Support the rollout of Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan
Expressions of Interest are now open to join the Implementation Advisory Group for Equity.
Expression of Interest—Implementation Advisory Group for Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan
Are you a d/Deaf or disabled artist or arts worker interested in providing advice to guide the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities under Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan (the Plan)?
This Expression of Interest (EOI) invites people with disability who have experience in the arts, screen, digital games or cultural sectors to apply for paid roles as part of the Plan's Implementation Advisory Group (the Advisory Group).
More information about this opportunity is included in the EOI Form linked below.
Easy Read and Auslan versions of the EOI can also be found further down this page.
This EOI will close at 4:00 pm AEST on Monday 5 May 2025. We look forward to receiving your application!
Who should apply?
We are looking for people who have:
- lived experience as a person with disability in the arts, screen, digital games and / or cultural sectors
- experience working in, or engaging with, the Australian arts, screen, digital games and / or cultural sectors (including as an artist or arts worker, at any stage of your career)
- an awareness of arts and disability policy, including an understanding of the Plan's priorities.
There are two types of Advisory Group roles: Regular Members and Observer Members. When you are completing your application, you can choose which suits you and your level of experience best.
Regular Members will help design actions and activities to make the arts, screen, digital games and cultural sectors more accessible. This is an opportunity for people who want to share their own experiences and who have a passion for creating opportunities for people with disability.
Observer Members will gain experience in how an advisory group works with government, increasing their knowledge and skills. This is an opportunity for people who want to help make change but may not have as much experience in arts and disability advocacy.
What will the Advisory Group do?
Over the life of the Plan, the Advisory Group will:
- shape how we implement the Plan's actions and commitments
- contribute to how we monitor and report on the Plan'sactivities
- help make arts grants more accessible, including how they are assessed
- provide expertise on issues affecting people with disability.
The Advisory Group will also advise on Priority Actions under the plan. In the first year, these are to:
- design the Plan's evaluation framework
- inform the design of a new grant program, the Arts and Screen Employment Pathways Pilot.
- consult with Creative Australia, Screen Australia and Creative Workplaces to develop new best-practice accessibility guidance with a National Arts and Disability Code of Practice or Guidelines.
How to Apply
The information we need to consider your application is in the EOI Form linked below.
You can apply in several ways:
- Download the EOI Form complete the application questions, and send it as an attachment to Arts.Disability@arts.gov.au. It must be under 12 MB.
- Record your responses to the application questions in the EOI Form as an audio or video file (up to 15 minutes). If you would like to apply in this way please email us at Arts.Disability@arts.gov.au for more information on how to upload the files.
- By phone on 1800 080 090—an Office for the Arts (OFTA) staff member will note your responses to the application questions in the EOI Form and confirm them with you. The phone line is open Monday to Friday during business hours (9—5 AEDT / AEST), until the EOI closes.
- By printing the EOI Form, completing the application questions and returning the completed form by mail addressed to:
Access, Participation and Inclusion Section
Office for the Arts
GPO Box 594
Canberra ACT 2601
Please contact us by email to Arts.Disability@arts.gov.au or phone on 1800 080 090 if you have any accessibility needs during the application process.
You must send in your Completed EOI Form by 4:00pm AEST, on Monday 5 May 2025.
What happens next:
All applications will be assessed based mainly on responses to the three 'Suitability Questions' in the EOI Form.
After you submit your application:
- It will be reviewed by a panel of independent experts, including d/Deaf and disabled artists and arts workers.
- Staff from OFTA, Creative Australia and Screen Australia will shortlist applications, considering advice of the independent experts' panel.
- Shortlisted candidates may be invited to attend a short online interview or conversation.
- Staff from OFTA, Creative Australia and Screen Australia will identify potential group members that represent a balance of location, demographics, interest and experience.
- OFTA Senior Executive Staff will review and approve appointments of Advisory Group Members.
- OFTA will contact all applicants to advise the outcome of their application. Unfortunately, we will not be able to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.
Accessible Materials—Easy Read and Auslan
Easy Read
Please use the link below to access an Easy Read version of the EOI Form:
EOI Implementation Advisory Group for Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan
EOI Implementation Advisory Group: Application Questions
Contact us
If you have accessibility needs, any questions about the Advisory Group, or the EOI, you or your representative are welcome to contact us to discuss how we can help you.
You can:
- Use our contact form
- Email— Arts.Disability@arts.gov.au,
- Call—1800 080 090, or
- Write to us at:
Access, Participation and Inclusion Section
Office for the Arts
GPO Box 594
Canberra ACT 2601
We will aim to respond to your email within 3 business days and/or answer your call during normal business hours. You can also leave a message with your contact information so an OFTA staff member can get back to you via phone or email.
FAQs
Why do you need to know about my disability?
The purpose of the Advisory Group is to co-design activities that provide more opportunities for people with disability. We know how important it is for people with disability to give advice about policy that affects them. This is why Advisory Group member positions are reserved for people with disability. The 'Demographic information' section of the EOI form asks you to tell us whether you identify as a person with disability or who is d/Deaf. This will help us ensure the implementation of activities under the Plan are shaped by people with disability or who are d/Deaf. If you have any concerns and would like to talk to us about this, please contact us by emailing Arts.Disability@arts.gov.au or phoning 1800 080 090.
What information do you need to know about my disability?
