Our Story

Documentary Australia is a unique not-for-profit that supports powerful stories for social change

Documentary Australia is a unique not-for-profit that supports powerful stories for social change. Since 2008, we have supported thousands of filmmakers to tell important stories through documentary across seven key areas: Women & Girls, Youth & Education, Indigenous, Human Rights & Social Justice, Health & Wellbeing, Environment, and The Arts.

By offering tax-deductible donations to support films, Documentary Australia enables social impact documentaries to be made and seen. To date, we have facilitated over $58 million in philanthropic funding for documentaries.

Through our programs and professional development initiatives, we support film teams and partners in placing documentaries at the heart of impact campaigns and in engaging audiences to act for positive social change.

We continue to advocate for the documentary sector on issues relating to the recognition and support of documentary filmmaking in Australia.

What we offer

Fundraising and donor stewardship: We enable philanthropists to tax-effectively support films aligned with their values and social impact goals. We also build filmmakers’ skills and capacity to successfully fundraise for their projects. With more than 400 documentaries currently active on our website, there are many opportunities to make a meaningful contribution.
Professional and project development: We provide industry and filmmaker professional development programs, workshops, events, and resources to build skills, capacity and connections across the sector.
Innovative programs and partnerships: Through strategic programs and partnerships, we create new opportunities for documentaries to connect and engage with audiences, partners and communities and contribute to positive social change.

Amplifying documentary stories: Through screenings, events, marketing and communications, and engaging with diverse networks, we help documentaries to increase their visibility, widen their reach, and deepen their impact.
Sector leadership and advocacy: We champion documentary storytelling through advocacy, collaboration and industry leadership, working to ensure documentaries are recognised, resourced, and valued as a vital part of Australia’s cultural and social fabric.
Research and evaluation: By developing a documentary outcomes framework, we create an evidence base for the documentary sector, highlighting the value and outcomes of documentary films, innovative models and best practice, and opportunities to evolve and grow.

"Documentary Australia is the main voice advocating for the documentary sector in Australia, which is very valuable."

“Documentary Australia has got a really important role to play… if they disappeared, that would leave a huge gulf in the industry.”

"Documentary Australia educates the philanthropic sector and helps them connect with storytelling as a powerful tool to use in their work."

"Documentary Australia leads change, supports storytelling for impact; changes the conversation, and prompts people to think."

"Documentary Australia does a great job connecting filmmakers with funding and causes, and their focus on impact and amplifying diverse voices strengthens the documentary landscape."

"Documentary Australia plays a crucial role in the sector in Australia. It has become a 'home' for impact work in the sector and a vital hub of resources, training and support."