Essential Screen Skills

18/05/2026

We are deeply saddened by the news of Bobbi-Lea Dionysius’ passing and honour the legacy she leaves behind. She was a valued friend and supporter of ESS, whose work and advocacy have made a lasting impact on our community and the screen industry more broadly.

In 2023, we had the privilege of working together to bring Sorella’s Story to teachers through a keynote and screening at the ATOM Queensland National Conference. In 2024, we partnered again to host a panel at St Rita’s College, highlighting careers in the Creative Industries with a focus on pathways for women.

Through her role as WIFT Queensland Chair and as an Impact Producer, Bobbi-Lea was a tireless advocate for women in the screen industry. We frequently shared conversations about supporting women’s careers, bridging the gap between education and industry, championing regional initiatives, and creating space and platforms for voices that need to be heard. Her passion, generosity, and vision will continue to inspire and guide this work into the future.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and the wider screen community.

08/05/2026

Honoured to be recognised by our peers as a finalist for Best Collaboration with Creative Youth sponsored by M4M Agency at the Creative Brisbane Collab Awards. A wonderful night celebrating the incredible work of Brisbane's Creatives.

Wonderful to put a spotlight on our Brisbane Film Intensive Script to Screen project delivered in partnership with Screen Queensland , Kolperi Outback Filmmaking and ScreenWell proudly supported and funded by Department of Trade, Employment and Training Skills for Queensland .

06/05/2026

Calling all High School Students!

We are thrilled to partner with Bond University Film & Television Academy to deliver the Future Filmmakers Conference.

Cost: $5 per person
Date: Friday 5th June
Location: Bond University
You can expect BUFTA focused presentations and Screen Industry presentations - we are pleased to announce that the McFarlane Brothers will be presenting as part of 1 of the breakout sessions.
Tickets:

An exclusive industry experience for aspiring filmmakers.

23/04/2026

We ended last term with Teacher Professional Development on the Sunshine Coast. A big thank you to Good Shepherd Lutheran College GSLC FTVNM for being our venue host!
Teachers engaged in hands-on workshops building skills from location sound recording to post-production sound editing.

We are very lucky to have Award-Winning Screen Sound Practitioner Tfer Newsome ASSG bring her knowledge, skills and wisdom to classrooms to help the next generation of filmmakers make sure that 50% of their films are sounding excellent!

"This was an excellent PD with Essential Screen Skills and Tfer Newsome that equipped me with a plethora with of skills, knowledge and hacks about editing sound on Adobe Premiere Pro. It was a very valuable experience to learn from an industry professional". (Teacher A. Hasthorpe)

"Tfer and Moneth were wonderful at the Professional Development Day. Even though I am not as experienced at editing and sound as some of my colleagues are, I learnt a lot. They were both so patient and helpful. This has increased my confidence in these areas Would recommend them for incursions or PD days!" - Brett Foster, Experienced Senior Teacher, Brisbane School of Distance Education.

Essential Screen Skills delivers the Screen and Media Gateway to Industry School Program, proudly supported and funded by the Queensland Government and Essential Crew.



Queensland Department of Education Skills for Queensland

20/03/2026

On Monday we shared Screen and Creative Industries career and pathway insights at Experience Gold Coast's Careers Networking Alliance event. It was great to be given the opportunity to present and speak to 30+ Career Influencers ranging from Industry Liaison Officers, Careers Counsellors, Guidance Officers, Heads of Department and Teachers from both High School and Tertiary sectors.
This event also included highlighting the many opportunities for Screen, Creative and Cultural Development programs for residents of Gold Coast City Council as well as the economic impact the Screen and Creative Industries bring to both the Gold Coast and the State. A highlight was the behind-the-scenes tours of the Home of the Arts showcasing the many initiatives for traineeship placements, volunteer roles and opportunities.

Essential Screen Skills delivers the Screen and Media Gateway to Industry School Program, proudly supported and funded by the Queensland Government and Essential Crew.