To help us consider applications, one of the 'Suitability Questions' in the EOI Form asks you to tell us about your experiences as a d/Deaf and/or disabled artist or arts worker. Please note you are not required to tell us specific details about your disability, diagnoses or health conditions to apply for the Advisory Group. We encourage you to only include the details that you are comfortable providing.
The 'Demographic Information' section of the EOI Form also asks some other questions about your lived experience that are optional for you to answer. This includes a question seeking further details about your disability, if you are comfortable providing this. If you choose to respond, this information will help us make sure that Advisory Group members include people with different experiences of disability. Please note you can submit your EOI Form without completing this section, so please only answer these questions if you are comfortable doing so.
What information do I need to apply?
The EOI Form asks a range of questions about you and your experience in the arts, screen and cultural sectors. These questions are designed to help us decide who should be a part of the Advisory Group. We are looking to include people who have different backgrounds and experiences with disability in the arts, screen and cultural sectors. Please read the instructions carefully and only provide the information we've asked for.
What type of experience do I need to have to be considered for the Advisory Group?
When completing your Application Form, we encourage you to think about how your experience and skills would help the Advisory Group give advice to Government on arts and disability issues. We are looking for people who have lived experience with disability, as well as experience in at least one area of the arts, screen or cultural sectors. The 'Artform Expertise' question in the EOI Form includes examples of these areas. Prior experience in co-design, community or advocacy groups is excellent, but not necessary.
What if I am having difficulties accessing or submitting the EOI?
If you have any issues with the EOI Form, please contact us as soon as possible by emailing Arts.Disability@arts.gov.au or phoning 1800 080 090.
What if my details change or I make a mistake on the EOI?
If your details change or you make a mistake and would like to update your responses you can contact us at Arts.Disability@arts.gov.au or by phoning 1800 080 090.
How will I know my EOI has been received?
We will let you know we have received your EOI by email or text, using the contact details you provide. Please note this may take several business days depending on how many applications we receive. We thank you for your patience.
How will you handle my information?
As part of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (the Department), we have responsibilities for how we handle your information.
The Privacy Collection Notice in the EOI Form also gives more specific information on how we will handle your information.
Are these paid roles?
Yes, Advisory Group member roles are paid roles. Payment rates will include meeting and preparation time and will depend on the length of the meeting. For example, under the current payment rates Regular Members of the Advisory Group would initially be paid $278.40 to prepare for, and attend a 2-hour meeting.
You can find more information about remuneration for Advisory Group members on page 3 of the Expression of Interest document.
Can I still apply for arts and/or screen grants while I am a member of the Advisory Group?
Yes, you can. Being on the Advisory Group will not prevent a member being able to apply for, or receive, any other arts and/or screen grants from the Office for the Arts, Creative Australia or Screen Australia.
However, Advisory Group members may not be eligible to apply for opportunities under the Plan where a conflict of interest could happen. An example of this would be if the member is involved in designing the Arts and Screen Employment Pathways Pilot, but also planning to apply for a work placement under the program.
Please note: More information on the issue of conflicts of interest will be provided to successful applicants before they accept a role on the Advisory Group. You can also find more information in the Expression of Interest document.
Is there a word limit for my responses in the Application form?
Yes. While most questions in the application form require a tick box answer, questions 1, 2 and 3 in the Suitability section each have a limit of 'up to 450' words for your response.
Whether you respond by text or in another format, please do not exceed this word limit. Additional material beyond the word limit may not be considered during the review process.
Advertising material image credits:
1 and 2: Photos by Jeff Busby. Courtesy of Back to Back Theatre.
3: Photo by Raphael Recht. Courtesy of Arts Access Victoria.
4: Photo by Greg Holland. Courtesy of Arts Access Victoria.
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Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan
The Australian Government is committed to equity and equitable access to the arts for artists, screen practitioners, arts workers and audiences with disability. The Plan is a call for representation and disability equity to be championed across Government and the wider arts, screen and cultural sectors, and will help deliver outcomes under Australia’s Disability Strategy.
Artists and arts workers with disability, with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, assisted the Government in developing the Plan. They expressed the view that many people with disability in the arts and cultural sector prefer to use identity-first language to describe themselves.
To reflect and respect this feedback, and in line with our approach in the Plan, we use identity-first language on this webpage and other communications about the Plan when referring to d/Deaf and disabled artists and arts workers, and person-first language when talking about disability for audiences and people in the wider community.
People with disability have made, and are continuing to make, outstanding contributions to the arts, screen and cultural sectors. Centering their voices and experiences in both the development, and implementation of the Plan is critical to its success.
Between November 2023 and January 2024 the Office for the Arts convened a diverse group of practising d/Deaf and disabled artists and arts workers from across Australia to participate in six disability-led and facilitated co-design workshops to develop the framework for the Plan; its priority action areas; and practical investment options for delivery. The group of artists and arts workers, including First Nations representatives, had a breadth of experience across the arts, screen and digital games sectors.
Learn more about some of the members of the Co-Design Working Group.
Information on the previous National Arts and Disability Strategy, including a link to submissions to the 2018 public consultation and Research Overview, can be accessed via the National Arts and Disability Strategy page link on Trove.
Accessing Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan
You can access Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan by clicking on the links below.
1. Equity: Acknowledgement of Country
2. Equity: Acknowledgement of People with Disability
3. Equity: The Language of Disability
4. Minister of the Arts Foreword
5. Equity: How the Plan was developed
6. Equity: Executive Summary
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