NINE FURTHER SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED
The Australian Film Television & Radio School (AFTRS) has announced the establishment of two new scholarships – in partnership with The HOYTS Group and with the Dylan Alcott Foundation (DAF) – to support students from under-represented groups in the Australian film and broadcast sectors to study at the School.
AFTRS has also announced the recipients of nine merit-based scholarships, also in partnership with industry leaders, previously established to assist students from diverse backgrounds and under-represented groups to attend AFTRS.
AFTRS works with its partners to offer over 35 scholarships each year that prioritise access and equity, so that the most talented creatives across Australia can access AFTRS’ world-leading creative education.
The HOYTS Group, in partnership with AFTRS, is committed to assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples overcome the barriers to education and fulfil their creative dreams and goals. The HOYTS Group First Nations Scholarship will cover the full tuition fee for the standard three-year Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production course (valued at $50,544 in 2025) plus a $2,000 travel bursary for the recipient and their family to cover the cost of travel to Sydney to attend the First Nations Graduation and Graduation.
Jodi Paton, The HOYTS Group Chief People Officer, said: “The HOYTS Group launched its first Reconciliation Plan in 2024. Now we are very proud to support First Nations students studying a Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production through The HOYTS Group First Nations Scholarship. This partnership with AFTRS recognises our shared values in bringing the very fabric of Australian storytelling to life, and the role of ensuring a First Nations narrative remains central to the arts.”
The Dylan Alcott Foundation (DAF) Scholarship aims to break down barriers to education and empower aspiring filmmakers with a disability to achieve their creative dreams. Delivered in partnership with AFTRS, this opportunity for young Australians living with a disability offers one recipient full tuition for the standard three-year Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production course at AFTRS. Valued at $50,544 in 2025, this scholarship will remove a significant financial hurdle and allow a talented student to focus on their studies and hone their filmmaking skills.
Dylan Alcott said: “We are deeply passionate about the transformative power of education and the importance of creating opportunities for young Australians with disability to pursue their creative passions. This scholarship, in partnership with AFTRS, can help shatter barriers in the film industry and empower a new wave of storytellers who can create a more representative and impactful screen culture.”
The successful applicants for both scholarships will be selected based on creative excellence and the impact that the scholarship would have on their education.
“We’re so grateful to The HOYTS Group, Dylan Alcott and the team at DAF for their generosity. These scholarships are a critical way for us to support talent with a range of lived experiences to come and study with us,” said Dr. Nell Greenwood, CEO at AFTRS. “And these scholarship recipients will go onto create the work that will allow all Australians to see themselves and the full, rich range of life experiences represented on screen.”
AFTRS also announced today the recipients of a First Nations merit scholarship, supported by the Kenneth Myer Fellowship Trust, the ARN Radio and Podcasting Scholarship, the CRA Regional Radio Scholarship, the Glenn Daniel Smooth FM Scholarship supported by NOVA Entertainment, the Glenn Wheatley EON Innovation Scholarship supported by Oceania Capital Partners and GSL Media, the Craft Excellence Scholarship, the Onbass Giant Steps Scholarship, and the Women in Cinematography Scholarship sponsored by SONY.
These students are joined by the inaugural AFTRS Alumni & Industry Fund Scholarship recipient, Sarah Chahine, who was announced earlier this year.
Luke Hodge, a recipient of one of AFTRS’ First Nations Scholarships, supported by the Kenneth Myer Fellowship Trust, said: “Receiving this scholarship is an incredible honour that fuels my passion for storytelling and amplifies my voice as a First Nations Creative. It represents an opportunity to not only pursue my academic and professional goals but also to share the rich and powerful narratives of my community with the world. My aspirations are to continue growing as a producer, creating impactful multi-platform stories that resonate with diverse audiences. I am deeply grateful to the Kenneth Myer Fellowship Trust for believing in my potential and supporting the next generation of storytellers.”
