Skip Ahead
Skip Ahead is a joint initiative of Screen Australia and YouTube Australia. Since 2014, over the course of nine funding rounds, Skip Ahead has supported 43 YouTube content creators to develop their skills, and support them to work towards sustainable careers.
Past recipients include Lyanna Kea, Never Too Small, Michael Shanks (timtimfed), Rainbow Bop, Toby Hendy (Tibees), Danny and Michael Philippou (Racka Racka), and more.
Skip Ahead is open to both documentary and scripted projects. In 2025, Skip Ahead will continue to seek to support at least one project aimed at a children’s audience to premiere on YouTube Kids.
Overview
Skip Ahead aims to:
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support a new generation of online storytellers and IP creators to expand their vision and ambition;
- cultivate original Australian narrative content made specifically for local and global online audiences; and
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ensure the storytellers and stories being told reflect the diversity of people and experiences from around Australia, and promoting their importance - culturally, creatively and economically.
Available Funding /Support
What you can apply for:
- Up to four projects will be funded.
- Up to $120,000 is available per project.
In addition, Screen Australia and YouTube Australia will offer funding support to successful applicants to participate in a three-day in person workshop held in Sydney. This workshop will aim to develop participants’ projects and provide industry skills development. Travel and accommodation support will be provided for teams based outside of Sydney to the workshop, for up to three team members per successful project, from within Australia.
INCLUSIVE STORYTELLING
For Australian screen content to effectively deliver cultural and economic benefits it must speak to, and be for, all Australians. A diversity of ideas and a diverse workforce will enhance the Australian screen industry, making it more relevant to Australian audiences and more competitive internationally.
Screen Australia is committed to building equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility into its programs and into our engagement with the community.
Screen Australia encourages applications from applicants from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences. In particular, the agency welcomes applications from applicants who are First Nations, d/Deaf and disabled, culturally and linguistically diverse, LGBTIQ+, women or gender diverse, regionally based, or those from other under-represented groups.
Screen Australia strives to make its programs accessible by removing barriers for people who are d/Deaf and disabled and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Screen Australia expects that any experiences portrayed through the narrative and characters which are aimed at illustrating diverse perspectives are reflected within the key creative team with appropriate representation and lived experience. It is vital the creative team has the cultural authorship to tell the story so that telling of the story is authentic.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicant eligibility
Applications are open to:
Applicants must meet at least one of the requirements listed above to be eligible.
Participants must be available 19 – 21 August 2025 for the workshop. Please note dates are subject to change.
Applicants must also meet the general eligibility requirements set out in Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade. Applications will be accepted from eligible sole traders; however the applicant must incorporate as a company if successful in order to contract for production funding.
Genuine collaborations between a YouTube content creator(s) and established producers, production companies and/or entertainment properties are encouraged and may strengthen an application. A YouTube Channel is not eligible to apply if the channel is only a distributing platform for the project. The channel’s creators must also be part of the key creative team for the project.
Project eligibility
The project that is the subject of the application must:
application process
HOW TO APPLY
Applications close 5pm AEST Thursday 22 May 2025 and can be made through Screen Australia’s application portal.
application form
Through the application form, applicants must:
required materials
Applications consist of:
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information on the series format (how many episodes, length of episode);
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genre, characters, story arc and brief plot summary;
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themes and tone of the project;
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the target audience, including demographics and viewing habits;
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the team and their past experience creating content; and
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what is unique and exciting about the project.
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A brief profile of your YouTube channel(s).
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A two-page pitch document that describes the proposal, details the audience development and social media strategies to promote the series to a wider audience than the creator’s existing subscribers, and a plan for how the creator might continue to grow the channel(s) following the release of the Skip Ahead content.
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Outlines of episodes (or of project if a one off).
assessment
assessment process
Eligible applications will be considered by Screen Australia and YouTube Australia, as well as external industry specialists as required.
Assessment criteria
Funding decisions will be made against the following criteria:
- Creativity. The creative strength and distinctiveness of the proposal, including the concept and entertainment value.
- Audience potential. The potential of the project to expand the subscriber base of the applicant’s channel(s) and/or reach new audiences and opportunities for commercialisation.
- Viability. The viability of the proposal with respect to the budget and scale of the project.
- Team and industry skills development. The track record of the key participants involved in the proposal and the likelihood that this program will demonstrably develop their skills in online content production.
Other factors, including availability of funds, diversity of slate and the diversity of the team, may also influence YouTube Australia & Screen Australia’s funding decisions. Shortlisted applicants may be interviewed.
Decision and notification
Decisions on applications are final. Screen Australia will advise applicants in writing of the outcome of their application by Friday 11 July 2025.
Screen Australia and YouTube Australia acknowledge and appreciate the effort that goes into applications, but given the volume of applications will not be able to provide individual feedback on each application.
successful applicants
CONTRACTING
terms of funding
Successful applicants must make the production publicly available for the first time on YouTube from a date agreed upon with Screen Australia and YouTube Australia. They must maintain the content on YouTube for a minimum of 5 years.
Successful applicants and productions must comply with YouTube’s terms of service and community guidelines. In addition to this, concepts aimed at children will need to comply with YouTube’s Content policies for YouTube Kids.
Other terms, including delivery requirements, marketing and credit requirements for Screen Australia and YouTube Australia, will be detailed in the funding agreement.
Contact
If applicants have any further questions after reviewing these guidelines, the application form, and other available resources, they may contact Screen Australia’s Program Operations team on 1800 507 901 or via email at [email protected].
Please note that Screen Australia is unable to provide creative advice or suggestions to strengthen an application.
privacy
Screen Australia collects personal information from individuals in different ways, including via funding applications, acquittal reports, or supporting material supplied with forms. Screen Australia will handle any personal information provided in connection with a funding application in accordance with its Privacy Notice relating to funding applications and its Privacy Policy.