“It’s hard not to be inspired.” Amber Scates counts down to AFTRS Open Day 2026

Amber Scates in the hosting chair for AFTRS Show Radio

Performance artist. Singer. Songwriter. Contestant on The Voice.

Amber Scates is many things – but being an AFTRS student has been one of her most rewarding pursuits to date.

And now, she’s got another big project on the go: planning a vox-pop-style video to capture all the colour of AFTRS Open Day on Saturday, August 8^th.

Amber, who’s studying for the AFTRS Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting, says “Today we’re getting together – myself and a couple of students from the other programs – to shine a light on the experience of Open Day and make a little piece that people can watch later.”

“We’ll be talking to people, running around, capturing what everyone’s getting up to.”

Amber will never forget the day she first clapped eyes on the facilities at AFTRS.

“When I first got there, oh my gosh, I got shivers,” she says. “I was so excited.”

“There’s the big AFTRS sign which has got the lights on it – you feel like you’re really in it, living the Australian Film, Television and Radio School lifestyle.”

“It’s such an awesome campus. I find it’s quite a social environment.”

Open Day is an access-all-areas opportunity for people to tour the campus first-hand and find out everything they need to know about the Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production course, Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting and the Master of Arts Screen: Business.

Starting from the foyer, campus tours will run approximately every 15 minutes.

Any and all questions are welcomed. The goal: to provide clear, practical answers so that those interested in studying at AFTRS – be it in person or online – can confidently plan their next steps.

This year, for the first time, live tours will be available via Instagram and TikTok, spearheaded by GDRP graduate Lachlan A’Court.

For Amber – who featured in AFTRS Show Radio earlier this year (see above video) – packing up her life in Melbourne and moving to Sydney to study at AFTRS was a no-brainer.

“Getting accepted into AFTRS was like getting the golden ticket,” she says.

“It’s been incredible. The lecturers are so experienced. Coming into it, you immediately step into this world of the radio and podcasting industry. It’s so immersive.”

“From the first day in, I was like, ‘This is the place to be!’”

For those thinking about studying at AFTRS – whether it be online or in person – Amber highly recommends registering for Open Day.

“This is a place where you’ll be surrounded with so many passions like yours.”

“It’s hard not to be inspired every day when you walk in.”

AFTRS Open Day 2026 will be held at from 9.30am to 3.30pm at The Australian Film, Television and Radio School at Sydney’s Moore Park on Saturday, August 8th. Register here.

Image credits: AFTRS, Flore Vallery-Radot, Facebook, Instagram and MOUK. MEDIA