CUA31020Certificate IIICurrentCUA training package

CUA31020 Certificate III in Screen and Media

CUA31020 is the nationally recognised Certificate III behind production assistant (film, television, radio or stage) work. It has been the current version on the national register since 2021, when it replaced CUA31015 and CUA30815. About 264 production assistant (film, television, radio or stage) jobs were advertised in June 2026, down 5.8% on a year earlier.

Often searched as Cert 3 in Screen and Media · Register data synced 18 Sept 2026 from training.gov.au
Online job ads · June 2026
264last month
Production assistant (film, television, radio or stage) roles advertised across Australia
Down on a year earlier
Long-term outlook
Mixed
Two structural signals up; current job ads down
Register status
Current
Replaced CUA31015, CUA30815 in 2021
Enrolments
Falling
Down 6.4% in a year
Funding status
Verification pending
Checked against official state program lists
The short answer

The signals behind the Certificate III in Screen and Media are mixed, and both sides are worth weighing. Production assistant (film, television, radio or stage)s are in national shortage and employment is projected to grow through 2035. Job ads in June 2026 were down 5.8% on a year earlier and enrolments are falling. These are official statistics, not a promise about your result.

Jobs and Skills Australia

Is the work there?

Employers are posting fewer production assistant (film, television, radio or stage) jobs than a year ago. About 264 production assistant (film, television, radio or stage) jobs were advertised online in June 2026, down 5.8% on a year earlier. Over the last 12 months there were about 3,300 job ads, while 6,340 people were training in the qualification nationally (2025). Ads show the market. Enrolments show the pipeline. Neither is a job promise.

Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index · latest month June 2026 · ANZSCO 5999
264
Combined monthly online job ads across Production Assistant (Film, Television, Radio Or Stage), to June 2026

Official shortage list

Australia's official shortage list rates clinical coders as in shortage. The 2025 Occupation Shortage List rates Clinical Coder as in national shortage; Production Assistant (Film, Television, Radio or Stage), Proof Reader, Radio Despatcher, Facilities Administrator and Clerical and Administrative Workers nec as not in shortage.

Jobs and Skills Australia, Occupation Shortage List · 2025 assessment

Ten year outlook

Production assistant (film, television, radio or stage) jobs are projected to grow. Jobs and Skills Australia projections put these occupations at 21,864 workers in May 2025, 22,751 by May 2030 (up 4.1%) and 24,176 by May 2035 (up 10.6%).

21,864
workers, May 2025
22,751
workers, May 2030
24,176
workers, May 2035
Jobs and Skills Australia employment projections · May 2025 to May 2035
Occupation mapping by Get Course, shown with ANZSCO codes so it can be checked.
NCVER Student Outcomes

How graduates do

Certificate III in Screen and Media graduates do worse than is typical at Certificate III level. In the 2025 NCVER Student Outcomes survey, 67.7% were employed or in further study after training. The typical Certificate III result is 88%, across 105 qualifications. Median income after training was $39,900, against $54,000 typical. 90.6% were satisfied with the training, against 90.6% typical. Income here is the survey median about six months after training. It includes part-time work, so it is not the full-time award rate.

67.7%
employed or in further study after training (2025)
typical 88% across 105 Certificate IIIs
$39,900
median income after training (2025)
typical $54,000 across 85 Certificate IIIs
90.6%
satisfied with the training (2025)
typical 90.6% across 105 Certificate IIIs
Level benchmarks are medians computed by Get Course across all Certificate IIIs in the same collection, not official NCVER benchmarks.
NCVER Student Outcomes · 2025 survey
NCVER Total VET Activity

Who is training

Fewer people are enrolling in the Certificate III in Screen and Media than a year ago. Across Australia, 6,770 people enrolled in 2024. In 2025 it was 6,340, down 6.4% in a year. National data for CUA31020 starts in 2021.

NCVER Total VET Activity · 2025 collection
training.gov.au · Australian Qualifications Framework

What does studying it involve?

The register and the national framework set some of this. Providers set the rest.

How long it takes
A Certificate III is typically 1 to 2 years of full-time study under the Australian Qualifications Framework. Providers set the exact length and pace.
Delivery
Providers set the delivery mode.
Credit for experience
Recognition of prior learning applies to CUA31020 like any qualification on the national register: an approved provider assesses your evidence against each unit.
training.gov.au national register; Australian Qualifications Framework.
State subsidised training lists

What does it cost, and who funds it?

State funding for CUA31020 is being verified against official program lists.

Eligibility and student contributions vary by program and provider. The official state listing is the source of truth. In a subsidised place the government pays most of the tuition and you pay a co-contribution set by the program and provider.

Official state subsidised training program lists, verified per state. Full-fee prices will appear here as partner courses are listed.
training.gov.au · unit packaging

What is in the qualification

The Certificate III in Screen and Media is 11 units: 3 core, plus 8 electives chosen from 60 options on the register. Prerequisites apply to Three of them, marked below.

