A nationally recognised qualification on the National Register of vocational education and training. This page answers the questions that actually decide whether it is worth your time and money: is the work there, what happens to people who finish, who pays, and who you could study it with. Every figure carries its source and date.
It prepares people for work as film, television, radio and stage directors.
This is the current version of the qualification on the national register. It replaced CUA51015, whose currency ended on 14 April 2021.
The signals behind this qualification are mixed, and both sides are worth weighing. Specifically: its main occupation is rated in national shortage, employment in its occupations is projected to grow through 2035 and national enrolments are falling. These are official statistics, not a promise about any individual's result.
Three official signals crossed: live job advertisements, the national training pipeline, and government employment projections.
Employer demand for these roles is holding steady. Across Film, Television, Radio And Stage Directors, about 66 jobs were advertised online in May 2026 (down 4.4% on a year earlier). Roughly 951 openings were advertised over the last 12 months, while 3,570 people enrolled in the qualification nationally in 2024. Enrolment counts people in training, not completions, so the two figures describe the pipeline and the market, not a job guarantee.
Fewer people are training in this qualification than a year earlier. National enrolments fell from 4,050 in 2023, to 3,570 in 2024 (down 11.9%).
Employment in these occupations is projected to grow. Government projections put them at 15,500 workers in May 2025, 17,000 by May 2030 (up 9.7%) and 18,400 by May 2035 (up 19.1%).
Outcomes for this specific qualification, each anchored against what is typical at the same qualification level nationally.
Outcomes for this qualification run below what is typical for a Diploma. In the latest national outcomes survey (2025), 73.6% were employed or in further study after training, against a Diploma median of 92% across 34 qualifications. Median income after training was $52,000, compared with $63,250 typical at this level. 83.6% were satisfied with the training, against 89% typical.
The three wallets: a subsidised seat, paying full fee, and the time commitment that decides whether you can keep working.
Subsidy programs change and have eligibility rules. The official listing linked above is the source of truth; no dollar amounts are shown here because they vary by person and provider.
Fees for unsubsidised places are set by each training provider and vary widely. Provider pricing, intakes and payment options live on the individual course pages linked below, never on this page.
The crossing no single dataset can give you: official shortage status, subsidy availability and training demand, read together.
The signals behind this qualification are mixed, and both sides are worth weighing. Specifically: its main occupation is rated in national shortage, employment in its occupations is projected to grow through 2035 and national enrolments are falling. These are official statistics, not a promise about any individual's result.
At least one occupation this qualification leads to is officially rated as in national shortage. In the 2025 Occupation Shortage List assessment, Film and Video Editor is rated in national shortage; Art Director (Film, Television or Stage), Director (Film, Television, Radio or Stage), Director of Photography, Program Director (Television or Radio), Stage Manager, Technical Director, Video Producer and Film, Television, Radio and Stage Directors nec are rated not in shortage.
Approval to deliver is a regulatory fact, not a recommendation. Start with who is approved, then compare actual courses.
The five questions people actually ring up and ask, answered only where official data backs the answer.