Production Assistants
Reliable PAs and runners keeping your Australian production running smoothly from Sydney to Melbourne.
Film production in Australia demands PAs who understand the local environment — from navigating Sydney's production infrastructure to coordinating logistics in Melbourne and beyond. Our production assistants know the vendors, the routes, and the protocols that keep Australian shoots running on schedule. They handle everything from distributing call sheets and managing equipment to coordinating extras and running errands across the country.
We connect you with dependable production assistants through NeedAFixer's Australia network. Our PAs bring hands-on experience from features, commercials, and series shot across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and beyond. Each PA arrives ready to support your crew with local knowledge, professional discipline, and the energy that long shooting days demand.
ACT 01
Capabilities
Complete PA Services
From set support to office administration, our production assistants provide the reliable help your production needs to operate efficiently.
01
Set PAs
- On-set support
- Lock-ups & crowd control
- Talent escort
- Walkie distribution
- General set assistance
On-Set Support
02
Office PAs
- Production office support
- Phone & communication
- Filing & organization
- Copying & distribution
- General admin tasks
Office Operations
03
Runners & Drivers
- Equipment pickups
- Catering runs
- Document delivery
- Airport transfers
- General errands
Logistics Support
04
Equipment Support
- Equipment loading
- Truck organization
- Gear distribution
- Inventory assistance
- Wrap support
Physical Support
ACT 02
Why Us
Why Choose Our Production Assistants
01.
Local Knowledge
Our PAs know Australia inside out — from Sydney studio complexes to location logistics in Melbourne and Brisbane. They navigate local vendors, transport routes, and regional protocols so your production never misses a beat.
02.
Clear Communication
Native English-speaking PAs who communicate clearly with international crews and local vendors, ensuring nothing gets lost in translation on your Australian production.
03.
Studio Familiarity
Our PAs know the major studio complexes including Fox Studios Australia in Sydney, Docklands Studios in Melbourne, and Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast.
04.
Resourceful & Adaptable
When plans change — and they always do — our PAs solve problems on the fly. Whether it's sourcing a last-minute prop, finding an alternative route, or handling an unexpected vendor issue, they keep your Australian production moving.
On Location
Office and set PAs feeding Disney Studios Sydney, Village Roadshow Gold Coast, and Docklands Melbourne production pipelines
Here is how this works in practice. Our production assistant network covers office PAs (production office support, paperwork, scheduling, talent and crew coordination) and set PAs (lockup, walkie comms, traffic control, runner duties, art-department support) across Disney Studios Australia Sydney (formerly Fox), Village Roadshow Studios Gold Coast (largest Southern Hemisphere tricky), Docklands Studios Melbourne, Adelaide Studios under SAFC, and remote location shoots from the outback to Tasmania.
Here is the short of it. PAs route through MEAA-aligned entry-level training and AFTRS, VCA Melbourne, RMIT, Griffith Film School Brisbane, NIDA, Curtin University Perth, USC Sydney, and Bond University Gold Coast pipelines — Aboriginal student support programs at AFTRS feed the Indigenous PA bench under AIATSIS protocols. Day-to-day tooling includes Movie Magic Scheduling, StudioBinder, Castifi, Yamdu, Movie Slate, and standard production-office software stacks.
Here is the breakdown. PA work scales across the global productions that drive Australian rebate take-up — Mad Max franchise (Miller — Fury Road 2015 6 Oscars, Furiosa 2024), Matrix trilogy (Wachowskis 1999-2003 Disney Studios Sydney), Star Wars Episodes II/III (2002 + 2005 Sydney Fox), Moulin Rouge! (Luhrmann 2001), Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017 Village Roadshow), Thor Ragnarok and Love and Thunder (Waititi Gold Coast), Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (Wan), Wolverine (2013), Lion 2016 (Davis), Hacksaw Ridge 2016 (Gibson), Master and Commander (Weir 2003), and Elvis (Luhrmann 2022 Best Picture Oscar nom).
Here is what that looks like on the ground. Productions structure through the Producer Offset 30 percent, Location Offset 30 percent (QAPE 30M+ AUD), PDV Offset 30 percent stacked with state rebates above 40 percent good. Safe Work Australia WHS Act, Fair Work Ombudsman labor framework, Superannuation 11 percent, GST 10 percent, Privacy Act 1988 / OAIC apply.
ACT 03
FAQ
PA Department Expertise
What do production assistants do on a Australian set?
PAs provide essential support across all aspects of production — from set lockups and talent escort to equipment handling and office administration. In Australia, they also help navigate local logistics, vendor relationships, and location-specific requirements that international crews may not be familiar with.
Do your PAs speak English?
Yes, all our PAs are native English speakers who communicate clearly and professionally with international crews. They also understand Australian industry terminology, local vendor relationships, and regional logistics to keep your production running without communication issues.
What are typical working hours for PAs in Australia?
Standard shooting days in Australia run 10-12 hours under Fair Work guidelines, with required turnaround periods and penalty rates for overtime, weekends, and public holidays.
How quickly can you staff PAs?
For planned productions, we recommend booking 1-2 weeks ahead. However, we maintain relationships with reliable PAs across Australia for last-minute needs and can often staff additional positions with 24-48 hours notice.
Do you provide overnight or weekend PAs?
Yes, we staff PAs for all schedules including overnight shoots, weekend work, and split days. Australian workplace standards follow Fair Work regulations with structured overtime rates and mandatory rest periods between shooting days.
What experience do your PAs have?
Our PA roster ranges from entry-level professionals eager to learn to experienced PAs with multiple feature credits on Australian productions. We match experience levels to your needs — key positions get experienced PAs while general support can develop newer talent.
Related Services
Related Support Roles
ACT 04 — On Set
Need Production Assistants?
Tell us about your production and we'll provide reliable PA support.