Live Production Services

Training snapshot

After an increase of almost 44% between 2016 and 2017 (from 5,860 to 8,430), program enrolments in Live Production Services-related qualifications fluctuated slightly between 2017 and 2019 before declining to 7,430 in 2020.

Program completions increased by 50% between 2016 and 2017 (from 1,960 to 2,950), remained relatively stable between 2017 and 2019, and then declined by almost 25% to 2,140 in 2020 ( down from 2,840 in 2019).The largest proportion of qualifications in this sector are being undertaken at the certificate II (3,770) or certificate III (3,220) level, with most qualifications in the field of General Creative Industries (3,770) and Live Production and Technical Services (3,610).

In 2020 Live Production and Technical Services qualifications tend to have an intended occupation of Performing Arts Technician (not elsewhere specified), while all General Creative Industries-related qualifications have the intended occupation of Sales Assistant (general).

A large proportion of Live Production Services qualifications in 2020 were delivered by schools (46%) and by private training providers (35%). Private training providers were prominent in the area of General Creative Industries (60%). Overall, most subjects were Commonwealth and state funded (79%), with most of the remaining portion funded by domestic fee for service (21%).

Students in Live Production Services-related qualifications resided in New South Wales (40%), followed by Victoria (18%) and Other (16%), while training was most commonly delivered in New South Wales (43%), Western Australia (22%) and Victoria (18%).

The number of apprentice and trainee commencements in Live Production Services-related qualifications decreased by over three quarters (79%) between 2011 and 2020, recording relatively small numbers of commencements since 2014. These figures have had slight fluctuations since then, and increased slightly in 2020 to 25. Apprentice and trainee completions for this industry rose from 2011 and peaked at just over 90 in 2012, but have since declined to 17 in 2020. All apprentices in training as at December 2020 were training towards the intended occupation of Performing Arts Technicians (not elsewhere specified). Apprentices and trainees in Live Performance Services-related qualifications are most commonly reported as training in Queensland (53%), followed by New South Wales (30%) and South Australia (14%).

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For an analysis of skills needs and workforce demand, see the Arts, Entertainment, Culture and Design cluster page.

The impact of technological advancements is being felt across the industry, including the live production services sector. As highlighted in the Culture and Related Industries IRC’s 2019 Skills Forecast, new technologies such as automated lighting systems and the mechanisation of some staging equipment brings about new and different ways in which these workers deliver their services, and therefore the skills required to perform these roles.

The Culture and Related Industries IRC’s 2017 Skills Forecast suggests that due to the smaller nature of live production teams, workers involved in the technical side of live production are required to perform a wide variety of tasks and are in need of more generalist training. The necessary specialist skills are therefore developed on the job or as part of continuing training once a worker is employed. This differs from a sector such as Screen and Media in which technical workers are more specialised.

The Industry Workforce Development Plan 2015 from the FutureNow Creative and Leisure Industries Training Council found a lack of appropriate training in place for low-skilled workers in the Live Production Services sector. Basic transferable skills in health and safety and productivity may be something low-skilled workers in this industry lack.

Prior to COVID-19, the demand for, and impact of First Nations companies’ work and role in Australian arts was growing. In a recent report by Australia Council for the Arts, Creating Art Part 1: the makers' view of pathways for First Nations theatre and dance, interviewees suggested that to increase the presentation of First Nations performing arts there needed to be an increase in the number of First Nations arts workers across the spectrum of arts and cultural roles. A key insight from this report states there is a skills gap in filling First Nations-specific stage management, technical production and production roles; and notes there is an opportunity for a strategic whole-of-sector response to building skills and pathways to employment for First Nations people in these roles.

For insights relevant to Live Production Services and other related fields generally, see the Arts, Entertainment, Culture and Design cluster page.

Below is a list of industry-relevant research, organisations and associations. Hyperlinks have been included where available.

IRC and skills forecasts

Culture and Related Industries IRC

• Culture and Related Industries IRC’s 2019 Skills Forecast
• Culture and Related Industries IRC’s 2017 Skills Forecast
• IRC membership
• Skills for Australia – Skills Service Organisation.

