Creative Spring School Holiday Programs for Neurodivergent Young People in Northwest Sydney

For many neurodivergent young people, creativity can be a powerful way to communicate, connect with others, build confidence and discover what they are capable of.

These spring holidays, The Australian Academy of Media is running four hands-on School Holiday Programs for neurodivergent young people and young people with low support needs, including school leavers who are interested in exploring the creative industries.

Rather than simply filling the school holidays, the two-day workshops give participants an opportunity to step into a creative studio, try something new and experience what it is like to work on a real creative project.

What is create.able.?

create.able. is a creative arts program for neurodivergent individuals aged 17–35 with low support needs who are looking to develop skills and explore pathways into the creative industries.

In create.able., participants learn the way creative professionals do — directing, filming, editing, animating, designing, performing and creating — with guidance from industry staff experienced in supporting young people with learning disabilities.

Participants work in a purpose-built creative studio where their interests and ideas can become real projects.

Our aim is to provide a safe and supportive environment where participants can feel excited, engaged and heard, while developing practical skills across film, screen, drama, animation, design, music and the creative arts.

The create.able. Spring School Holiday Program

The create.able. Spring 2026 School Holiday Program includes four different two-day creative workshops, giving young people the opportunity to explore an area that interests them.

The taster programs have been designed to help participants build confidence, develop practical creative and vocational skills, strengthen communication and teamwork, and experience real-world creative projects. They also provide an introduction to the create.able. school-leaver transition and employment pathway programs.

Digital Art & Design

For young people who love drawing, design and visual creativity, Digital Art & Design introduces the tools and techniques used by creative professionals.

Participants will explore design fundamentals, colour theory and digital illustration while developing an original piece of artwork from concept through to completion.

By the end of the two days, participants will have created a ready-to-print design that could become a T-shirt, sticker, poster or merchandise item.

Monday 28 & Tuesday 29 September 2026

Animation Fundamentals

How does an idea on a screen begin to move?

Animation Fundamentals introduces participants to keyframes, timing, movement and professional animation software. Participants will also explore creative techniques including motion graphics, titles, transitions, masking and rotoscoping.

It's a practical introduction for young people curious about animation and what working in the animation industry could look like.

Wednesday 30 September & Thursday 1 October 2026

Drama Lab

Our Drama Lab is designed to give participants a relaxed and supportive place to explore acting and performance.

Across the two days, participants will take part in acting, improvisation, storytelling, character creation and drama activities designed to build creativity, communication, teamwork and confidence.

No previous acting experience is required.

Tuesday 6 & Wednesday 7 October 2026

Short Film

For the filmmakers, actors and storytellers, our Short Film Program takes participants through the experience of making a short movie from scratch.

Participants will develop a story and characters before getting hands-on with directing, cameras, sound and performing on screen.

Everyone has an opportunity to contribute to the filmmaking process, experiment with different creative roles and collaborate towards one goal: creating a finished short film together.

Thursday 8 & Friday 9 October 2026

More than a school holiday activity

Our create.able. School Holiday Program is designed to be fun — but there is a bigger purpose behind it.

For some participants, two days of animation, filmmaking, design or drama might simply uncover a new interest.

For others, it could be the beginning of discovering an area they would genuinely like to pursue.

The program provides small groups, a clear daily structure, personalised attention and a strengths-based approach within a safe and supervised environment. Participants can work towards greater independence and confidence, improved communication, social and community participation, teamwork and practical creative skills.

For school leavers in particular, the workshops can also provide an opportunity to experience create.able. before considering one of our longer-term creative, transition or employment pathway programs.

Real creativity. Real skills. Real possibilities.

We believe neurodivergent young people should have opportunities to discover what they are good at — and to see where those abilities could take them.

create.able. provides a space where participants don't have to fit into a traditional classroom mould.

They can make something. Perform something. Film something. Design something.

And perhaps discover a creative direction they hadn't considered before.

The Spring School Holiday workshops run from 9:30am–3:00pm a The Australian Academy of Media’s Rouse Hill campus, with each two-day program priced at $520 per participant.

Places are limited. Express your interest in the Create.Able. Spring School Holiday Program today.

create.able. logo

Our goal is to help young people with neurodivergence or low support needs disability build real, work-ready creative skills that can contribute towards future opportunities in film, screen, media, animation, music, design and the broader creative arts.