WHAT‘S HAPPENING
News & Events
A message from the CEO
21 July 2021
Dear Screen Sector Colleagues,
As South Australia comes to the end of its first full day of lockdown in 2021, I wanted to reach out to you all with an SAFC agency and sector update.
We recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a public health challenge, and that the current statewide lockdown is an important step to ensure the health and safety of all South Australians.
We also appreciate that these restrictions present significant challenges for the whole community, and understand they will have impacts for the broader screen sector also.
As always, the SAFC’s main focus continues to be ensuring the support and safety of the South Australian screen industry and its practitioners.
SAFC Reception is closed during this period of lockdown, however the SAFC remains operational and we continue to administer programs as normal, with all staff working from home. SAFC staff are still contactable as normal via phone and email for any enquiries you might have. For a list of direct staff contacts, click here.
The SAFC understands that the lockdown restrictions will have an impact on local screen businesses and practitioners, and will endeavour to do what we can to assist. We invite impacted businesses and practitioners to engage with us at any time via email at [email protected].
Businesses should also be aware that the SA Government today announced a new Business Support Package, offering emergency cash grants of $3,000 to eligible small and medium sized businesses suffering a significant loss of income or that have been forced to close as a result of the seven-day lockdown.
Also announced today by the SA Government are income support payments of up to $600 per week for eligible workers in regional SA, who live or work outside of Commonwealth-declared “hotspot” local government areas. These new payments will support workers who are not eligible for the the Federal Government’s COVID-19 Disaster Payment scheme, which provides payments of $375 and $600 per week for eligible workers in “hotspot” areas.
For more information about these financial assistance programs, including eligibility guidelines and how to apply, click here.
The SAFC and the wider South Australian screen sector have already successfully navigated pandemic lockdowns throughout the last 12 months. As we continue to work with SA Health and the SA Government on best practice response, we are confident we can work through this new and evolving set of challenges to return stronger and safer on the other side once again.
In the meantime, I encourage all sector members to regularly monitor the SA Government COVID-19 website for updates: covid-19.sa.gov.au/response
Kate Croser
Chief Executive Officer
South Australian Film Corporation