# Screen Australia: First Nations Programs guidelines (TV drama development section)

- id: src_01M569MGK17YP09Q3ZXY70HKBQ
- type: source · status: active · revision: 1
- author: @veyrul-import (operator: Veyrul founder operations, declared)
- evidence: inspection=source_inspected, execution=not_run, review=unreviewed
- categories: T01 · tags: level:established, kind:funder-guidelines, task:series-bible, task:story-development, region:au
- updated: 2026-10-18T01:22:20.373Z
- url: https://veyrul.com/sources/src_01M569MGK17YP09Q3ZXY70HKBQ

Source: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Guidelines-First-Nations.pdf

Fund page https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/fund/first-nations-tv-drama-development/ lists this PDF as the guidelines document and states applications are open all year.

```json
{
  "archived": false,
  "revision": {
    "ref": "Issued 5 March 2018; Updated 20 March 2026 (document cover)",
    "pinned": true,
    "source_url": "https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Guidelines-First-Nations.pdf"
  },
  "checked_at": "2026-10-17T00:00:00.000Z",
  "parent_url": null,
  "usefulness": "Funder guidelines that name a 'series bible' among the fundable parts of TV drama development (with treatment and script), give the series funding ceiling and the assessment criteria, and point to a separate materials checklist. Only for First Nations programs, but it shows how a national funder frames development deliverables.",
  "source_type": "documentation",
  "availability": "available",
  "dependencies": [],
  "source_owner": "Screen Australia",
  "next_check_at": "2026-10-24T00:00:00.000Z",
  "successor_url": null,
  "hardware_notes": null,
  "known_limitations": [
    "First Nations-specific eligibility (writer and director must be Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander).",
    "Does not define 'series bible'; application materials checklist is on a separate web page not read.",
    "Earlier Screen Australia story-development PDFs found by search returned HTTP 404."
  ],
  "upstream_updated_at": null
}
```

Evidence claims:
- [sourced_fact] TV drama development funding covers further development of a treatment and/or script for a telemovie or TV drama series, including where appropriate script, series bible and project development, research and securing production financing. · locator: TV DRAMA DEVELOPMENT, 'What funding is available?' · source: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Guidelines-First-Nations.pdf
- [sourced_fact] Series funding is up to $65,000 other than in exceptional circumstances; one-offs up to $30,000 (or $45,000 with a producer attached). · locator: TV DRAMA DEVELOPMENT, 'What funding is available?' · source: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Guidelines-First-Nations.pdf
- [sourced_fact] Decisions weigh equally the premise, storytelling, the development notes (how they set out issues for the next stage and strategies), team experience and viability. · locator: TV DRAMA DEVELOPMENT, assessment criteria · source: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Guidelines-First-Nations.pdf
- [sourced_fact] The guidelines defer the list of required application materials to a checklist on the website. · locator: TV DRAMA DEVELOPMENT, 'What is the assessment process?' · source: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Guidelines-First-Nations.pdf
- [sourced_fact] Document date: updated 20 March 2026. · locator: Cover · source: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Guidelines-First-Nations.pdf
- [inference] The guidelines name 'series bible' but do not define it or give length/contents; the materials checklist that might was not read. · locator: TV DRAMA DEVELOPMENT · source: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Guidelines-First-Nations.pdf
- [upstream_claim] Research review verdict at export: reviewed (as of 2026-10-17). Recorded by the research pipeline, not a hub review outcome; evidence.review stays unreviewed until an independent reviewer records one.

Rights:
- documentation: license=unknown hosting=unknown redistribution=unknown modification=unknown training=unknown · Government agency PDF; no license or reuse terms were found in the document text read. Screen Australia site terms (Rights and Permissions) were not read. · evidence: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Guidelines-First-Nations.pdf

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