For detailed information please refer to Interactive Digital Media: Where to Get Money, Information, Advice. This free online publication provides an overview of government assistance programs plus information on relevant industry organisations in the Australian digital, new media and multimedia industry.

Australian Government funding

The Australian Film Commission (AFC) is the Australian Government's agency for supporting the development of film, television and interactive digital media projects and their creators. The AFC has been active in new media since 1991 and is one of the main federal funding agencies for the development of the creative use of interactive digital media in Australia. It does this through funding projects (Project Development), providing opportunities for public access (Industry and Cultural Development), promoting interactive digital media products (Marketing) and financing innovative broadband content (Broadband Production Initiative). Guidelines for all AFC initiatives are available here.

The Australia Council New Media Arts Fund at www.ozco.gov.au/newmediaarts supports work that is interdisciplinary. While there is no requirement for new media projects to incorporate new technologies and formats (eg computers, CD-ROM, internet), many funded projects do include new technology because artists use it as a medium through which different disciplines can be brought together. Separate new media research and development grants offer individuals and organisations the opportunity to creatively investigate, research and/or develop a single work.

Cooperative Multimedia Centres (CMCs) are joint ventures between commercial and university partners and were established to answer the challenge of creating a dynamic Australian multimedia
industry through research, education and provision of specialist services to the industry. The CMCs are:

• Emerge CMC at www.emerge.com.au is an internet-focused Australian technology company specialising in three sectors: health, technology and innovation. Emerge now has several subsidiary companies including min (multimedia internet network), ADI (Australian Distributed Incubator) and Med-E-Serv.
• IMAGO Multimedia Arts at www.imago.com.au is a public company that has been providing internet and multimedia products and services since 1994. In addition to providing services to corporate and government clients, Imago also provides a range of consulting, technical and design services to museums and public attractions, internet service providers, marketing and advertising agencies.
• QANTM at www.qantm.com.au is a private new media education training and production company. It offers nationally endorsed training programs in animation, games, graphic design, eBusiness, 2D and 3D design, multimedia, information technology, internet and web construction. QANTM Studio specialises in the production of eLearning courseware, eBusiness enabled web applications, CD-ROM product design, multimedia presentation design, digital marketing products and online games.
• Impart Corporation Pty Ltd at www.impart.com.au is one of Australia's leading integrators of enterprise online learning solutions. Its focus is to help clients in the private and public sectors effectively use technology within their overall learning strategy. Impart offers a range of blended learning content, software and services.
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Emerging Australian producers of digital content for film, television and the internet received a major boost through the National Digital Access Initiative (NDAI), a capital grant to Australian state screen development and resource organisations (below) to establish state-of-the-art digital production units, including the latest DVD computer hardware and software, digital video cameras and sound recording equipment. NDAI received contributions from Apple Computers Australia, Canon, Sennheiser and La Cie with further support from the AFC:

• The Film and Television Institute at www.fti.asn.au has a Centre for Interactive Game Design and Traditional and Digital Puppetry that aims to skill next generation industrial, defence, educational and commercial simulators in the fields of interactive games, simulations and puppetry. It is expected that the teams that create them will commercially develop some of these interactive
  game projects.
• The Media Resource Centre at www.mrc.org.au has a Digital Media Suite that operates facilities for the practice of digital media and cross-media projects, and provides opportunities via various subsidy initiatives to develop emerging talent. Schemes include new media residencies, curator-in-residence, and several production-related programs that aim to promote cross-media projects.
• Metro Screen at www.metroscreen.com.au has Digital Salon Meetings that are open to all digital media artists working or experimenting with interactive media, VJing, non-linear filmmaking, DVD, electronic music and projection arts.
• OPENChannel at www.openchannel.org.au offers new media projects that include online learning resources for multimedia practitioners in various aspects of effective business operation.
  ImageBIZ at www.openchannel.org.au/imagebiz is an OPENChannel initiative that provides a wealth of ideas and resources for independent practitioners in filmmaking, new media and hybrid processes, who want to understand the professional opportunities made available through new technologies.
• QPIX at www.qpix.org.au/mediaspace.html has MediaSpace, a digital media laboratory dedicated to fostering creative work from Queensland artists in the field of digital media. Practitioners from film, visual arts, dance, music, theatre, writing and other disciplines including the sciences are encouraged to collaborate on hybrid artform projects.

Other screen resource organisations and colleges offer courses and act as digital media training and support centres:

• Lake Tuggeranong College in the ACT hosts the Regional Multimedia Skill Centre. The centre offers interactive multimedia courses, a number of which are accepted at tertiary institutions. It is
  also a venue for multimedia training for institutions in the ACT and region, and has equipment for budding film producers working in the digital domain.

For more information on courses in this area check university and TAFE directories.


State funding

• Arts Queensland at www.arts.qld.gov.au distributes funding through its programs of assistance, and applicants may include digital media projects in their submissions.
• Arts Victoria at www.arts.vic.gov.au is the government body responsible for implementing arts policy, and developing the arts and cultural industries across Victoria.
• Film Victoria Digital Media Fund at www.film.vic.gov.au/DMF manages programs and initiatives ranging from animation concept development and FX internships to game content development.
• New South Wales Film and Television Office at www.fto.nsw.gov.au established the Digital Visual FX Scheme in 1998 to provide on-the-job skills development opportunities in the digital FX industry. Training is offered in a wide array of digital FX skills including 3D modelling and animation, compositing, design and FX production.
• Screen Tasmania at www.screen.tas.gov.au administers funds for the creative content, development and production of film, television and multimedia projects in Tasmania.
• ScreenWest at www.screenwest.com.au supports new media projects and will look at crossover projects that fit within their funding guidelines.
• South Australian Film Corporation at www.safilm.com.au has digital media programs that offer a range of support from initial project development to internships for experienced practitioners who want to move to a higher level in their professions.

Industry networks

• Australian Interactive Multimedia Industry Association (AIMIA) at www.aimia.com.au advises government on industry needs, resulting in the creation of programs to stimulate supply and demand for interactive multimedia in Australia.
• Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT) at www.anat.org.au is Australia's peak network and advocacy body for artists working with science and technology. ANAT offers a range of nationwide professional development initiatives for emerging and established artists and curators. Creating opportunities for artists to promote and display their work, ANAT organises special events and supports exhibition development.
• Digital Labourers' Federation (DLF) at www.dlf.org.au is a non-profit social group that acts as a contact point for people working in the digital arts industry. Most members work in the television and film industries, however anybody involved in the creation of digital media is welcome. Meetings are held in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane.
• dLux media arts at www.dlux.org.au is an association that encourages the development and critical discussion of innovative film, video, new media and sound arts by emerging and established artists in Australia, and actively promotes and exhibits this work to diverse audiences nationally and internationally.
• Experimenta at www.experimenta.org presents innovative exhibitions and events in new media arts, film, video, sound and performance. Featuring the work of emerging and established artists, Experimenta screenings, installations and performances are held in cinemas and galleries, online and in a variety of less conventional exhibition contexts. Experimenta publishes an online journal, MESH, that explores critical issues and theoretical frameworks for new media arts. Forums and other discussion-based events are regularly coordinated by Experimenta.
• Synapse Database at www.synapse.net.au has been developed by ANAT to provide an online resource for the ongoing development of art and science collaborations. It is a major component of the Australia Council''s New Media Arts Board Synapse Art and Science Initiative and provides information on artists, projects, scientists and organisations.