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Advocacy

Advocacy

As the state advocacy body for dance, coupled with a voice in the national network, Ausdance WA champions the call for recognition of the value of the dance sector at every opportunity. We contribute to industry research, policy reviews and development and ensure that the voice for dance in Western Australia is heard at both state and national levels. We bring expert knowledge and input from key stakeholders to policy reviews and developments to ensure the best outcomes for our sector – companies, organisations, teachers across all contexts, and independent dance artists and students.

Some of our recent highlights in this space includes:

  • Child Safety in Dance
    Ausdance WA is committed to fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for all children and young people engaged in dance. We actively support initiatives that increase awareness, understanding, and compliance with child safety practices across the dance sector. In order to understand the specific challenges, risks and environments currently experienced in dance studios and schools in WA, Ausdance WA formed the Child Safe Dance Advisory Group in late 2024.In October 2025, we released a suite of dance-specific resources for the WA dance community to support the context we work in and address specific risks around the safety and wellbeing of young people. Find out more.
  • Whole of Life Engagement with Dance
    The ‘Whole of Life Engagement with Dance: Training and Careers as Qualified Dance-Health Specialists in Western Australia’ discussion paper seeks to broaden the professional career opportunities for professionally qualified dancers in the dance industry and in the allied health sectors. We believe that a robust dance industry not only sustains artists but also delivers significant value to the wider community and passionately advocate to peak government bodies, policy and decision makers for greater recognition of dance’s multiple health benefits across the human lifespan. Read the paper.
  • Supporting the Establishment of Dance Teacher Traineeships in WA
    Nationally, Ausdance has been a leader in promoting the ongoing education and training of dance teachers in Australia for nearly 50 years. While the private dance studio industry in Australia is currently unregulated, the absence of professionally trained and qualified teachers of dance is a critical issue. Long term, the sector seeks to pursue the introduction of compulsory qualifications for teaches of dance, however, attaining qualifications comes at a cost which many dance studio owners struggle to incur on behalf of their teachers and assistant teachers. We hope that the establishment of a traineeship (CUA30320 Certificate III in Assistant Dance Teaching and CUA40320 Certificate IV Dance Teaching & Management) supports both the affordability and increased uptake of training, ultimately increasing the quality of the teaching of dance and the safety of dance students. Find out more.

Submissions

Submission to the National Office for Child Safety

February 2025

The national Ausdance network has made a landmark submission for dance to the National Office for Child Safety in response to its Child Safety Annual Reporting Framework consultation paper.

It is not possible to overstate the urgency expressed by Ausdance members to comprehensively address the issue of child safety. The overwhelming response of the dance sector – following substantial consultation over more than four years – is that it should be better regulated so the safety of children in organisations is improved.

The national Ausdance network has championed ‘Safe Dance’ since 1990. Currently, improving safety in dance environments, particularly for children, is a key priority for the network.

The National Office for Child Safety’s proposed child safety annual reporting framework aims to encourage and support organisations through capability building to implement good practice child safety policies and processes to embed cultures that prioritise the best interests of all children.

Read Submission

Ausdance National Pre-Budget Submission

December 2024

The national and state/territory peak bodies for dance, Ausdance National and the federated Ausdance network, welcome the opportunity to make a pre-budget submission on behalf of hundreds of thousands of practising dancers, students, choreographers, teachers and small business owners.

In Australia, 573,726 adults and 387,617 children participate regularly in dance activities. According to Fitness Australia, dance is the third most popular form of recreational activity. It is a part of everyday Australians’ lives, and the diversity and impact of its sectors and industry practice needs recognition in all new arts policies.

The 2025 federal budget should aim to recognise the social, economic, health/well-being, and cultural value of the arts in Australia, i.e. the arts in society as opposed to ‘arts’ as entertainment. The budget should respond to the evidence of the lifelong impact, influence and outcomes of dance participation, businesses, communities, organisations, health and education.

Read Submission

Ausdance WA is funded by the State Government of Western Australia through the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport

 

The community of Ausdance WA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of all Lands and Countries on this continent. We pay particular respect to Elders, Cultural and Community Leaders, and emerging leaders. With this understanding of the country’s First Peoples, we are grateful for our place in learning and serving dance, Arts and Culture in Western Australia.

Always Was. Always Will Be.

PO Box 3048
Yokine WA 6060

wa@ausdance.org.au