The Indigenous Media Mentoring Program (IMMP) provides 3 days of intensive media training to competitively selected Indigenous scientists and researchers from all over Australia, giving them the skills and the confidence to engage with a wide variety of mainstream and specialist media. Media exposure can positively impact careers, enable participation in national debate, and position ...
Australian Science Media Centre
Indigenous Media Mentoring Program (IMMP)
GOAL
$15,000
Australia > National / Multi-state > Metro and Regional
Field of Interest
- Education/training and employment
- First Nations communities
Target Population
- General population
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Australian Science Media Centre
The Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC) is a vital lifeline for evidence in a world increasingly awash with misinformation and has been on the front-line in this critical space since 2005. Our vision is for a better-informed, more resilient nation, where knowledge guides action on issues like health, climate, energy and the environment.
As an independent, trusted source of science, the AusSMC links journalists with expert insights, helping Australians access the facts they need to make informed decisions. We also run Scimex – the breaking science news portal for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific and we are connected to an international network of Science Media Centres in 9 countries. Other major projects include our Indigenous Media Mentoring Program that promotes the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scientists and researchers in the media and the Collaborative Journalist Program that brings experts and journalists together to work side-by-side on topics of critical importance to Australia.
Support is crucial to enable these projects to continue as well as to enable the AusSMC to carry out its mission to combat false and misleading information, provide clarity in times of crisis and confusion, and empower every Australian with accurate information.
Project Summary
The Indigenous Media Mentoring Program (IMMP) provides 3 days of intensive media training to competitively selected Indigenous scientists and researchers from all over Australia, giving them the skills and the confidence to engage with a wide variety of mainstream and specialist media. Media exposure can positively impact careers, enable participation in national debate, and position participants as role models in STEM for Indigenous children and teenagers.
The IMMP is unique in Australia. It provides practical hands-on media experience with media partner NITV-SBS, mentoring from Indigenous researchers, media trainers and Indigenous journalists, and an expert profile on AusSMC’s science news portal, Scimex. It incorporates frank discussion of the issues Indigenous experts can experience when working with media and strategies to manage these challenges.
The program includes an online workshop, story pitching session with feedback and a two-day intensive workshop with mock interviews at the NITV studios in Sydney. The workshops are followed with media placements for interested participants and ongoing mentoring
Project Outcomes
The most important outcome of each program is the training of a group of up to 12 Indigenous scientists and researchers, empowering them to promote their research and enter public debate and discourse for the benefit of all Australians. Many past participants have gone on to do multiple media interviews and win awards (such as 2025 Young Australian of the Year, Dr Katrina Wruck and multi-award winning coastal scientist, Dr Cass Hunter).
Other outcomes include:
– A series of stories in the media from Indigenous scientists and researchers
– A video compilation of interviews of Indigenous scientists shot during the intensive training workshops (illustrative video from 2020 https://vimeo.com/1127429054)
– Relationships built between program participants and Indigenous and non-Indigenous journalists
– Ongoing networking, collaboration and moral support between Indigenous participants and senior Indigenous leaders in science and journalism (involved as mentors)
– A group of more visible Indigenous researchers who can act as role models for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth considering a career in STEM
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $45,000
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| CSL | $15,000 |
| CSIRO | $15,000 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Travel and accommodation for 15 people (incl 12 Indigenous researchers, 2 mentors and 1 AusSMC staff member) | $14,700 |
| Consultant fees (facilitators/trainers, Indigenous science mentors, cameraman) | $7,000 |
| Project management (120 hours) | $9,000 |
| Catering (including for Indigenous mentors) | $2,300 |
| Marketing (development of web pages, digital marketing campaigns etc) and Welcome to Country | $2,500 |
| Post program video production (compilation video of Indigenous researchers talking about their work) | $5,000 |
| Administration, financial management and oncosts (11%) | $4,500 |
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