11/03/2026

Industry Development alert!
Wonderful to be at Foundation Screen and Media Gateway School Indooroopilly State High School last week for a Full Day Industry Sound workshop with our amazing Screen Practitioner Tfer Newsome ASSG and Assistant Soundie Thomas Liu.
Students and teachers accessed hands on practical sound recording and post-production technical skills.
Big thanks to Senior Film Teacher and Gateway Coordinator Trevor Norman!
Essential Screen Skills delivers the Screen and Media Gateway to Industry School Program, proudly supported and funded by the Queensland Government and Essential Crew.
Skills for Queensland

03/03/2026

Earlier this year Screen and Media Gateway Schools Mount Gravatt State High School and Yeronga State High School staff met at Screen Queensland Hemmant Studio to discuss how Certificate II Creative Industries and Certificate III Screen and Media programs are implemented at their schools.
The meeting included a tour of the Hemmant studios, workshops and Bazmark's Elvis bus!

Thanks to Mark Melrose Head of Studios and Industry Pathways Screen QLD and Karen Graham Essential Screen Skills Industry Jobs and Skills Advisor for Screen, Media and The Arts.

We look forward to hosting another roundtable with more Gateway Schools later in the year.

Essential Screen Skills delivers the Screen and Media Gateway to Industry School Program, proudly supported and funded by the Queensland Government and Essential Crew.
Skills for Queensland

21/02/2026

Wonderful to have St Thomas More College, Sunnybank on board and we’ve already hit the ground running with Teacher Professional Development.

STMC OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES AS A SCREEN & MEDIA GATEWAY TO INDUSTRY SCHOOL | We are excited to announce that St Thomas More College is now a Screen and Media Gateway to Industry School, partnering with Essential Screen Skills (ESS) to open extraordinary opportunities for our students in Queensland’s rapidly expanding screen and media landscape! 🚀📺🌟

Through this partnership, our students will be connecting with industry professionals, engaging in real‑world learning, and developing the skills that power Queensland’s future screen workforce. From hands‑on workshops to industry‑aligned experiences, this collaboration positions our young people at the forefront of one of the state’s most dynamic and creative industries. 🤩🎬

💡GROWING THE NEXT 'HOLLYWOOD' 💡
👉 The Screen and Media Gateway to Industry Schools project strengthens partnerships between industry, government, schools, and communities to build Queensland’s future screen and media workforce.
👉The screen and media industry makes a growing economic and cultural contribution to Queensland — and ensuring a pipeline of skilled future workers is vital to its ongoing success.
👉 Queensland’s Advance Queensland Screen Industry 10‑Year Roadmap outlines a bold vision for the state to be a globally recognised leader in screen production and creativity.

We’ll be sharing highlights of our students’ creative journeys, hands‑on experiences, stories from workshops, and behind‑the‑scenes action as we grow our presence in the screen and media space!

St Thomas More College is a Screen and Media Gateway to Industry School. Essential Screen Skills delivers the Screen and Media Gateway to Industry Schools program which is proudly supported and funded by the Queensland Government and Essential Crew.

| Skills for Queensland Essential Screen Skills Brisbane Catholic Education

17/02/2026

ATTN: Teacher Professional Development on the Sunshine Coast.
Gateway and ATOM Q members check your email and ATOM Q forum for discount codes.

Essential Screen Skills is excited to kick off our Technical Skills Teacher Professional Development on the Sunshine Coast!

13/02/2026

This time last week we hosted our first ever Screen and Media Gateway Study Tour which included Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Festival, Warner Bros. Movie World - Gold Coast, Australia Education Day, we hosted a special screening of Kangaroo with a video intro from critically acclaimed Director Kate Woods and of course our major annual AACTA Netflix Screen Careers Expo presented by Essential Screen Skills event. It was wonderful to have Springfield Central State High School, Highfields State Secondary College, Brisbane State High School, Mount Gravatt State High School, Somerset College and King's Pimpama for our Friday events either for the Movie World Education Day or Kangaroo Screening or both.

We are proud to have hosted over 80 students, teachers and parents on Friday who gained insights into the Screen Industry and celebrated Australian Cinema.
A big thank you to the AACTA, Studio Canal, Kate Woods and Warner Bros. Movie World.

Essential Screen Skills delivers the Screen and Media Gateway to Industry School Program, proudly supported and funded by the Queensland Government and Essential Crew. Skills for Queensland