Accessible Acting Program : 20 week

Our Program

Sydney Accessible Acting Program 2025 applications are open now. Click here to apply.

Brisbane coming soon! Click here to express your interest.

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The Accessible Acting Program was developed through a collaboration between award winning inclusive filmmaking organisation Bus Stop Films and Actors Centre Australia. This 20-week acting program for adults with disability has been co-designed with leading industry professionals and actors, including those with disability.

As a participant, you will have the ability and avenue to share your own stories that represent your life. We believe that through this program you can act to educate and encourage understanding from the wider public while also changing industry perceptions and show the true power of authentic representation.

Through the program you will gain the following outcomes:

Improved fundamental acting skills
Building a foundation and pathway for further study
Increasing employment opportunities and career prospects in the entertainment industry
Increase your self-confidence
Build and develop friendships and connections to like-minded individuals
Build your communication and listening skills
Improved social and community participation
Memorisation, comprehension, and literacy skills
Independence and problem-solving skills

NDIS

Click here for NDIS Support letter.

Actors Centre Australia is not an NDIS provider, however we allow participants to pay for the program using their NDIS. Whilst this program is designed to provide you with skills, ACA cannot guarantee employment outcomes.

Your final performance

As part of your participation in the program you will work with your fellow actors and industry professionals to create a filmed self tape for your showreel and participate in an end of program live performance.

The final live performance will be at the conclusion of the 20-week program.

Applications

Open now!

2025 Sydney Intake

8 April 2025 - 2 September 2025 (Tuesday Nights, 6:30-9:30pm)

Duration

20 Weeks

Location

Actors Centre Australia, Glebe NSW

Tuition Fees

$5,900 (inc GST)

Overview

This 20-week program has been co-designed with leading industry professionals and actors, including those with disability. As a participant you will have the ability and avenue to share your own stories that represent your life. We believe that through this program you can act to educate and encourage understanding from the wider public while also changing industry perceptions and show the true power of authentic representation

Through the program you will gain the following outcomes:

Improved fundamental acting skills
Building a foundation and pathway for further study
Increasing employment opportunities and career prospects in the entertainment industry
Increase your self-confidence
Build and develop friendships and connections to like-minded individuals
Build your communication and listening skills
Improved social and community participation
Memorisation, comprehension, and literacy skills
Independence and problem-solving skills

Your final performance

The final live performance will be at the conclusion of the 20-week program.

Whilst this program is designed to provide you with the skills ACA cannot guarantee employment outcomes.

Qualifications / Prerequisites

Participants with these qualities should apply:

a passion and belief in the power of performance
a commitment to modern contemporary training
a belief in a rigorous, respectful environment
a deep curiosity and passion about your artistic calling
excitement to learn

Applicants need:

A high level of interest in the performing arts
Applicants must be 17 years or older at course commencement

Delivery

ACA’s Accessible Acting Program has been been co-designed with leading industry professionals and actors, including those with disability.

The Philosophy:
Through this program you can act to educate and encourage understanding from the wider public while also changing industry perceptions and show the true power of authentic representation.

The Structure: A structured program that covers all aspects of film and theatre acting

Weeks 1-3: Acting Exercises and Theatre Games: Exercises and theatre games are used to explore and begin working on the fundamentals of acting. Connection, Listening, improvisation, focus, commitment, voice, and physicality
Weeks 4-5: Scene Work: A/B scenes or generic scenes begin the process of learning the importance of information in a scene. It puts the focus not on ‘what’ is being said but ‘why’ it is being said.
Weeks 6-10: Acting on Camera: participants will explore how to bring a performance “down”, so it is appropriate for film while still being full of life and energy.
Weeks 11-12: Film Self Tapes: Each participant will film a one-two minute self-tape scene.
Weeks 13-20: Theatre Scene Rehearsal: Participants will rehearse two hand theatre scenes, preparing for the week 25 live performance.
Week 20: Final Performance: The live performance will consist of each participant performing their live theatre scene as well as a screening of their self-tape.

The Delivery: The way we learn has an effect on what we learn. Our program uses learning techniques that open up possibilities within each actor and salute the very best in each individual. The course is split into 5 Sections + live performance. The program runs a total of 20-week duration with a 2 week break after week 12.

NDIS Information

Actors Centre Australia is not an NDIS provider however we allow participants to pay for the program using their NDIS.

Click here for NDIS Support letter.

