Sustainability Supervisor Training A Game-Changer for Australian Film and TV Industry
Empowering the next generation of climate change leaders in film and TV with Sustainability Supervisor Training
A groundbreaking program run by Sustainable Screens Australia to empower the next generation of climate change leaders in film and TV is underway with changemakers from diverse parts of the industry taking part.
The program has uncovered key insights into sustainability practices on set such as energy conservation and waste management, and wider topics such as systems change principles and managing difficult conversations.
The national Sustainability Supervisor Training program, the first of its kind in Australia, was co-designed with the Australian screen industry based on a Welsh pilot program delivered in 2024. Our program has been adapted for the local context, such as focusing on First Nations storytelling.
The Executive Director of SSA, Maree Cochrane, says: “We're incredibly lucky to have so much collective wisdom to draw from in our first cohort. Our participants come from all corners of Australia, bringing diverse cultural views and expertise across production genres and departments.”
The “long-form” immersive program, funded by Netflix Australia and Screen Australia, began in April with an in-person retreat, followed by six online classes delivered by experts from sustainability and production. The participants are now taking their learnings to an eight-week paid production placement, followed by a final in person retreat in August.
Chosen from a field of 40 across Australia, the participants include: Marissa McDowell (ACT First Nations documentary maker and ex commissioning editor from SBS NITV), Kiri Wharepouri (QLD Māori production manager and costume supervisor), Brendan Madden (VIC rigging gaffer), Jacqueline de Freitas Leal (NSW production manager and supervisor from Latin America) and Kylie Clifford (WA art director and costume designer who lives on a 70-hectare regenerative farm in Margaret River).
“I believe the Australian film and TV industry is ready to start moving towards net zero targets. and in the longer term, dedicated sustainability teams as standard practice. This training is a defining first step.”
While sustainability is already embedded in some parts of the screen industry, training the next generation of sustainability leaders will offer consistency and “uplift” all.
“The program requires participants to have head-of-department-level roles so they have the best chance of enabling culture, behaviour and systems change in sustainability throughout all stages of production,” says Maree, who anticipates the program marking a change in pace to sustainability commitments within the industry.
“I believe the Australian film and TV industry is ready to start moving towards net zero targets. and in the longer term, dedicated sustainability teams as standard practice. This training is a defining first step.”
Delve into some of the fascinating insights offered by our sustainability and production experts during the program here.
