Skip Ahead

This initiative will provide up to $120,000 each for a maximum of four YouTube projects. Eligible applicants can propose the format of the project, such as a series of six by five-minute episodes or an alternative that is appropriate for their creative concept and the YouTube distribution platform.

Skip Ahead is a joint initiative of Screen Australia and YouTube Australia. Since 2014, over the course of eight funding rounds, Skip Ahead has supported 39 YouTube content creators to develop their skills, and support them to work towards sustainable careers.

Skip Ahead is open to both documentary and scripted projects. In 2024, Skip Ahead will seek to support at least one project aimed at a children’s audience to premiere on YouTube Kids.

Skip Ahead aims to:

• support a new generation of online storytellers and IP creators to expand their vision and ambition,

• cultivate original Australian narrative content made specifically for local and global online audiences,

• ensure the storytellers and stories being told reflect the diversity of people and experiences from around Australia, and promoting their importance - culturally, creatively and economically.

Applications will be open to original content creators (individuals or teams), responsible for either:

• A current YouTube channel with at least 25,000 subscribers, OR

• A maximum of two current YouTube channels with a combined subscriber base of 40,000, OR

• A YouTube video which has achieved a minimum of 1 million views on a channel which has a subscriber base of at least 10,000.