The Games Residency is a 52-week program for game developers, focused on developing the skills and knowledge required to develop new games, games studios and businesses in the games industry. Participants will be provided with residence, access to leading industry experts, business mentoring and income support payments (if eligible for Self-Employment Allowance).

The Games Residency operates in the style of an Artist-In-Residence program. Typically, these programs provide office space, industry expertise, and funding for artists to create work.

Screen Queensland will support successful applicants with:

• 39 weeks of permanent office space in the SQhub to operate as a games studio
• an additional 13 weeks of casual space at the SQhub to facilitate transition from the residency
• regular meetings with games industry leaders to provide feedback and mentorship to residents
• access to Screen Queensland’s Games Coordinator for industry guidance
• an industry launch party to celebrate the games created by residents.

Early in the program participants will engage in prototyping exercises and be supported in forming teams. Residents will be encouraged to start new projects using their expanded business skills, although each participant will ultimately choose how they engage with the Residency to develop their business.

The Games Residency is designed in collaboration with Birdifi Bridge, a Workforce Australia Self-Employment Assistance provider. The Self-Employment Assistance program helps eligible participants become financially independent through their own small business. As part of the residency, Birdifi Bridge will provide:

• 12 months Small Business Coaching from a dedicated business mentor
• Self-Employment Allowance payments for up to 39 weeks, and Rental Assistance for up to 26 weeks (if eligible). Noting that all income support and rental assistance payments are paid as part of the Self-Employment Assistance program and subject to the eligibility and ongoing requirements of Workforce Australia.

Birdifi Bridge will also provide participants with access to a range of additional complimentary accelerator services such as networking and additional learning to support the self-employment journey.

Please note that while applicants will have access to the SQhub space (including all the typical features of a co-working space), residents must provide their own development computers and equipment.

For clarity, income support payments under the residency are paid through the Workforce Australia Self-Employment Assistance program Small Business Coaching. To be eligible for funding, you must meet the requirements for funding under this service.

To be eligible for the Games Residency, applicants must:

• be a Bona Fide Queenslander according to Screen Queensland’s definition.
• not currently be employed full-time by a games company
• be experienced with using software tools to contribute to the development of digital games
• available to participate in all shortlisting and onboarding processes
• meet the eligibility requirements for Workforce Australia Self-Employment Assistance Small Business Coaching
• meet the eligibility requirements for Self-Employment Allowance payments under the Small Business Coaching, or be able to self-support yourself during the period of the residency

Applicants with qualifications from relevant tertiary games courses are eligible but such qualifications are not a prerequisite to application.

Screen Queensland will aim to have a good spread of production, art, game design, and programming skills in the program.The program is open to people from all backgrounds. Screen Queensland encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from all under-represented backgrounds.

Eligibility for Workforce Australia Self-Employment Assistance Small Business Coaching (excluding allowance)

To be eligible for Workforce Australia’s Self-Employment Assistance Small Business Coaching service delivered by Birdifi Bridge, applicants must:

• be at least 18 years of age
• not be prohibited by law from working in Australia
• not be an overseas visitor on a working holiday visa or an overseas student studying in Australia
• not be an undischarged bankrupt
• intend to develop a business in the games industry, and the business idea is assessed as viable and eligible by Birdifi Bridge
• have a business plan approved by Birdifi Bridge (you will be supported to develop a business plan as part of the residency onboarding process)
• intend to operate your business for the required hours each week (as identified in your Business Plan) for the duration of your participation in Small Business Coaching
• not have received Small Business Coaching in the past 12 months
• agree to enter into a Small Business Coaching Agreement.

Applicants who wish to receive Self-Employment Allowance and Rental Assistance whilst on Small Business Coaching will also need to meet the additional eligibility requirements for Self-Employment Allowance and Rental Assistance.

Eligibility for Self-Employment Allowance and Rental Assistance

To be eligible for Workforce Australia’s Self-Employment Allowance and continue getting Rental Assistance, applicants must:

• meet the eligibility requirements for Workforce Australia’s Self-Employment Assistance Small Business Coaching,
• Receiving eligible Income Support payments from Services Australia on the day before commencing Small Business Coaching. Eligible income support payments include (but are not limited to) JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, AusStudy, ABSTUDY, Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment and Carers Payment.
• Receiving Rental Assistance payments from Services Australia on the day before commencing Small Business Coaching.

In some instances, participants are able to transfer to Self-Employment Allowance after commencing Small Business Coaching. To do so, participants will need to satisfy Services Australia eligibility requirements for income support.

