Creative Workplaces Information Session - DiGiT 2025

If you’re an artist or creative worker, chances are you’ve had to figure out contracts, payments, or workplace behaviour mostly on your own. It can get tricky knowing what’s fair — especially when you’re just starting out or freelancing.

That’s where Creative Workplaces comes in. They’re all about building fair, safe and respectful environments across the arts. For the first time, Director Kate Schaffner is coming up to Darwin to have an open chat with emerging artists, educators and local arts orgs about how to protect yourself and your work.

Kate will share practical advice, resources, and real examples to help you navigate work offers, negotiations and what to do if something doesn’t feel right.

It’s a free session, and everyone’s welcome — whether you’re an artist, teacher, or part of an arts organisation. Stick around after the talk for a relaxed catch-up with drinks and nibbles.

About the Speaker

Kate Schaffner is the inaugural Director of Creative Workplaces, a new part of Creative Australia established to promote fair, safe and respectful workplaces for the arts and culture sector. Kate is a dedicated workplace relations practitioner with over 16 years’ experience. She has worked on the implementation of several workplace relations policy reforms including in response to the Respect@Work Recommendations and the coronavirus pandemic. 

Kate is a strong advocate for plain language communication, and a longstanding champion for clear and accessible information for workers and businesses. Kate holds an Executive Master of Public Administration from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor

 of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tasmania.