Camp).