The Self-Employment Allowance is equal to the single, 22 or over, no children rate of JobSeeker payment. It is paid for up to 39 weeks from the commencement of Small Business Coaching. The rate of payment is not affected by the income from your game development business. You can receive income from outside your business (such as from other work or investments). However if your external income is greater than twice the basic rate of Self-Employment Allowance in a given financial quarter it will affect the amount of your payments.

Most participants in receipt of Income Support Payments will be required to transfer to Self-Employment Allowance upon commencement of their Small Business Coaching Agreement. However, participants may choose to remain on their current Income Support Payment in certain circumstances.

If participants are already receiving Rental Assistance payments on the day before they commence Small Business Coaching, they will continue to receive payments at the same rate (and subject to the same conditions) paid from Services Australia for up to 26 weeks.

For more details about Self-Employment Assistance, please refer to the websites of  Workforce Australia or Birdifi Bridge.

Screen Queensland requires applicants to apply through SmartyGrants, providing the following:

• details about yourself and your engagement plans with the residency
• confirmation that you meet the eligibility requirements, including for Self-Employment Assistance (where applicable)
• your CV with a weblink to your portfolio
• a 250-300 word cover letter or video about yourself, detailing your game development skillset, and how you plan to engage with the program
• two (2) written references

Screen Queensland is committed to supporting the participation of applicants from under-represented groups. Please reach out to Screen Queensland if you would like to discuss adapting our application to be more accessible for you.

For regional applicants (those living more than 150km outside of the major metropolitan hubs of Brisbane and the City of Gold Coast) looking to participate in the program Screen Queensland may be able to support you with modest relocation funding. Please reach out to our team to discuss your options.

To participate in the residency, participants must commit to:

• work from the SQHub for at least 60% of the week for the first 39 weeks of the residency (applicants may request flexibility in exceptional circumstances)
• participate in industry events and engage with other participants throughout the residencywork to achieve your game development and business goals
• engage fully in the Self-Employment Assistance Small Business Coaching and meet these requirements.

Applicants should note that failure to meet participation requirements could result in cancellation of Residency and SQhub access.

Self-Employment Assistance Small Business Coaching Requirements

To participate in the Small Business Coaching, delivered by Birdifi Bridge, participants will be required to meet the requirements outlined in their Small Business Coaching Agreement, including:

• engaging with Birdifi Bridge throughout your participation in Small Business Coaching, including attending business mentoring every 8 weeks
• operate your business in accordance with your approved Business Plan (help to develop your business plan will be provided in the residency onboarding process)
• work the required hours in your business (as identified in your Business Plan)
• obtain and maintain appropriate business insurance for the duration of the 12 months coaching
• provide relevant financial information to Birdifi Bridge when required (at least quarterly)
• inform Birdifi Bridge of relevant changes to your circumstances.

Applicants should note that failure to meet these requirements could result in cancellation of your Small Business Coaching (and any payments afforded through the coaching) and in cancellation of participation in the residency and SQhub access.

Upon receipt of applications, Screen Queensland and Birdifi Bridge will review and shortlist applications. Shortlisted applicants will be required to participate in a 4-day workshop on ‘Exploring Self Employment in the Games Industry’. The purpose of the workshop is to help applicants:

• gain a better understanding of what’s involved when starting a business in the Games Industry
• generate and validate business ideas with potential commerciality within the Games industry (ideas that can become businesses) to further develop
• make an informed decision as to whether self-employment in the Games Industry is right for them.

This workshop is anticipated to be run over 4 days, in a hybrid online and face-to-face model. Applicants will be expected to participate in person for 3 of the days at the Birdifi Bridge Brisbane City office. Participants can expect homework during and immediately after the workshop.

Participants will be further assessed based on their participation in this workshop and offers of residency made at the conclusion of the workshop (offers are subject to successful completion of the Residency Onboarding process).

Successful applicants will be required to participate in a Residency onboarding process where they will need to develop a Business Plan (and Cash Flow Forecast) and apply for Small Business Coaching. Successful completion of the Business Plan (and Cash Flow Forecast) is a requirement of acceptance in the Self-Employment Assistance Small Business Coaching program. Birdifi Bridge will support participants in the development of this business plan and application to the Small Business Coaching. Failure to meet these requirements will effect your ability to commence Small Business Coaching and participate in the residency.

The proposed dates for the Screen Queensland Games Residency, including the application and onboarding activities are included in the table below and in the SmartyGrants application form. Whilst all efforts will be made to meet the expected dates, the dates may be subject to change.