About Us

A review of employment models by the Australia Section of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) indicated that skills shortage is the single most critical agenda item for many broadcasters and suppliers in Radio, Television and Post Production and Film.

According to John Maizels, Chair of the SMPTE Australia Section, “The last 20 years has seen the Australian Broadcast Industry lose sight of clearly defined certification goals for engineering and technical staff. There is no training roadmap, no way to recognise individuals who have gained skills, and no growth path for new talent”.

The Australia Section of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers – globally, the industry’s premier standards-setting and professional support organisation - proposed a voluntary Certification scheme to recognise the skills of current practitioners and inspire newcomers to enter the Industry.

On 8 March 2006, SMPTE launched the Broadcast Industry Education Initiative to support development of skills and opportunities within the broadcast industry. This hallmark event was opened by the Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, the Hon. Gary Hardgrave and the CEO of FOXTEL, Kim Williams AM

A large steering committee comprising a range of broadcast leaders, working hard on a voluntary basis to sort out the purpose and directives of MITC.

At the SMPTE 2007 conference the first phase was launched, including the trial of a sample certification assessment on site. Several sponsors came forward at the point to help push the initiative from a project to full not-for-profit company formation.

As we conduct the inaugural assessment cycle on July 3, 2008 and proceed to the public launch on July 21, 2008, we are very proud to get all this support as we move towards restoring the learning culture in the media technology industry.