The Accessible Acting Program is a centre-based Community Arts initiative for people (17 years+) with mild to moderate intellectual disability and/or autism, but it is not limited to this cohort. Our centre-based community performing arts program with community participation offers participants an acting experience through their Social, Community and Civic activities, skill development in capacity building domains or employment pathways funding within their NDIS plan.

Actors Centre Australia is not an NDIS registered provider, but we allow participants to pay for the program using their NDIS. The participants are required to be self-managed, or plan managed.

Enrolment in the program is for the full 20-week program, however, we allow payment to be made on a per five-week payment term basis. All payments must be made within 30 days of receipt of invoice or incur a 2% late fee per day. While the classrooms are supported by Support Workers, participants who require specific support such as Auslan Interpreters, Live Captioning, one-on- one support, etc. will need to fund these through their own NDIS packages.

We encourage you to consider what funding category is best suited to your NDIS budget and goals.

Potential line items you can claim for the Accessible Acting Program are:

04_103_0136_6_1 Group Activities – Standard – Weekday Evening
04_103_0125_6_1 Access Community Social and Rec Activ – Standard – Weekday Evening
10_016_0102_5_3 Employment Assistance
09_009_0117_6_3 Skill development and training
09_006_0106_6_3 Life Transition Planning Incl. Mentoring Peer support

The above line items are a guide as it will ultimately depend on your NDIS goals and how the program aligns with those goals.

Culture / Commitment / Employment Outcomes

ACA’s mission statement is:

“To enliven the soul of society through the power of the performing arts.”

ACA was built upon the belief in the transformational capacity of performance, the enrichment of the human experience and of each person’s true potential realised through performing arts education.

We believe everyone has natural talent and untapped potential. To us, inspiration is the key to transformation, and we encourage everyone to go beyond their expectations and excel.

ACA provides a rigorous, vibrant, high challenge/high support environment, where everyone is encouraged class by class to support themselves and each other 100% so real achievement is possible within every opportunity.

Our Commitment:

A 20-week world class acting course delivered by industry professionals with real industry connections + guest experts directing performance and self tapes
Our world-class industry professionals are as passionate about the art of teaching as they are about the art of acting. Participants are encouraged, supported and challenged to continually move beyond their perceived limits.
Each of the industry professionals will inspire a continual sense of wonder about the power of the performing arts. Anyone looking to develop their acting, self-expression or performance skills will find ACA’s vibrant environment exciting and stimulating.
2 x Support Workers in the classroom + Administration of your enrolment and program
Final theatre production of scene work performed for industry agents + Self tape provided to be used for industry agent opportunities

This is the time and opportunity to take you further than you might have thought possible through focused, integrated and intensive learning, matched with powerful and sustained onstage and onscreen performance experiences.

Employment Outcomes

Whilst this program is designed to provide you with the skills, ACA cannot guarantee employment outcomes.

You will conclude your program with more:

Improved fundamental acting skills
Building a foundation and pathway for further study
Increasing employment opportunities and career prospects in the entertainment industry
Increase your self-confidence
Build and develop friendships and connections to like-minded individuals
Build your communication and listening skills
Improved social and community participation
Memorisation, comprehension, and literacy skills
Independence and problem-solving skills

Industry Professionals

The Sydney program will be led by Troy Harrison.

Application

To apply for ACA’s Accessible Acting Program please complete the application form on our website

Application process:

Proceed to the application form on our website.
Complete the online form (incomplete application forms will not be accepted). If you need assistance please email Zuzana Zichova (info@actorscentreaustralia.com.au) or call us.
Pay your $300 application fee
Include a digital headshot, passport photo or similar so we know what you look like
You will be emailed a confirmation letter approx 5 working days of your submission

Program Fees and Payment Structure

$5,900.00 (inc GST)

The full fee of the course is $5600 + a $300 admin fee. The course fee can be paid in full up front or for those paying via NDIS we provide invoices in four instalments, every five weeks, as per the below structure.

Click here for NDIS support letter.

Payment for the course can be made in instalments:

$300 to be paid upon enrolment
$1,400 at week 5 of the course.
$1,400 at week 10 of the course.
$1,400 at week 15 of the course.
$1,400 at week 20 of the course and prior to final performance

If you wish to discuss alternate payment instalments, please email info@actorscentreaustralia.com.au and attention your email to Zuzana Zichova

Participants who enrol and are accepted into the program are enrolled for the full 20-week program and are liable for the fees.
Actors Centre Australia is not an NDIS provider however we allow participants to pay for the program using their NDIS.
Invoices are provided at five-week intervals requiring payment to continue the course. Payment options are available. Direct debit is available.
Please refer to our terms and conditions for more information