CRA Regional Radio Scholarship recipient Jennifer Spiker said: “The CRA Regional Radio Scholarship is an incredible help to me as I upskill and make my way back into the radio industry. From Alice, to Toowoomba, to Perth and many places in between, I have lived in the city, large regional towns and small towns. I love that I am able to live in a regional area and have started to work remotely. I am excited that I can now fulfil a desire to study with AFTRS and I’m grateful to receive this scholarship.”
Glenn Daniel Smooth FM Scholarship recipient Ella Carter said: “I am filled with endless gratitude, exhilaration and pride! To receive the Glenn Daniel Smooth FM Scholarship is such an honour and I could not be more excited to attend AFTRS in 2024. With the help of this Scholarship, I am able to take the leap from New Zealand to Australia and pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a radio host. I hope to share stories, touch hearts and ignite smiles. I will forever be thankful to AFTRS and the team at Smooth FM for this incredible opportunity. Like Mr Daniel, I want to be kind, generous, humble and honest in my craft.”
Glenn Wheatley EON Innovation Scholarship recipient Margaret (Maggie) Videan said: “I am delighted to be the recipient of the Glenn Wheatley EON Innovation Scholarship. More than providing financial assistance, which is of course incredibly helpful, it has given me a heightened faith in myself and galvanised my aspirations as a broadcaster. It has validated the potential I may have in my voice, my narrative and my purpose. This Scholarship also opens up a myriad of opportunities, offering me access to unparalleled resources, mentorship and a community of like-minded creatives. Further, I see this as a unique platform to inspire other women to be aspirational, to be bold, to be tenacious and embrace change through the sharing of stories.”
ARN Radio and Podcasting Scholarship recipient Rachael Bourke: “Being awarded this Scholarship is a testament to the power of passion and determination. I am truly grateful to ARN and AFTRS for the opportunity to amplify my voice, create meaningful stories and inspire others. I look forward to finding my niche in this industry.”
Craft Excellence Scholarship recipient Sarah Whyte said: “I would sincerely like to thank AFTRS for the 2024 Craft Excellence Scholarship. Receiving this scholarship provides me with an amazing opportunity to further advance my cinematography career and learn from some incredible industry professionals.”
Onbass Giant Steps Scholarship recipient Tin Win Hlaing said: “From teaching myself as a kid to now, this Scholarship is a turning point in my filmmaking journey. With it, I can dive deeper into learning. Despite being in the industry for a decade, my passion for filmmaking only grows stronger. This support fuels my determination to chase my dreams. To Onbass and the Gentle Giant Media Group, I’m filled with gratitude and promise to seize this opportunity with all my heart, turning dreams into cinematic reality.”
The Women in Cinematography Scholarship sponsored by SONY had two recipients. Melika Azimi said: “I am sincerely grateful to Sony and AFTRS for awarding me this generous scholarship. My time at AFTRS has cultivated a profound love for the art within me, and with this opportunity I hope to dedicate my time to developing more projects alongside other talented filmmakers. I am confident that my passion for cinematography will not only open opportunities for me within the industry, but also provide a unique perspective for crafting visually powerful and informed films as a writer-director. I hope that this inspires other women to pursue what they love despite any cultural or societal pressures.”
Kiera D’Arcy said: “I am so honoured and grateful to receive this scholarship. It is an amazing achievement for me, as well as a huge confidence boost. This scholarship has proved to me that my hard work and love for this craft is paying off. My future goals are to stay loving this craft and make my solo journey to London, to hopefully be able to pursue this love as a career. I’m excited to be able to bring this achievement into my final year of the BA and really spend the time to focus on cinematography in the classes and projects. I can’t say thank you enough for this scholarship. It means the world to me.”
Applications for AFTRS 2025 award courses, including the Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, are now open. To learn more about how to apply for the variety of scholarships on offer at AFTRS, including The HOYTS Group First Nations Scholarship and the Dylan Alcott Foundation Scholarship, please visit:
