11 August 2026 – The Australian Writers’ Guild is pleased to announce the 11 screenwriters who have been selected to participate in First Break VIC online, a unique professional development program designed to give talented, aspiring screenwriters a leg up in the industry through practical training in note-taking and script coordinating.
Delivered with support from VicScreen, the three-day online initiative provides participants with in-demand skills and the training necessary to obtain work in a writers’ room.
The successful participants are:
- Kathy Bard
- Madeline Davies
- Max Evans
- Lucie Jamison
- Anna Lyon
- Siobhan Mithen
- Alyssa Moller
- Ryan Prestipino
- Nikki Teeuw
- Brendan Wan
- Alexander Wardrop
Taking place online over three Saturdays in August, First Break offers participants an opportunity to train and develop their understanding of the industry with highly experienced writers and facilitators Catherine Kelleher and Terence McCarthy.
On completion of the training, graduates will be added to the AWG industry resource, Pathways First Break where producers and writers find note-takers and script coordinators for paid work.
The Pathways First Break portal is a permanent resource for industry looking for talented new writers who have valuable skills to offer in writers’ rooms. This portal is now the first port of call for many producers and writers looking for entry level staff for their productions.
AWG’s Director of Professional Development, Susie Hamilton said: “First Break continues to open doors for emerging writers who are ready to take the leap into a writers’ rooms and expand their networks, while also providing a trusted source of trained note-takers for established writers to employ. We’re thrilled to return to Victoria with the support of VicScreen to run First Break again and to introduce a fresh group of skills-ready note-takers to the industry.”
