HOYTS and AFTRS award first recipient of First Nations Scholarship to champion new talent 

In partnership with the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS), The HOYTS Group has announced its inaugural recipient of the HOYTS First Nations Scholarship. The program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to overcome barriers to education and achieve their creative aspirations.

The HOYTS Group First Nations Scholarship covers the full tuition fees for the standard three-year Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production course. It also includes a travel bursary to support the recipient and their family with travel costs to Sydney to attend the First Nations Graduation and Graduation ceremonies.

HOYTS Group Chief People Officer Jodi Paton said the organisation is committed to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to overcome barriers to education and pursue their creative dreams and goals.

“In 2024 The HOYTS Group launched its first Reconciliation Plan. Now we are very proud to support First Nations students studying a Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production through The HOYTS Group First Nations Scholarship,” Jodi said.

“This partnership with AFTRS recognises our shared values in bringing the very fabric of Australian storytelling to life, and the role of ensuring a First Nations narrative remains central to the arts.

“Our first recipient is Jai, a proud Wiradjuri man who grew up and lives on Wonnarua land. Jai is currently in the second year of the Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production.

“We hope this scholarship gives him the confidence and support to thrive in his studies, we can’t wait to see his work on the big screen.”

Jai shared that the scholarship means the world to him, as it opens up a path that he once thought was closed.

“When I came to AFTRS, I already had amassed a substantial student debt so I believed that I would reach the HECS cap before I could complete a master’s degree,” Jai said.

“Now, thanks to HOYTS, I can continue studying beyond a bachelor’s degree, refining my craft and finding my place in this industry.

“I took some big risks coming here, but this scholarship has given me the confidence and assurance that I needed to keep writing and following this path. I’m incredibly grateful to The HOYTS Group for believing in me and contributing meaningfully to my future.”

To learn more about how to apply for the variety of scholarships on offer at AFTRS, including The HOYTS Group First Nations Scholarship please visit: www.aftrs.edu.au/students/future-students/scholarships-and-financial-support/

For more information regarding HOYTS, please visit https://www.hoyts.com.au/.

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