Advocacy In Action

As the peak body and subject association for dance in Victoria, Ausdance VIC provides high-level strategic advice and vision for the sector. Our advocacy, research, and representation focuses on advancing dance and has successfully raised the profile of dance with key policy and decision makers and increased investment in the Arts.

Our advocacy work

• Delivers key policy objectives
• Identifies sector needs through industry research
• Informs the development of sustainable dance programs
• Increases opportunities to experience and engage with dance
• Provides high-level advice on the development of Victorian dance curriculum

A History of Leadership

Founded in 1977 by dance leaders and advocates, the Ausdance National network has a history of leadership and advocacy spanning over 45 years. We work across all levels of dance, creating connections and opportunities to increase sector capacity, and support individuals, companies and organisations to flourish. We play a vital role in the dance education discourse and are dedicated to ensuring that state and national education policy and curriculum supports the goals and standards of our sector. 

Sector Representation

Ausdance VIC represents the needs of our constituency on several expert reference groups, state and national committees. We actively seek out and foster strong, working relationships with leaders and organisations across sectors and industries, to share responsibility for advocacy and intelligence on conditions, trends, and issues of relevancy.

Arts Industry Council of Victoria (AICV)

We are a key member of the AICV, alongside the CEOs of peak bodies and service organisations across all art forms.

Industry Advisory Group for Business (IAG)

We represent the arts and creative industries on the IAG, which consists of representatives of industry, unions and employees who meet four times a year to provide advice on skill demand pressures and future industry skills training and professional needs. Through the IAG, we have been involved in the development of a new Skills Plan for Victoria, providing feedback on drafts of the policy.

Independent Reference Committee – Arts & Culture Related Industries (IRC)

The IRC is a national committee appointed by the Australian Industry Skills Council (AISC) to review the training needs of the industry and assess proposed new training qualifications. Ausdance VIC Executive Director, Michelle Silby, has been filling the role of chair of the IRC during a period of change as the government reviews the system and proposes a cluster model to reduce the number of IRCs from 80 to around nine.

Ausdance Network

Through our work with the Ausdance National network, we are in regular dialogue with the national body and our state partners on matters including advocacy, pre-budget submissions and industry consultation.

Direct to Government

As the government-recognised peak body and subject association for dance in Victoria, we regularly meet with senior officials in Creative Victoria, the Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Department of Sports and Recreation, Business Victoria, and with local governments across the state. In 2022, we held over 30 meetings with government representatives.

2022 Advocacy Initiatives & Outcomes

Revive Policy Submission

We were pleased to see our ideas reflected in the federal government’s national cultural policy, Revive. We contributed to several policy submissions and public consultation phases through the Arts Industry Council of Victoria, Youth Dance Australia and Ausdance National. We focused on positioning dance as a key performing art and argued to position education across the sector as a vital part of the dance ecology that supports economic, social and cultural growth.

Child Safety Regulation

We worked closely with Victoria’s Commission for Children and Young People on the implementation of the new child safety regulations applicable to the dance sector. Our input ensured the Commission understood the dance environment and how standards could be applied.

Air Purifier Program

We successfully advocated for dance studios and companies to be included in the Victorian Government’s $60million Ventilation Voucher Program. Without this subsidy, it would have been very difficult for small studios and companies to afford this vital health infrastructure.

Get Active Kids

Provided feedback on the Get Active Kids subsidy scheme to the Department of Sports and Recreation and secured an extension to the reimbursement round. Over 2,300 vouchers have been accessed.