RMIT and AFTRS target accountants in launch of screen skills course
The screen skill industry in Victoria is in desperate need of assistant production accountants, according to RMIT University.
RMIT University announced it had partnered with the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) to provide informative courses to accounting graduates to combat the screen skills shortage.
Victoria was identified as having a lack of workers in the screen field, which would be directly addressed by four short courses to meet current skill needs.
According to RMIT and AFTRS, one of the industry’s critical needs was that it needed more production accountants and assistants.
RMIT said the new partnership intensive with AFTRS was perfect for accountants, such as graduates, who had considered transferring their skills into the “vibrant and booming screen sector.”
RMIT dean of media and communication, Lisa French, said RMIT worked closely with the screen industry and also provided accounting courses.
“RMIT is deeply committed to working with and enhancing the industry by providing education and training that not only responds to the broader needs of a rapidly evolving landscape, but also addresses critical skills gaps,” she said.
“We are enormously excited to be partnering with AFTRS to deliver short courses with critical real-world applications.”
“Through this partnership we will support the screen industry in Victoria and Australia by developing the expertise to drive innovation, as well as to have the talent to support sector growth.”
RMIT and AFTRS said VicScreen had been consulted in determining the screen industry’s most immediate needs.
The courses would be offered in person in Melbourne and are set to start from early December.
The four courses would start with a five-day production accounting intensive, followed by a two-day introduction to producing and screen business, two days of assistant directing fundamentals and five days of locations department intensive.
In the five-day production accountant intensive, RMIT said participants would learn the knowledge and skills to prepare them for a career in the screen industry.
They would learn how to apply accounting technologies and workflows while they developed a strong understanding of the stages of production and financial reporting obligations and requirements.
According to RMIT, participants would also gain specialised skills to work as assistant production accountants to fast-track a career in production accounting or be immediately able to work as a production accountant on a low-budget production.
AFTRS CEO Nell Greenwood said the organisation was glad to be working with RMIT to help aid the screen industry.
“We’re delighted to be working with RMIT to deliver much-needed training to build and strengthen the Victorian talent pipeline,” Greenwood said.
“Addressing critical industry skills gaps needs government, industry and education providers to bring their respective areas of expertise to work together on this.”
“This very exciting partnership does just that, combining RMIT’s world-class facilities and AFTRS industry experience with a shared commitment to excellence and the support of Australia’s creative talent.”
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