Screen Australia has announced a $900,000 industry development fund aimed at bridging skill shortages and boosting the capabilities of the Australian screen workforce.
It forms part of Screen Australia’s Industry Development initiatives, which have supported training and skills development for more than 500 industry professionals.
The most recent round of funding has been made through Screen Australia’s Skills Development Fund (which supports production companies, game development studios and screen businesses to provide work-based learning) and the BTL: Next Step program (which supports mid-career practitioners to upskill from their current areas of expertise).

​Learn more here.

A new tourism-focused division within the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has been created.
WA's national parks are home to about 500 tourism businesses, with DBCA managing award-winning attractions like the Kalbarri Skywalk and the Tree Top Walk, as well as UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Ningaloo Coast and Shark Bay. To further support tourism within WA's conservation estate, DBCA's new nature-based tourism division will be charged with driving new commercial tourism projects in national parks. 
It will also support the Department's industry relationship management, tourism operator licensing, and new tourism opportunity development. 
To support the division, DBCA will also establish a Nature-based Tourism Industry Reference Group, with representatives from Tourism Council WA, tourism operators and the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI).
More information about DBCA Nature Based Tourism can be found here

Western Australia has been confirmed as the host of the Australian Cruise Association (ACA) Conference and Annual General Meeting in 2025, which will attract more than 150 industry leaders.
The annual conference will bring together some of Australia's top industry representatives to discuss the sector and learn more about WA's various onshore experiences and port capabilities, running from 3-5 September 2025.
Cruise ships continue to form an important part of Western Australia's tourism industry and economic diversification agenda, with a record $333.5 million generated in economic impact for the State in 2022-23, which created more than 1,000 local jobs.
More information about the ACA Conference here.

Minister Templeman has today announced the launch of a new VR initiative to enable First Nations practitioners to explore new story-telling mediums. The First Nations VR Documentary Initiative is a special initiative designed to uncover distinctive WA First Nations voices, support their career progression and enable practitioners to explore new story-telling mediums and markets.
Screenwest is seeking 'bold, creative and forward-thinking short VR documentary concepts that explore the theme of ‘Truth-Telling’ and how it relates to current First Nations conversations.'
The initiative will take place over three stages, starting with a one-day workshop open to all WA First Nations creatives.

​Learn more and get involved here

Visual Arts Work (VAW) is an Australian Research Council Linkage project led by researchers from RMIT University and The University of Melbourne, and industry partners the National Association of the Visual Arts (NAVA), and the Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA). Visual Arts Work: sustainable strategies for the Australian visual arts and craft sector aims to strengthen the industry’s ecosystem. In a context where artists’ incomes are low and falling, commercial galleries are financially vulnerable, and public galleries face funding challenges, this project aims to address barriers to the sector’s economic health and the challenge of improving artists’ and arts workers’ incomes.
VAW have recently launched a 2024 survey for visual or craft artists or arts workers living in Australia. The survey is a follow up to the 2022 iteration, and is designed to enable Visual Arts Work to compare results over time. Previous data has been used to provide evidence to the Fair Work Modern Awards Review, and has been published in academic journals and The Conversation.

NAVA are also currently running a survey, with early insights showing that pay, working conditions, cost of living and freedom of expression remain key concerns for this workforce.

​Learn more and complete the survey here

The Minister for Training and Workforce Development has today announced the 41 finalists in the running for the WA Training Awards 2024.  

The WA Training Awards recognise and celebrate excellence in the State's vocational training sector, with 31 individuals recognised across eight award categories, and 10 organisations competing in four categories.   

This year the WA Training Awards received a record number of submissions - building on last year's record ­- with industry judges commending the standard of applications as 'outstanding'.

For more information visit: www.dtwd.wa.gov.au/watrainingawards/winners-and-finalists 
Minister McGurk's full media statement may be accessed here

Creative Industries think tank A New Approach (ANA) have released a new report exploring international best practice examples of cultural diplomacy to ask what Australia can do to shift its global arts and culture standing. Pathways to Becoming a Cultural Powerhouse takes a deep dive into case studies of South Korea, France, and Brazil, examining policy commitments, reporting techniques, and impact planning.

Pathways to Becoming a Cultural Powerhouse may be accessed here.

Following the announcement of Brendan O'Çonnor retiring at the next federal election, Andrew Giles has moved from the immigration portfolio to the Federal Minister for Skills and Training.
More information about this portfolio can be found here.

The world-renowned French theatrical and pyrotechnics company, Group F, who have produced heart-stopping firework shows at landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, will deliver an explosive event at Perth’s second annual EverNow Festival. Favourites from last year including Boorna Waanginy: The Trees Speak and Song Circle will return in 2024.
EverNow attracted about 100,000 people  last year and is a free multi-sensory festival that celebrates WA’s biodiversity and Indigenous culture.
EverNow will take place at the same time as the World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit in Perth, providing the hundreds of global leaders who will be in WA an opportunity to experience the event.
The Trees Speak will be held at Kings Park and  Song Circle and the light show will be held at Burswood Park. The festival runs from October 3 to 6.

​More information about the festival can be found here.

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) have released the VET in Schools 2023 report, which shows a significant increase in uptake of formal vocational training by Australia's secondary students. Enrolments increased 4% year-on-year, with the most popular training packages being Tourism, Travel and Hospitality; Business Services; and Retail Services. In 2023, about a quarter of Australian school students aged 15 to 19 participated in VET in Schools.

The NCVER Vet in Schools 2023 report may be accessed here.