Record number of Indigenous Graduates for AFTRS in 2019

Staff Writer
Image: AFTRS head of Indigenous Kyas Sherriff, graduates Grant Maling, Marissa McDowell, Angela Bates, Rebekah Hatfield, Shontell Ketchell, and Maggie Whitehouse

The Australian Film, Television & Radio School (AFTRS) is celebrating a record number of Indigenous graduates this year.

Three years on from the establishment of AFTRS Indigenous, the school sees twelve students graduate for 2019.

Six have graduated from full-time degree courses, with Alex Hancock, Timothy Miller, Angela Bates, Marissa McDowell and Jerome Comisari have graduated from screen, business and leadership courses, while Grant Maling was awarded a Graduate Diploma in Radio.

Meantime, six other students have graduated from discipline-specific degree courses. These were Shontell Leah Ketchell, Micha Barlett, Joel Rasmussen, Maggie Whitehouse, Rebekah Hatfield and Irma Woods.

Established in 2016 AFTRS Indigenous was established to find, develop and support talented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to study across the School and to create pathways for these students to enter the Australian screen and broadcast industry in every creative role so it better reflects the diversity of Australian society.

“AFTRS is dedicated to finding and supporting the next generation of content creators and we are extremely proud to have twelve Indigenous graduates this year across a range of courses and disciplines,” said AFTRS Head of Indigenous Kyas Sherriff.

“These students graduate with the skills and knowledge to confidently enter the screen and broadcast industries or move to a more senior role. We congratulate this year’s graduates for their achievements and look forward to seeing their impact on this country’s national voice and the world stage in years to come.”

“Creating new pathways into the School so Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can study at AFTRS and take their stories to the world is extremely important to us,”

Several graduates have already secured opportunities within their chosen industries.

“Creating new pathways into the School so Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can study at AFTRS and take their stories to the world is extremely important to us,” says AFTRS chief executive Neil Peplow.

“The School is built on first nation land, and I hope that Australian culture can be built on first nation foundations too.”

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