Opening doors to career outcomes for creatives with disability

Create NSW’s Research and Evaluation team conducted an in-depth research project to evaluate the program over three years between 2022-2024. The evaluation found the program not only provided interns with vital skills and experience but also opened pathways to employment, with some describing the outcomes as ‘life-changing’.  

Barriers to employment for creatives with disability

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According to 2022 research from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 5.5 million Australians or 21.4% of the population live with disability. Participation rates in the arts as creators, volunteers and donors are higher for people with disability than people without disability (2022, Creative Australia), yet disability employment statistics in the creative industries reveal a different picture. The most recent economic study of professional artists in Australia (Throsby and Petetskaya 2024) found 16% of professional artists live with disability, and artists with disability experience unemployment at greater rates than artists without disability.  

Stronger participation, representation and diversity in the arts, screen and music industries is needed for NSW creative communities to ensure everyone is included and can share their stories.

The Createability solution  

The Createability Internship Program, an initiative delivered in a partnership between Create NSW, Screen NSW, Sound NSW and Accessible Arts, aims to remove the barriers. The goal is to support creatives with disability or who are d/Deaf looking to work in the creative industries by opening doors to organisations and creating pathways to employment.  

Each year, successful applicants are matched to suitable paid internship roles with a range of NSW-based arts, screen and cultural host organisations. Host organisations receive training from Accessible Arts and funding from NSW Government to deliver the internships.

To date, the initiative has supported 48* interns to gain industry experience, training and professional development in major creative sector organisations including Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC – Compass and ABC Children and Family), Australian Music Airplay Project (Amrap), Cementa, Endemol Shine Australia, Erth Visual and Physical Inc, Outloud, Performance Space, SBS, Sydney Theatre Company, and Tantrum Youth Arts.  

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Createability is designed under the social model of disability that recognises various physical, attitudinal, communication and social barriers that can be reduced or removed to create an environment where they may have successful careers in creative sectors.  

The initiative demonstrates that organisations can remove the often invisible barriers to employment for creatives with disability and bring out the best in their abilities, by making small adjustments. In many cases these adjustments are simple to implement and benefit the whole workforce, such as enabling flexible working arrangements, technological or physical modifications or asking the individual what they need to thrive.

Immediate and long-term impacts for interns

The Create NSW evaluation team contacted creatives at the conclusion of their internship to learn about their experience. Following the 2024 program intern feedback survey, all respondents agreed that Createability had a positive impact on their career and two-thirds reported finding further work as a direct result of the internship.

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Over the short-to-medium term, the Createability program achieved the primary goals of connecting creative practitioners with disability with arts, screen and cultural sector organisations, building skills and creating career pathways for NSW creatives with disability, as well as giving mutual benefit for host organisations.  

Throughout the three-year evaluation period, Create NSW heard from interns that the impact of the program was felt long after each internship. Createability has been a catalyst for career advancement, with 64% of surveyed creative practitioners reporting they secured work as a direct result of their internship.  Interns also reported staying in contact with their host organisations and other interns to build their professional networks. All participants surveyed by Create NSW agreed the program positively influenced their careers.

Shared value for host organisations

The benefits extended beyond the interns. Host organisations reported significant gains.  

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Many praised the high-quality work produced by interns and the positive relationships formed, which broadened their networks of talented creatives.

The evaluation also revealed deeper attitudinal shifts. Staff within host organisations and government agencies developed greater awareness of barriers faced by people with disability, prompting changes in workplace practices. Half of the surveyed hosts implemented adjustments because of their involvement in Createability.

Improvement recommendations

While the program’s impact is clear, the evaluation notes challenges inherent in the creative sector, where opportunities are often temporary and highly competitive. Sustained career progress depends on an intern’s own confidence and drive to take full advantage of the skills and networks gained through the program.

Looking ahead, recommendations to improve the outcomes of Createability include offering longer internships, increasing support for small and regional organisations, creating an alumni network, and standardising onboarding processes**. These enhancements would strengthen Createability’s role in fostering inclusive, accessible pathways for creatives with disability.

Learn more - Read the report

See Createability in action

In addition to the Evaluation Report, a video was produced by staff from Department of Creative Industries Tourism Hospitality and Sport (including crew with disability). It featured stories and accounts of four interns, to give creatives with disability a voice to share their experience. The video also includes interviews with host organisations and Accessible Arts, with captions and Auslan interpretation.  

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_{*Since 2018, including 2025 cohort}

_{** Following this feedback, the 2026 Createability program now offers both 4-week and 8-week paid internships with select host organisations, including smaller and regional organisations.}