Relevant research

Art vs dismal science: the economics of Australia's creative arts sector - The Australia Institute

COVID-19 wiped $1.4 billion from live entertainment industry in 2020, a 70% decline nationally – Live Performance Australia

Creating Art Part 1: the makers' view of pathways for First Nations theatre and dance - Australia Council for the Arts

Creativity in crisis: rebooting Australia’s arts and entertainment sector after COVID - Centre for Future Work

Culture and Related Industries IRC’s 2017 Skills Forecast – Culture and Related Industries IRC

Industry Workforce Development Plan 2015 – FutureNow Creative and Leisure Industries Training Council.

LPA calls for targeted JobSaver action as snap lockdowns, border closures and audience restrictions smash industry recovery - Live Performance Australia

Industry associations and advisory bodies

Australasian Live Industry Alliance

Australian Commercial & Entertainment Technologies Association

Live Performance Australia

Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance

Training data has been extracted from the National VET Provider Collection, Total VET Student and Courses from the following training packages or qualifications:

• CUA Creative Arts and Culture, CUF Screen and Media and CUE Entertainment Training Packages
• Costuming, Scenery and Set Construction
  
  • CUF40507 - Certificate IV in Costume for Performance
  • CUF50507 - Diploma of Costume for Performance
  • CUF50607 - Diploma of Scenery and Set Construction.
• General Creative Industries
  
  • CUA20215 - Certificate II in Creative Industries
  • CUA20220 - Certificate II in Creative Industries
  • CUF10107 - Certificate I in Creative Industries.
• Live Production Design
  
  • CUA50513 - Diploma of Live Production Design
  • CUE60103 - Advanced Diploma of Design for Live Production, Theatre and Events.
• Live Production Management
  
  • CUA60213 - Advanced Diploma of Live Production and Management Services
  • CUA60220 - Advanced Diploma of Live Production and Management Services
  • CUE60303 - Advanced Diploma of Stage Management.
• Live Production and Technical Services
  
  • CUA20213 - Certificate II in Live Production and Services
  • CUA30413 - Certificate III in Live Production and Services
  • CUA30415 - Certificate III in Live Production and Services
  • CUA30420 - Certificate III in Live Production and Technical Services
  • CUA40413 - Certificate IV in Live Production and Technical Services
  • CUA40415 - Certificate IV in Live Production and Technical Services
  • CUA40420 - Certificate IV in Live Production and Technical Services
  • CUA50413 - Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services
  • CUS50415 - Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services
  • CUA50420 - Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services
  • CUE20103 - Certificate II in Live Production, Theatre and Events
  • CUE30203 - Certificate III in Live Production, Theatre and Events (Technical Operations)
  • CUE30303 - Certificate III in Venues and Events (Customer Service)
  • CUE40403 - Certificate IV in Venues and Events (Customer Service)
  • CUE50303 - Diploma of Live Production, Theatre and Events (Technical Production)
  • CUE50403 - Diploma of Venues and Events
  • CUE60203 - Advanced Diploma of Live Production, Theatre and Events (Technical Production).

This includes superseded qualifications and training packages.

Data covers a range of selected student and training characteristics in the following categories and years:

• 2016 to 2020 program enrolments
• 2016 to 2020 program completions.

Total VET students and courses data is reported for the calendar year. Program enrolments are the qualifications, courses and skill-sets in which students are enrolled in a given period. For students enrolled in multiple programs, all programs are counted. Program completion indicates that a student has completed a structured and integrated program of education or training. Subject enrolment is registration of a student at a training delivery location for the purpose of undertaking a module, unit of competency or subject. For more information on the terms and definitions, please refer to the Total VET students and courses: terms and definitions document.

Low counts (less than five) are not reported to protect client confidentiality.

Creative Arts and Culture, Arts and Culture, Screen and Media and Entertainment Training Packages apprentice and trainee data has been extracted from the National Apprentice and Trainee Collection, including:

• 2011 to 2020 commencements
• 2011 to 2020 completions
• apprentices and trainees in-training October to December 2020 collection, by qualification and State and Territory of data submitter.