  • BSBCRT311Apply critical thinking skills in a team environment
  • CUAIND311Work effectively in the creative arts industry
  • CUAWHS312Apply work health and safety practices
View the 60 elective options
  • AHCOCM303Follow Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural protocols
  • AHCOCM404Record and document Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Community history
  • BSBFIN302Maintain financial records
  • BSBOPS203Deliver a service to customers
  • BSBPEF301Organise personal work priorities
  • BSBSTR401Promote innovation in team environments
  • BSBTWK301Use inclusive work practices
  • CHCLEG002Interpret and use legal information
  • CPCCLDG3001Licence to perform dogging
  • CPCCLRG3001Licence to perform rigging basic level (has prerequisites)
  • CPCCLRG3002Licence to perform rigging intermediate level (has prerequisites)
  • CPCCLRG4001Licence to perform rigging advanced level (has prerequisites)
  • CPCWHS1001Prepare to work safely in the construction industry
  • CUAACD201Develop drawing skills to communicate ideas
  • CUAAIR211Develop techniques for presenting information on-air
  • CUAAIR311Present programs on-air
  • CUAAIR312Develop techniques for presenting to camera
  • CUAANM301Create 2D digital animations
  • CUAANM302Create 3D digital animations
  • CUAANM313Create 3D digital models
  • CUAANM413Create titles for screen productions
  • CUABRD312Provide production support for television productions
  • CUABRD411Carry out transmission operations
  • CUACAM211Assist with basic camera shoots
  • CUACAM311Shoot material for screen productions
  • CUACAM312Rig camera infrastructure
  • CUACMP311Implement copyright arrangements
  • CUADES202Evaluate the nature of design in a specific industry context
  • CUADES302Explore and apply the creative design process to 2D forms
  • CUADES303Explore and apply the creative design process to 3D forms
  • CUADIG303Produce and prepare photo images
  • CUADIG304Create visual design components
  • CUADIG311Prepare video assets
  • CUADIG312Author interactive sequences
  • CUAGMT301Repair and maintain production equipment
  • CUAIND412Provide freelance services
  • CUALGT311Operate basic lighting
  • CUALGT313Install and test lighting equipment
  • CUAMPF314Make music demos
  • CUAPOS211Perform basic vision and sound editing
  • CUAPOS311Edit video and audio content for social media
  • CUAPPM312Plan and prepare program content
  • CUASOU212Perform basic sound editing
  • CUASOU213Assist with sound recordings
  • CUASOU214Mix sound in a broadcasting environment
  • CUASOU304Prepare audio assets
  • CUASOU308Install and disassemble audio equipment
  • CUASOU315Compile audio material for broadcast
  • CUASOU319Restore audio tracks
  • CUASOU320Analyse soundtracks
  • CUAWRT301Write content for a range of media
  • CUAWRT302Write simple stories
  • HLTAID011Provide First Aid
  • ICTGAM306Review and apply traditional animation principles
  • ICTICT312Use advanced features of applications
  • ICTICT316Implement new technology
  • ICTSAS309Maintain and repair ICT equipment and software
  • ICTWEB306Develop web presence using social media
  • ICTWHS204Follow work health and safety and environmental policy and procedures
  • UEECD0007Apply work health and safety regulations, codes and practices in the workplace
training.gov.au national register, CUA31020 release 2
Same training package

What skill sets come from the CUA training package?

Working with Children in Performing Arts Skill Set
CUASS00110 · skill set guide
Dance Teaching Skill Set
CUASS00071 · skill set guide
Preparatory Skill Set for Professional Graphic Design Practice Skill Set
CUASS00105 · skill set guide
Specialist Entertainment Rigging Skill Set (Theatre)
CUASS00063 · skill set guide
Close Proximity Pyrotechnics Skill Set
CUASS00078 · skill set guide
Outdoor Pyrotechnics Skill Set
CUASS00084 · skill set guide
Where to study

Where can I study CUA31020?

No Get Course partner currently lists this qualification. Check the national register for organisations approved to deliver it, and remember that approval to deliver is a regulatory fact, not a recommendation. You can browse live courses from our partners and enquire today.

Browse courses
How we calculate these figures

Get Course maps CUA31020 to its occupations using the register’s own outcome wording, shown with ANZSCO codes (here, 5999) so the mapping can be checked. Job advertisement counts come from the Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index and count online ads, not vacancies filled. Enrolment counts come from NCVER Total VET Activity and count people in training, not completions. Outcome benchmarks marked “typical” are medians computed by Get Course across all Certificate IIIs in the same NCVER collection; they are derived figures, not official NCVER benchmarks. Funding rows appear only after verification against the official state program list. Source vintages: register training.gov.au, synced 17 September 2026; NCVER Total VET Activity 2025 collection; employment projections May 2025 to May 2035 release; NCVER Student Outcomes survey 2025 survey; Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index latest month June 2026; Occupation Shortage List 2025 assessment; register synced 18 Sept 2026. Page last updated 19 Sept 2026.

About this page. Every number on this page shows its source and date. Register data synced 18 Sept 2026 from training.gov.au. Compiled by Get Course from public data sources. It is not provided or endorsed by any training organisation, and nothing here is advice about your individual situation. Statistics describe groups; your result depends on you. If you represent a training organisation and want to correct or add to this page, contact hello@getcourse.com.au.