First Nations filmmakers get Network 10 mentorship, broadcast CSAs

Four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander filmmakers have launched their screen industry careers through a structured partnership between Screen Queensland and Network 10, delivering four community service announcements set to reach viewers during National Reconciliation Week.

The initiative paired a four-week paid production placement with a six-month mentorship program — a dual-track approach designed to build both technical skills and industry relationships. Wiradjuri woman Kellie Baxter, Bundjalung woman Gretta Ada O'Sullivan, and Torres Strait Islanders Abraham Mantey and Sio Tusa each wrote, produced and directed one community service announcement, handling the full creative pipeline from concept through delivery.

The four pieces tackle distinct thematic areas: language and storytelling, wildlife, cultural sites and rock art. Rather than working in a studio, production teams travelled to shooting locations across Queensland — Hervey Bay, K'gari/Fraser Island (Butchulla Country), the Bunya Mountains (Wakka Wakka, Jarowair and Barrumgum Country) and Far North Queensland (Djabugay Country). This geographical spread required coordination with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers, embedding the productions within land management and cultural frameworks.

Dr Belinda Burns, acting CEO of Screen Queensland, described the program as a cornerstone of the agency's commitment to nurturing First Nations filmmakers. "In making these moving and authentic spots, the four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners were enabled to gain the practical skills, expert guidance and credits essential to launching long-term screen industry careers," Burns said.

The structure of the opportunity is deliberate. Participants were not simply hired as production assistants; instead, they held primary creative authority, making decisions across writing, production and direction. The four-week placement provided immersion within a professional production environment, while the subsequent six-month mentorship sustained engagement with Network 10 executives, allowing participants to deepen technical knowledge and build lasting industry contacts.

Daniel Monaghan, senior vice president of programming and content at Paramount Australia and New Zealand (Network 10's parent company), positioned the partnership as integral to the network's reconciliation commitments. "Allowing the recipients to be immersed in a professional production, and work alongside established and skilled crew to produce their own content, is a unique experience that adds to their practical understanding of the industry, including physical production, development, technical direction, and teamwork," Monaghan said.

The announcements stream immediately on 10 Play and broadcast on Network 10 across metro Queensland from Saturday. For the four filmmakers, the public release represents a milestone moment: the conclusion of a structured career-pathway program and the start of an industry presence backed by broadcast credits, mentorship relationships, and demonstrated creative output.