career development | SCOPE project

SCOPE project

SCOPE (Securing Career Opportunities and Professional Employment), is a unique professional development program providing career and education support services to Australia's professional dance sector.

Conducted by the Australian Sports Commission in collaboration with the Australia Council for the Arts, and the Australian Dance Council—Ausdance, this fully funded initiative is delivered by the National Coach and Athlete Career and Education program.

Visit the SCOPE website to see the 2008 SCOPE participants.

About the program

The philosophy of the SCOPE program promotes a balanced approach to the career of professional dancers and choreographers through a process of self-exploration, informed decision making and short and long-term planning. The aim of the program is to ensure dance artists proactively participate in and effectively manage their own career, education and personal development needs.

SCOPE aims to address three main areas:

• To improve the earning capacity of individual dance artists through career and education guidance and planning
• More effective management of the knowledge capital of dance artists through capturing information, mentoring and knowledge sharing, and
• To assist the dance arts community identify opportunities to create human capital through successful expansion, diversification and/or transition to alternative careers within the sector.

By utilising the infrastructure and expertise of the National Coach and Athlete Career and Education program, SCOPE has been developed to specifically meet the needs of the dance sector.

Services provided

SCOPE is a personalised program tailored to meet individual needs. Services to dance artists and choreographers include:

• individual assessment and career counselling
• the development of a career and education action plan
• personal and professional development courses
• employment preparation
• access to a tertiary scholarship fund
• mentoring
• business and industry networking and referrals
• access to ACE online – an interactive career development web site designed exclusively for elite performers
• access to a national network of career professionals
• transition planning and support.

The ACE/SCOPE website has detailed information on the following:

• the 2007 participants
• Frequently asked questions
  
• Supporters
• Program Coordinator
  

Professional resources

• Insurance
• Safe Dance
• Copyright
• Australia Dancing
• Treading Pathways
• SCOPE