Program Coordinator, Arts and Screen Employment Pathways Pilot Program

 

Arts and Screen Employment Pathways Pilot Program  

Position description — 14 October 2026

Are you a d/Deaf and/or Disabled arts, cultural, screen or digital games worker with strong coordination skills?
Diversity Arts Australia is recruiting a Program Coordinator for a major national employment pathways program. Help shape accessible, culturally safer paid placements for d/Deaf and Disabled artists and arts workers, working alongside a Disability-led and intersectional Consortium.

About the Position

The Program Coordinator will coordinate the day-to-day running of the Program, shaping its delivery in collaboration with the Consortium and supported by its members. The role will help lead and embed Disability-led practice across the Program, and coordinate training delivery (Disability Justice, Creative Equity and First Nations Cultural Safety training) and access facilitation.

This is an identified position for d/Deaf and/or Disabled people (see Definitions). Direct lived experience of Disability is essential. We encourage applications from First Nations people and people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and/or Culturally and Racially Marginalised backgrounds who identify as d/Deaf and/or Disabled.

The filling of this position is intended to constitute a special measure under section 45 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth). The position is therefore only open to d/Deaf and Disabled applicants.

 

About the Arts and Screen Employment Pathways Pilot Program 

The $2.2 million Arts and Screen Employment Pathways Pilot Program (the Program) runs over three years (2025–26 to 2027–28). It is funded through Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan, the Australian Government’s four-year, $8.1 million plan to build equity for artists, arts workers and audiences with disability across Australia. 

The Program will connect early to mid-career d/Deaf and Disabled artists and arts workers (see Definitions), including those facing multiple and intersecting barriers, with arts, cultural, screen and digital games organisations through a supported matching process. Around 20 participants will take up paid placements of up to 12 months across Australia, in two cohorts commencing April and June 2027. 

The objectives of the Program are:

• to support d/Deaf and Disabled artists and workers in the arts, cultural, screen and digital games sectors to build professional skills and networks to advance their careers
• to support arts, cultural, screen and digital games host organisations to become more accessible, equitable, and culturally safe
• to collect feedback on the impact of temporary job placements in the arts, cultural, screen and digital games sectors for d/Deaf and Disabled people, and for the host organisations. 
• to provide an evidence base for future Australian Government policy development.

About the Consortium

Following a competitive grant process, a Consortium managed by Diversity Arts Australia (DARTS) and comprising Insightful, A2K Media and Shifting Ground was selected to deliver the program. The University of Technology Sydney is the Program’s research partner. DARTS is the national voice for ethno-cultural and racial equity in the arts, cultural and creative industries, working intersectionally and in partnership to deliver research, training, resources, events, creative projects and professional development.

The Consortium brings expertise in Disability-led, First Nations and culturally diverse creative practice, workplace access facilitation, cultural safety, training and mentoring, arts and anti-discrimination policy, equitable employment and organisational change. Collectively, we have decades of experience working with d/Deaf and Disabled, First Nations, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, Culturally and Racially Marginalised, Queer, Trans and Intersex, Black, Indigenous and People of Colour communities and organisations.

In consultation with the Office for the Arts, the Consortium oversees the Program and supports the Program Coordinator, participants and host organisations across recruitment, selection, placement planning, delivery, data collection, grant reporting and evaluation, with a shared focus on culturally safer and more accessible placements.

Insightful
www.linkedin.com/in/imogen-yang-a39113106/

A2K Media
www.a2kmedia.com.au

Shifting Ground 
www.shiftingground.com.au

Key responsibilities and delivery timeline:

 

Project Coordination

• Maintain project actions, milestones, records and key documentation; coordinate relevant Consortium activity; and support delivery against agreed timelines.
• Timeframe: Ongoing

Host organisation recruitment

• Coordinate national recruitment and selection of around 20 diverse host organisations, including in
  regional and remote areas, with targeted outreach to Disability-led, First Nations-led and culturally and racially marginalised/Culturally and Linguistically Diverse-led organisations. Recruitment will already be underway when the Program Coordinator commences.
• Timeframe: October to December 2026

Accessibility and cultural safety audits

• Coordinate accessibility and cultural safety audit processes for selected host organisations using
  designated tools provided by the Consortium.
• Timeframe: December 2026 to February 2027

Training coordination

• Coordinate Disability Justice, Creative Equity and First Nations Cultural Safety training for host
  organisation teams and participants, delivered largely by Consortium members.
• Timeframe: By April 2027

Host organisation induction

• Coordinate host organisation agreements, onboarding and induction before placements commence.
• Timeframe: By April 2027

