Impact Producer Program – Work Placement (8 months)

Documentary Australia is pleased to announce that the 2025 Documentary Australia Impact Producer Program is now open for new applications. The program will commence in March 2025 and will be based in Sydney.

Documentary Australia will offer this opportunity to two professionals interested in moving into impact producing for documentaries. Find out more about last year’s program here

What is an impact producer?

The role of an impact producer is multifaceted and varies from project to project. An impact producer may be responsible for designing social impact strategies, fundraising, and implementing campaign activities that utilise documentaries as a tool for social change. There is increasing demand for impact producers in the Australian documentary sector as films forge new distribution pathways to reach diverse audiences and create social change through strategic film impact campaigns.

About Documentary Australia

Documentary Australia is Australia’s only not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the funding, impact, and outreach of social impact documentaries. We are committed to capacity building in the sector. Through the Impact Producer Program, we aim to share the knowledge we have gained over the past 15 years to support professionals transitioning into this sought-after career.

About the opportunity

Under the guidance of Documentary Australia’s impact team, participants will work on documentary impact campaigns and gain hands-on experience researching issues, implementing and coordinating campaign activities, growing partnerships, and evaluating impact campaigns for documentary films.

Participants will also gain knowledge in impact producing and participate in formal learning modules and industry masterclasses across key areas such as impact strategy, film distribution, communications and campaigning, fundraising, implementation, and evaluation.

Participants who complete the program satisfactorily will receive a letter of completion. Participants are anticipated to have the necessary skill set to work in the sector (at an impact coordinator level).

Employment status

This is a paid work placement opportunity, and successful applicants will be employed three days a week at Documentary Australia from March – Nov 2025. Participants will enter into an agreement with Documentary Australia that outlines expectations for participation in and completion of the program.

Remuneration

The remuneration for this placement is $395 per day plus superannuation. Documentary Australia employs the applicant for 3 days a week. 29 weeks are paid across the 8-month (35-week) period, with school holidays and breaks unpaid for 6 weeks across the year. The applicant will be responsible for additional costs and expenses.

Role

Program participants will be embedded in the Documentary Australia impact department, working on a variety of tasks, including:

• Implementing and supporting impact campaigns for documentary films.
• Conducting desk research on social issues
• Contributing to and supporting impact strategies using mapping tools (such as Theory of Change).
• Identifying fundraising opportunities and contributing to writing proposals
• Identifying and developing partnerships, creating and maintaining spreadsheets and databases, and conducting outreach.
• Creating campaign communications, including newsletters, website copy and outreach emails
• Coordinating and managing screenings and events for different audiences and stakeholders as part of campaign activities.
• Evaluating and measuring campaigns and campaigns reporting on activities.

Skills development

Program participants will also access a variety of skills development and learning opportunities, including:

• Learning modules include understanding the documentary industry landscape and international impact landscape, distribution and audience pathways, developing impact strategies, impact activities, education programs, implementation, budgeting, fundraising, communications, and evaluation.
• Active learning activities and case studies to develop skills and knowledge.
• Industry masterclasses with industry professionals.
• Mentorship from Documentary Australia team members, including Dr Mitzi Goldman (CEO and documentary filmmaker), Lucy Corrigan (Impact and Evaluation Director), Sharlene Dadd (Partnerships and Development Director), Stephanie King (Impact Director, documentary filmmaker) and Lisa Kanani (Impact Director), Lisa Sherrard (CFO) Lisa Sherrard (CFO) as well as additional strategists.

Program Eligibility

• Applicants must be Australian residents based in Sydney, NSW or able to relocate to Sydney for the program.
• Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Australia.
• Participants must be available and able to commit for the duration of the program, starting in March 2025 and concluding in November 2025, working on-site in Paddington 3 days per week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays during this time.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Key skills and experience sought

Essential

• A passion for contributing to positive social and environmental change.
• At least three years’ experience working in a relevant field, e.g., documentary, social advocacy, policy, community development and engagement, fundraising, not-for-profit, media, communications, or campaigning.
• Exceptional communication skills, including experience creating compelling written copy for various communications channels, outreach emails, and newsletters.
• Excellent project management skills, with a capacity to manage competing demands.
• Flexible team player with strong interpersonal skills and comfortable working in a fast-paced and highly collaborative environment.
• Experience in implementing and managing Excel databases, and competent with a range of software including Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Canva, Mailchimp and social media platforms.

Desirable

• An interest or experience in documentary storytelling, impact production or campaigning.
• Fundraising experience
• Partnership experience, including researching and developing new partnerships.
• Communications or marketing experience.