HOYTS has announced its partnership with The Australian Film Television & Radio School (AFTRS) to support Australia’s First Nations students in the Australian film and broadcast sectors.

The HOYTS Group First Nations Scholarship will cover the full tuition fee for the standard three-year Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production course (valued at $50,544 in 2025) plus a $2,000 travel bursary for the recipient and their family to cover the cost of travel to Sydney to attend the graduation ceremonies.

HOYTS Group Chief People Officer Jodi Paton said The HOYTS Group is committed to assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples overcome the barriers to education and to help fulfil their creative dreams and goals.

“We launched our first Reconciliation Plan in 2024, and now we are very proud to support First Nations students through the scholarship,” Jodie 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.”

In addition to the HOYTS Group First Nations Scholarship, AFTRS has also announced

The Dylan Alcott Foundation (DAF) Scholarship which aims to break down barriers to education and empower aspiring filmmakers with a disability to achieve their creative dreams.

Chief Executive Officer and Director of Council at AFTRS Dr. Nell Greenwood said they are thrilled to be partnering with HOYTS and DAF for these valuable scholarships.

“We’re so grateful to The HOYTS Group, Dylan Alcott and the team at DAF for their generosity. These scholarships are a critical way for us to support talent with a range of lived experiences to come and study with us," Dr. Greenwood said.

“These scholarship recipients will be the creators behind diverse and inclusive screen productions that represent a rich range of life experiences."

The successful applicants for the scholarships will be selected based on criteria such as creative excellence and the impact a scholarship would have on their education.

Applications for AFTRS 2025 award courses, including the Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, are now open.

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/