Screen Australia is thrilled to announce the appointment of Michele McDonald to the newly created role of POCU Advisor (Producer Offset and Co-production), starting 17 March 2025. The Producer Offset continues to be a cornerstone of the Australian screen industry, and Co-productions are becoming more important than ever for the future success of the sector. Here she shares her insights into the Producer Offset and Co-production programs and plans for the new role.
As POCU Senior Manager for over eight years, Michele McDonald has a wealth of experience in Screen Australia’s administration of the Producer Offset and Co-production programs and has observed the value of these essential programs to industry over the years. We spoke to her ahead of the announcement about the new role and its objectives for Screen Australia.
To get us started, what is the function of the Producer Offset and Co-production Unit (POCU)?
POCU is a specialised team within Screen Australia that administers the Producer Offset and the Official Co-production programs – two of the most vital, but at times complex, components of our local screen industry’s success.
Both programs were established by the Australian Government, and Screen Australia administers the programs according to established legislation and treaties. The Producer Offset and Co-production programs are entirely separate to Screen Australia’s direct funding pool – projects are not assessed creatively or based on the experience of a production team.
Our POCU team is made up of assessors who review projects under the relevant legislation and treaties, and issue provisional and final certifications, while also providing guidance to industry and producers about the application process and how to interpret the relevant guidelines.
Meanwhile Official Co-productions, or Co-pros, are projects made under one of the 14 bilateral arrangements (either treaties or memoranda of understanding) that Australia has with other countries to foster projects that will be internationally competitive. One of the key benefits of making an Official Co-production is that it will be considered a national production in each country and that means productions can unlock local rebates in those territories.
The Producer Offset is a refundable tax rebate that is uncapped for eligible producers and productions. It is a tax rebate paid on eligible expenditure, no matter how big or small, and is paid via the Australian Tax Office (ATO).
The Producer Offset provisional certificate can be a strong bargaining tool for Australian producers and assist in leveraging market interest, both domestically and internationally. Screen Australia has certified a rising number of Official Co-pro’s recently and it’s evident that they will be more important than ever for the future of the sector.
We’ve heard from screen practitioners that these two programs can be complex to navigate, so Screen Australia has created this new role to assist industry on how to best access them and provide a responsive, informed source of advice.
Tell us about your role and the new responsibilities this role supports.
The POCU Advisor is intended as a resource for industry. We recognise that applying for the Producer Offset and Co-production programs can be a detailed process that requires advance planning and there can be a lot involved administratively and financially.
This role will be able to provide guidance on the rebates available, the criteria that Screen Australia are required to assess, and how to apply once you choose what works for you. The aim of the role is to help producers to not only understand the process, but talk through the why – why we require what we need – and how to best provide the required information so that Screen Australia can assess applications quickly and avoid delays to processing those rebates.
More broadly, this role will ensure producers and filmmakers have all the information and resources to set up their production from the very beginning, and make informed choices for their slate – and ultimately their business – whether that’s advice for navigating Producer Offset or exploring new opportunities through Official Co-pro avenues.
In this new role, how do you plan to engage with the industry to ensure producers have access to the right information and support in navigating those complexities?
What I find really exciting is that this role will give me more time and opportunity to talk to industry across the board and provide bespoke and targeted guidance around specific issues producers might be facing. I’m passionate about the space and helping people access these important programs to support development across the industry. I’ll be a bridge between POCU and the industry to demystify the process of Producer Offset and navigate Official Co-productions .
Expect to see me at more industry events and seminars, hosting partnered content and presentations. Meeting with the state agencies, talking to state-based producers, spending more time with industry professionals such as accountants, auditors and finance companies, so that everyone is on the same page about both programs, understanding what the key challenges are and how to resolve them.
I’ll also be working within Screen Australia to develop additional resources and FAQs and targeting specific areas that may need explanation or that we notice producers seem to be struggling with.
Any advice on how best to work with you as POCU Advisor?
While the role is there to encourage dialogue between Screen Australia and industry about these important programs and to help navigate the application process, having a fundamental understanding of the basics will benefit the conversation.
As a first step, always familiarise yourself with the current guidelines, consult with your respective professional advisers and accountants, and review the resources on the Screen Australia website. The Producer Offset FAQs is an excellent tool that is updated regularly and that everyone should have a read of. There’s also podcast episodes and videos with advice. I really recommend people read through those before reaching out.
For Co-productions, the guidelines are a great place to start, and you can visit the Co-production webpage and see all the content made as Co-productions listed under the respective countries. There’s also some great podcasts of case studies that are really interesting and demonstrate how the co-production model is used.
Preparation and planning is vital. Once you’ve got an understanding of the programs, if there are any questions that might be impacting your production or development slate, then I can talk them through with you. This role is focused on driving opportunities for Australian production companies to best utilise the current Federal Government mechanisms in place and which pathways may be the best for you. It’s important to note that I cannot provide professional or legal advice (which is something we always recommend to all applicants), but I’m available to discuss options in relation to your circumstances.
What is the best way to contact you?
When I commence in the new role, I will be focusing on hearing from industry on any challenges they are facing in accessing the Producer Offset or Co-production programs. The best option is to email me with a short breakdown of your query at Michele.McDonald@screenaustralia.gov.au.
For more general enquiries you can always get in touch with the POCU team at pocu@screenaustralia.gov.au.
Find out more the Producer Offset and Co-production Unit:
- Guidelines and resources for applying for Producer Offset
- Podcast – Producer Offset Explainer
- More information about Official Co-productions
- Australia India Co-Production Treaty webinar
- Case Study – A tale of two Co-Pros
