It was wonderful to see so many members at the Awards on Saturday, to catch up and to celebrate. A big congratulations to all the winners (the full list can be found below). But also congratulations to everybody who was nominated — the excellence in your work was very much noted by the judges.

I spoke on Saturday about some of the highlights and milestones from over my eight years as president. In that time we have welcomed around 200 new members to our community. We have introduced online judging and interstate screenings of feature films, along with an overall improved judging process. Our members come from all parts of the country and now, for the first time, we have representatives in every state, enabling us to offer more activities and events across the country.

Two years ago we held our first awards outside of NSW, and although that was in part due to the pandemic, we have plans to make sure that it is not a once-off — it is our intention from now on to hold the Awards interstate at least every two years.  And we will start next year, in South Australia. We are still firming up details for next year, but planning has already started. So keep an eye out for the details.

None of this could have been possible without the enormous effort of many individuals who have given their time to the guild by serving on the committee, on sub-committees, as judges, or as volunteers helping with multiple tasks. A big personal thanks to all of them from me.

On that note, please consider how you can help in future. In this newsletter, you will find a reminder for our AGM, on Wed 13 December. New committee members are welcome, and the more people we have, the easier the load is for everybody. Our strength comes from our membership, so I would ask you to think about any contribution you could make to the guild and the industry.

This year the guild turned 35. But as we have matured and grown, our aims have remained the same. A key part of that is recognising and promoting excellence in the craft of screen sound, and that is why we hold our Annual awards.

But it is not just about awards. Supporting our members to do their best work is what occupies us year-round. We organise presentations and events for professional development, and we bring members together, virtually or in person, to share knowledge or simply be social. And, we work alongside other guilds to make representations to government on policy issues.

As a recent example of this, we have been part of a joint submission, representing over 26,000 industry workers, seeking the best outcomes from the government’s current inquiry into content regulations for streaming services. You can read the statement on the Make It Australian website

The decision on new regulations will be made by politicians, not bureaucrats. So you can help by contacting your local member to express how important it is that our industry jobs are supported through genuine investment in Australian content. You can find a kit to help you contact your representatives here

It is through our work for and on behalf of members that we have made major contributions to positive outcomes for our industry as a whole. A big thank you to all of you for your part in getting us here. Now, let’s continue the work and remain an essential part of Australian screen for all the years ahead.

Steve Murphy
ASSG President