Participant recruitment

• Coordinate an accessible national recruitment and selection process for around 20 participants, including accessible application formats, arranging Disability-led interviews and coordinating panels that include Consortium members with direct lived experience of Disability.
• Timeframe: By April 2027

Placement planning

• Work with participants, host organisations and Consortium members to shape and arrange meaningful placements that reflect participants' career goals, interests and access requirements, and the opportunities each host organisation can offer.
• Timeframe: By April 2027

Placement support

• Provide ongoing access support and advocacy throughout placements, including check-ins, cluster mentoring and a confidential, accessible process for raising concerns. Act as the first point of contact for access issues and complaints, escalating to the DARTS CEO where needed

  Timeframe: Throughout placements

Accessibility facilitation

• Work with participants and host organisations to identify access requirements and disabling barriers, and coordinate supports, including participant inductions and access riders with Insightful. Liaise with JobAccess, participants and host organisations to plan and implement Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) provisions.
• Timeframe: From early 2027

Communities of Practice

• Coordinate the Participant Community of Practice every two months and the host organisation Community of Practice quarterly.

• Timeframe: From mid-2027

Payments coordination

• Oversee quarterly wage payments to host organisations, administered by DARTS finance.
• Timeframe: Quarterly, once placements begin

Data and reporting

• Collect placement and outcomes feedback, support monitoring and evaluation, and contribute to reporting to the Office for the Arts. Create accessible ways for participants to give feedback that shapes continuous improvement and future Program design.
• Timeframe: Ongoing

 

Selection criteria

Essential

1. You identify as d/Deaf and/or Disabled. This is an identified position for people with direct lived experience of Disability.
2. Coordination or project management experience in the arts, cultural, screen or digital games sectors, including managing multiple workstreams and deadlines using appropriate systems, supports and workplace adjustments as needed. 
3. Experience working with d/Deaf and Disabled artists, arts workers or communities, or within Disability-led practice. 
4. Effective, respectful and responsive communication skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships with participants, host organisations, Consortium partners and government stakeholders, using a diverse range of appropriate communication methods and supports. 
5. Demonstrated experience in identifying and addressing disabling barriers and facilitating access for people with diverse access requirements across different workplace contexts, including practical understanding of accessibility and workplace adjustments. 
6. Ability to work in culturally safer and respectful ways with First Nations and culturally and racially marginalised participants. 
7. Ability to maintain records, collate placement and outcomes feedback, and contribute to monitoring, evaluation and reporting to the Office for the Arts. 
8. Sound judgement and ethical practice, including handling sensitive and confidential information (such as access requirements, workplace adjustments, complaints and participant wellbeing) and identifying, responding to and escalating access, placement, wellbeing or stakeholder issues in a timely and appropriate way. 

Desirable

• Experience with employment, placement or traineeship programs, particularly for d/Deaf and Disabled people.
• Experience and understanding of working in intersectional contexts, including where Disability intersects with race, culture, gender, sexuality, age, religion and other identities.
• Mentoring or training coordination experience.
• Experience with government grant reporting.
• Experience accessing the Australian Government Job Access Employment Assistance Fund. 

Pre-employment requirements: The successful applicant must obtain a National Police Records Check, Working with Vulnerable People Check, and a Working with Children Check.

Terms

Title
Program Coordinator, Arts and Screen Employment Pathways Pilot Program

Hours
3 days per week (0.6 FTE)

Contract Length
18 month contract

Key dates
Applications close: 5pm Sydney time, Wednesday 4 November 2026
Shortlisting: 5–9 November 2026
Expected interviews: Week of 16 November 2026
Expected commencement: From 1 December 2026

Salary
Based on 3 days per week: $54,000 salary plus $6,480 superannuation ($60,480 total package). This is based on a full-time equivalent salary of $90,000 plus 12% superannuation. We offer Portable Long Service Leave for employees.

Reports to
Chief Executive Officer, Diversity Arts Australia

Location
Diversity Arts Australia is based in Parramatta, and the Program operates nationally. Some interstate travel is required. Where travel creates access barriers, alternative arrangements will be put in place.

Job share
Job share arrangements will be considered, including where this supports an applicant’s access requirements.

Support
Onboarding and mentoring support will be provided to the successful applicant. We will also support any required workplace adjustments, including through the Employment Assistance Fund.

 

How to apply

Please email jobs@diversityarts.org.au:

• Your CV; and
• A cover letter (no more than 3 pages) or an accessible format addressing the essential selection criteria and telling us why the role interests you and what you would bring to it.
• Accessible Formats: Applications are welcome in written, video, audio or other accessible formats. If applying by video or audio, please keep your response to around 5 minutes.

