BUS Stop Films, the award-winning social enterprise disrupting the film industry, has renewed its partnership with Key Community Group to continue delivering its transformative Accessible Filmmaking Program in Coffs Harbour from 2026.
The Saturday filmmaking classes will start in late January at Key Community Group’s extensive, accessible premises on West High Street.
Since establishing in Coffs Harbour in 2023 with the support of TAFE NSW and resourcing from Coffs Coast Autism, Bus Stop Films has had a significant impact on the region’s creative landscape.
The program has produced two compelling films, created employment opportunities for local cast and crew, and been warmly embraced by the disability community.
The new partnership with Key Community Group, a respected disability service provider operating across the Mid North Coast since 1991, represents the next chapter in the program’s growth, offering participants access to purpose-built accessible facilities and deeper connections to community support networks.
Commenting on the partnership, General Manager of Programs at Bus Stop Films Laura Imbruglia said, “[Key’s] accessible facilities and deep commitment to employment and community participation for people with disability make them ideal partners for our program.
“Together, we’ve enriched the cultural landscape of the region and opened new creative pathways for people with disabilities.”
Key Community Group CEO Jodi Woods said, “Partnering with Bus Stop Films is a natural extension of [our] mission; it allows us to open doors to creative industries, nurture new talents and celebrate diverse stories from our region.
“We’re proud to support a program that not only builds film skills but also confidence, friendships, and belonging within our community.”
The program delivers a film school-like experience over 40 weeks.
Participants don’t just learn filmmaking, they live it – mastering both theory and practice while creating award-winning films that screen at Oscar-qualifying festivals, worldwide.
Program participants nationally have worked on Netflix’s Heartbreak High, ABC’s The Assembly, Sony’s Anyone But You, Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder, and Bus Stop’s own feature film Boss Cat.
The numbers tell the story: 100 percent of participants make new connections, and over 70 percent report significant improvements in confidence and work-readiness.
Enrolments for the Saturday classes are now open for young adults aged 17-plus, with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities or autism, who are passionate about filmmaking.
The Class of 2025’s films will premiere at the National Showcase Tour on Friday, 12 December at TAFE Coffs Harbour.
For more, visit busstopfilms.com.au.
By Andrea FERRARI
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