The New Zealand Film Commission has launched a new initiative in partnership with Screen Australia – an Access Coordinator Training Programme. The NZFC will be supporting filmmakers who identify as disabled or neurodivergent to undertake a five-day training course run by Bridge06 in Sydney, Australia to become trained Access Coordinators.
The Access Coordinator role is an emergent below-the-line crew position becoming more standardised worldwide, and works with film and television productions to bring expert knowledge and experience in facilitating required adjustments and access provisions for disabled or neurodivergent talent in the screen sector. Access Coordinators ensure that adjustments are implemented and they can work with existing diversity and inclusion advisors, complement existing resources/toolkits and broader access training currently on offer.
The NZFC has introduced this programme to support an increase of disability representation across the Aotearoa screen sector, and to guide the sector in becoming more inclusive and confident in providing access for people with disabilities. The trained coordinators will receive ongoing support from Bridge06, and the NZFC will facilitate meetings between Bridge06 and the sector to discuss successful implementation of Access Coordinators.
More information about the initiative and how to apply is available here: Access Coordinator Training (nzfilm.co.nz)
Applications close at 5pm on Friday 25 August.