You do not need to respond to each criterion in a separate section, but your application should give us enough information to understand how your experience, skills and lived experience relate to the role.

If you would like an adjustment at any stage of the application or interview process (such as to the format, timing, communication method or access support), or need support to submit your application, please contact Madlen at jobs@diversityarts.org.au or on 0404 389 581. This is also the contact for any questions about the role.

To talk with us through the National Relay Service (NRS), email or call and we will contact you via the NRS.

The Arts and Screen Employment Pathways Pilot Program is an Australian Government initiative funded through Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan.

 

DEFINITIONS:

Early to mid-career refers to people who are ready to apply for and develop their skills through a paid placement, including those entering, re-entering or rebuilding a career in the creative industries, in any art form or creative practice area and at any position level.  Career stage is not defined by age, years of experience or traditional milestones, recognising that disability and other structural barriers can affect people’s career pathways and progression. 

d/Deaf and Disabled people and People with Disability include (but are not restricted to) those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. This can include psychosocial disability, neurodivergence and chronic health conditions that result in significant physical, social and economic participation barriers. The term ‘d/Deaf’ includes all people with hearing loss or who are hard of hearing. They may or may not identify as Disabled. Members of the ‘uppercase D’ Deaf community often identify as having a distinct language (Auslan) and culture. Disability can also be visible or non-visible. 

Disability-led practice means work shaped, led, and informed by d/Deaf and Disabled people, with meaningful decision-making power over the design, delivery, and evaluation of a piece of work. It goes beyond consultation by ensuring that people with lived experience have genuine leadership and influence throughout a process.

Culturally and Racially Marginalised (CaRM) refers to people and communities who are negatively racialised and experience systemic barriers because of their race and culture.

Intersectionality recognises that people may experience multiple and overlapping barriers or forms of discrimination based on different aspects of their identity, and that these can interact to deepen inequity. For example, a d/Deaf or Disabled person may also experience racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism or discrimination related to culture, language or religion. 

 

Frequently asked questions

Has the closing date changed?

Yes. Applications now close at 5pm Sydney time on Wednesday 4 November 2026, for everyone. We cannot offer individual extensions, but if you need support or an adjustment to apply by then, please contact Madlen at jobs@diversityarts.org.au or on 0404 389 581.

Who can apply?

This is an identified position for d/Deaf and/or Disabled people. You do not need to provide us with evidence or details beyond your access requests. Please let us know in your application that you identify as d/Deaf and/or Disabled. 

Do I have to live in Sydney?

The role is based at DARTS’ Parramatta office, Sydney, where we prefer the Coordinator to work to ensure they are well supported. However, we welcome and will consider applications from across Australia and will consider contract arrangements for candidates based interstate. Please indicate your location in your application.

How many days are in the office? Can I work from home?

We’d like the Coordinator to spend more time in the office during the initial set-up and induction phase, moving to around 1–2 days per week after that. Flexible working arrangements, including working from home, can be negotiated based on individual access requirements.

Is a job share possible?

Job share arrangements will be considered, including where this supports an applicant’s access requirements. 

What are the hours, pay and contract?

Three days a week (0.6 FTE), on an 18-month contract, from 1 December 2026. The salary is $54,000 plus $6,480 superannuation, $60,480 in total. We offer portable long service leave.

Is there travel?

Some interstate travel is required. Where travel creates access barriers, we will put alternative arrangements in place.

How do I apply? Do I need to address each criterion separately?

Email your CV and a cover letter of up to three pages, or another accessible format, to jobs@diversityarts.org.au. Tell us how you meet the essential selection criteria; you do not need a separate heading for each one. Video, audio and other formats are welcome. Please keep a video or audio response to around five minutes. 

What adjustments can I ask for?

Any adjustment you need, at any stage of the application or interview process, and we will do our very best to accommodate it. Contact Madlen at jobs@diversityarts.org.au or on 0404 389 581 to talk it through.

What happens after I apply?

We will acknowledge receipt of your application before applications close. Shortlisting will take place from 5–9 November, with interviews scheduled for the week commencing 16 November. We will let all applicants know the outcome of their application.

What checks are needed?

The successful applicant’s employment will be subject to  a National Police Check, a Working with Vulnerable People Check, and a Working with Children Check. 

Who can I talk to?

Madlen, at jobs@diversityarts.org.au or on 0404 389 581. You can also contact us through the National Relay Service by email or phone, and we will contact you via the NRS.