The charity was set up to help those in the Australian entertainment industry who have fallen on hard times, and they say that the high rate of suicide needs to be addressed.
The study, called Working In The Australian Entertainment Industry: Key Factors In Longevity And Transition, aims to provide a look in the reality of the health and financial circumstances of those working within the industry.
Wal Bishop, Chairman of Entertainment Assist, points out, “Entertainment Assist understands there is an enormous difference between public perception and the reality of the health and financial circumstances of many working within the industry.
“Spasmodic employment and irregular income takes its toll. Entertainers are often in the public eye and discretion and anonymity become even more important in the way they access support services. We look forward to the research results so we can identify the pitfalls of the industry, how people cope, what they need and what are the barriers to support.”
Entertainment Assist has engaged a research team at the College of Arts, at Victoria University, to undertake the research project. It will identify the risk factors for industry workers including musicians, dancers, actors, comedians, circus performers, directors, producers, technicians and backstage workers.
The project will be conducted over three phases. It will start with qualitative comprehensive face to face interviews with representatives from the industry. That will be followed by a large scale online industry survey.
In the third phase, the findings will be used to develop support and education to prevent and/or diminish the effects of the pitfalls of working in the industry.
For more information on what Entertainment Assist does, go to entertainmentassist.org.au.
