About the StoryCasters Project

StoryCasters podcasting cohort in the Information and Cultural Exchange recording studio with trainer and Colour Cycle podcast producer Jennifer Macey

StoryCasters is a training hub for future citizen journalists and digital producers.

To address the under-representation of young culturally diverse content producers and critics in the arts and creative sectors, Diversity Arts Australia developed StoryCasters. We aimed to address the lack of cultural diversity in the writing, screen, podcasting and music industries, and to form communities of practice for diverse content creators. Funded by Create NSW and Multicultural NSW over two and a half years, the project worked with 65 young people from across Western Sydney to develop new skills and career pathways, and to provide opportunities for industry experience.

Diversity Arts partnered with specialist companies and individuals to co-deliver programs. This also ensured greater continuity and mentorship, as well as industry connections. The full cohort met together for exchanges and collaborations, and were brought together for Mixer events and, during the Covid lockdown, for online events. This resulted in cross-pollinations, exchanges and collaborations that extended across more than 10 weeks of training in different disciplines:

  • Writing — 25 participants, mentored by Winnie Dunn and Shirley Le from Sweatshop Literary Movement
  • Screen — 15 participants, mentored by Maria Tran from Phoenix Eye
  • Podcasting — 15 participants, mentored by Podcast Producer Jennifer Macey
  • Sounds — 10 participants, mentored by Nicola Morton and Del Lumanta via Information and Cultural Exchange.

We rounded out the program with Masterclasses and Industry Talks from industry professionals like Oli Chang (of indie group Animal Feelings) and Anisha Thomas (film music composer, Sound-How).

Following the intensive training, the StoryCasters cohort were commissioned to create new content. While some commissions have been delayed due to Covid, many have been published or aired in literary and media platforms and radio.

Meet the StoryCasters

The StoryCasters are young creatives (between the age of 18-30) who identify as being from a culturally and linguistically diverse background and/or as a person of colour. This includes people from non-English speaking, migrant and refugee backgrounds.

avatar for Abeny MayolAbeny Mayol
avatar for Adam AndersonAdam Anderson
avatar for Adrian MouhajerAdrian Mouhajer
avatar for Ali SaganciAli Saganci
avatar for Alison TanudisastroAlison Tanudisastro
avatar for Amani MahmoudAmani Mahmoud
avatar for Amit Pal BharathAmit Pal Bharath
avatar for Amy GeAmy Ge
avatar for Annie Brockenhuus-SchackAnnie Brockenhuus-Schack
avatar for Bruce KoussabaBruce Koussaba
avatar for Christine PanChristine Pan
avatar for Connie KhooConnie Khoo
avatar for Daniel NourDaniel Nour
avatar for Ferdous BaharFerdous Bahar
avatar for Hannah LaiHannah Lai
avatar for Harpreet Kaur DhillonHarpreet Kaur Dhillon
avatar for Helen NguyenHelen Nguyen
avatar for Joseph Schwarzkopf Jr.Joseph Schwarzkopf Jr.
avatar for Liam HoLiam Ho
avatar for Liana MolinaLiana Molina
avatar for Linda Anh TranLinda Anh Tran
avatar for Linda GaoLinda Gao
avatar for Mark MarianoMark Mariano
avatar for Maryanne TaoukMaryanne Taouk
avatar for Melvin TuMelvin Tu
avatar for Mualla AydoganMualla Aydogan
avatar for Mualla ErdilMualla Erdil
avatar for Nadine LebdeNadine Lebde
avatar for Natalia Figueroa BarrosoNatalia Figueroa Barroso
avatar for Natalia Figueroa BarrosoNatalia Figueroa Barroso
avatar for Norah MasigeNorah Masige
avatar for Raveena GroverRaveena Grover
avatar for Rayann BekdacheRayann Bekdache
avatar for Samia HalabiSamia Halabi
avatar for Sarah MendozaSarah Mendoza
avatar for Sela Ahosivi-AtiolaSela Ahosivi-Atiola
avatar for Sharon MasigeSharon Masige
avatar for Sydnye AllenSydnye Allen
avatar for Varuna NaickerVaruna Naicker
avatar for Vir KaulaVir Kaula

StoryCasters also include: Angeline Barion, Andy Thai, Aseel Harb, Ashleigh Ho, Auatama Iese, Christine Afoa, Elizabeth Mora, Faraaz Rahman, Janette Chen, Karishma Tanvi, Khaleed Al Khawaldeh, May Tran, Md Nurul Hoque, Phoebe Grainer, Rachel Marie, Rameen Malik, Samia Halabi, Stephanie Nguy, Thi Tran, Victoria Zhou, Vivian Duong, Xiaoran Shi and Yenee Saw.

Who’s involved?

Executive Producer: Lena Nahlous, Diversity Arts Australia

Project Producer: Sonia Mehrmand, Diversity Arts Australia

Communications and Marketing: Glaiza Perez, Claire Cao and Decode Media

Project Trainers and Mentors: Tanya Ali (FBi Radio), Oli Chang (Animal Feelings), Therese Chen (Phoenix Eye), Winnie Dunn (Sweatshop Literacy Movement), Takashi Hara (Phoenix Eye), Serena Hunt, Shirley Le (Sweatshop Literacy Movement), Del Lumanta, Jennifer Macey, Nicola Morton, Anisha Thomas, Maria Tran (Phoenix Eye), Nancy Trieu (Phoenix Eye).

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