What can I do with my TAFE qualification?

Design, Film and TV

Please note: the information contained in this document was current as of January 2011 Refer to www.swinburne.edu.au/courses/ for the most recent updates. Refer to the School of Design Film and TV website www.tafe.swinburne.edu.au/design/ for further information and a list of the courses offered in this area.

Designers and illustrators can obtain employment in a variety of industries. Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators are employed across several industries including: Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; Information Media and Telecommunications; Manufacturing; and Education and Training. Over the five years to May 2010, employment increased by 9.2% to 44 000 (compared to growth of 10.9% for all occupations). The rapidly expanding world of digital and electronic communication continues to open up new and varied opportunities for designers, illustrators and students interested in pursuing a career in film and television.

The Arts and Recreation Services industry is a relatively small industry in the Australian economy, employing 193 600 people (or 1.8 per cent of the total workforce) as at February 2010. In the five years to February 2010, employment in Arts and Recreation Services increased by 27 500 (or 16.6 per cent) to 193 600. Job prospects for Artistic Directors, Media Producers & Presenters are average. Over the five years to May 2010 employment increased by 12.8% to 13 000 (compared to growth of 10.9% for all occupations). A high proportion of workers (77.9%) are employed full-time. Employment for Artistic Directors, Media Producers & Presenters to 2014-15 is expected to decline (-1.2% per annum).

For further market and industry information relating to your discipline, please refer to:

The Design and Graphic Design courses prepare graduates for work in the graphic design industry. Career opportunities exist within advertising agencies and the graphic design and finished art studios which service them. Graphic Design and Illustration graduates work within a variety of environments, including graphic design studios, advertising agencies, publishing houses, education and government institutions, large private companies that have in-house design facilities, public relations firms, printing firms, architecture firms, interior design and industrial design companies, television, film and multimedia production agencies as well as freelance designers. Graphic and web designers currently have good job prospects, with very strong growth expected in this sector over the next five years.

Graduates of Screen and Media courses (incorporating Screen and Media with its integrated Journalism stream or a course in Interactive Digital Media) may gain employment in the film and television industry. Integrating Journalism will equip graduates with the skills to work as a journalist within radio, TV or online, writing online articles and undertaking photojournalism assignments within their chosen field. There are many employment opportunities in the marketplace for film and TV graduates with some of the more common employers being television stations, movie studios, television commercial production companies, private production companies, government production units, photographic companies, equipment hire companies and post production/special effects companies.

Film, television, radio and screen directors have good employment prospects, with growth expected to be strong to 2014-15. Artistic directors, media producers and presenters are categorised as having average employment prospects and prospects are expected to decline to 2014-15. Actors, dancers and other entertainers are also categorised as having average employment prospects, with employment to grow moderately to 2014-15.

Job titles may include the following:

Visual merchandisers have average employment prospects, however employment is expected to grow strongly to 2014-15. The Diploma of Visual Merchandising is designed for those who hold positions as specialist visual merchandisers in the retail industry or those wishing to begin a career in the visual merchandising sector. The role of visual merchandiser may involve working as a member of a national, state or store-based team designing and installing visual merchandising displays in the exhibition industry, and/or self employment as a visual merchandiser. With hands-on experience in display, product presentation and design, visual merchandisers may move into management positions.

Job titles may include the following:

3D Designer
Art Director
Visual Merchandiser
Photo Stylist

Credit pathways may be available from TAFE to Higher Education; for a full list of credit pathways and requirements, see the Swinburne website, see the Swinburne Pathways website

For entry and admission requirements: www.swinburne.edu.au/courses

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What can I do with my TAFE qualification?

Design, Film and TV

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