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SA creative Michèle Saint-Yves selected for Screen Australia Access Coordinator Training Program
31 October 2023
South Australian screen and theatre creative Michèle Saint-Yves is one of twelve participants announced today by Screen Australia for the Access Coordinator Training program. Delivered by UK inclusion consultancy Bridge06, the program is supported by the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC), the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC), Screen Canberra, Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, Screen Tasmania, Screen Territory, Screenwest, VicScreen and the Australian Film Television Radio School (AFTRS).
Launched in July 2023, the Access Coordinator Training Program aims to provide additional support to implement Access Coordinators on film and television productions. Becoming more standardised worldwide, the Access Coordinator role works to bring necessary expertise and experience in facilitating required adjustments and access provisions for Deaf/Disabled or Neurodivergent (DDN) talent in front of and behind the camera – playing a vital role in increasing the inclusion of DDN talent and crew in the screen industry.
Michèle Saint-Yves primarily writes for performance – stage, screen and poetry – and has directed and produced plays, social impact documentaries and short films. Her ground-breaking access-embedded, neurodivergent and dementia friendly play Clock for No Time won the SA RUBY AWARD 2022 for “Outstanding Work: Collaboration”. Saint-Yves has been selected for multiple screen industry development initiatives such as with Matchbox Pictures, AFTRS Talent Camp, Mercury CX Springboard Plus, many in partnership with the South Australian Film Corporation. Recently her screen projects have been shortlisted for Adelaide Festival Film Lab, Mercury CX Quicksilver grant and SBS-SAFC Full Tilt initiative.
This week she joins eleven other participants from Australia and New Zealand are taking part in a five-day immersive training program at AFTRS, where they will receive best practice training from world leading experts. Participants will undertake a variety of activities to learn how an Access Coordinator supports a production and learn risk mitigation techniques. The participants will then have the opportunity to put into practice their new skills on the set of Play School at the ABC, where they will assess the set and production offices for accessibility.
Screen Australia’s Head of Industry Development, Ken Crouch said, “It is fantastic to welcome this talented and experienced cohort of participants on the ground in Sydney, as they gain the knowledge, tools and best practice techniques required for becoming an Access Coordinator. I am excited for this group from both Australia and New Zealand to help facilitate the necessary change to bridge the gap in the screen industry, and so we can better accommodate the DDN community on our film and television sets. I look forward to seeing the hard work of the participants pay off and helping our industry become more inclusive for all.”
Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) CEO Annie Murray said, “The participants selected to take part in the Access Coordinator training program are extremely talented screen practitioners who will play a vital role in increasing and sustaining disability representation in our screen industries. The NZFC looks forward to supporting the New Zealand cohort as they help support the Aotearoa screen sector in becoming more inclusive and accessible for our deaf, disabled and neurodivergent talent in front of and behind the camera. I can’t wait to see the impact this will have on our filmmakers and stories to come.”
Bridge06 founder/course facilitator Sara Johnson and seasoned Access Coordinator Julie Fernandez said, “Our creative industries play a significant part in reflecting and shaping our societies, and they can only do that if we have inclusive and representative practitioners working together to tell the best stories for screens of all sizes. We are delighted to be working with Screen Australia and NZFC to bring the power and importance of the Access Coordinator role to this production sector, as we continue to collaborate with partners across the globe.”
Read about the other participants on the Screen Australia website.
INFORMATION WEBINAR
Anyone interested in learning more about the Access Coordinator role and the training program are encouraged to attend a information webinar hosted by Screen Australia. The webinar will be led by Bridge06 founder and course facilitator Sara Johnson. The session will cover specific details about the role and its genesis, how it works on the ground and offers insight into existing barriers, and how the role of the Access Coordinator can provide the necessary solutions to guide the sector to become more inclusive and confident in providing access for people with disabilities.
- Date: Thursday 2 November 2023
- Time: 3 – 4:30pm AEDT
- Accessibility: An Auslan interpreter will be available for the webinar. If you would like to discuss this or other accessibility requirements, please contact [email protected]
- A recording of this session will be made available on the Screen Australia website afterwards.