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Help

Mentoring

Mentorships, workshops and free advice for independent musicians in Sydney and NSW.

Open Now and Coming Up

Tap a program to see what you get, who can apply and how.

One-to-One Mentoring 4

Generations Western Sydney Music FellowshipOpens 19 Oct
Sound NSW, with the Powerhouse and Blacktown Arts
  • You get$25,000, six months of mentoring from two Sound NSW industry assessors and a six-month studio residency at Blacktown Arts. There are two fellowships.
  • WhoEarly-career contemporary musicians, songwriters and producers 18 and over who live in or have strong ties to Western Sydney. You must be unsigned, with no label or publishing deal, and have an ABN or a funds administrator. Experimental, classical, opera and community music can't apply.
  • HowApply on SmartyGrants once the round opens.
  • WhenOpens on 19 October and closes on 16 November 2026 at 2pm.
  • Linknsw.gov.au
APRA AMCOS 23% Mentorship2026 round closed
APRA AMCOS
  • You getSix months with an industry mentor, from July to December, with at least six meetings and $3,000 for expenses.
  • WhoWomen and gender-diverse APRA AMCOS members 18 and over, in any genre. Joining APRA AMCOS is free. There are ten places in Australia.
  • HowOnline application.
  • WhenThe 2026 round opened in April and closed on 3 May.
  • Linkapraamcos.com.au
Next Level Creative Mentorships2026 cohort chosen
Accessible Arts
  • You getUp to 20 hours of one-to-one support and $3,000 for a project.
  • Whod/Deaf and disabled artists in NSW. Musicians can apply.
  • HowApply to Accessible Arts when the next round opens.
  • WhenThe 2026 cohort was announced in April.
  • Linkaarts.net.au
Songsmiths2026 round closed
Accessible Arts, Arts Access Victoria and APRA AMCOS
  • You get$3,250 plus super across three stages, including six days of writing and recording at City of Sydney Creative Studios. Up to twelve places.
  • Whod/Deaf and disabled songwriters 18 and over who live in NSW.
  • HowApply to Accessible Arts when the next round opens.
  • WhenThe 2026 round closed on 8 February.
  • Linkaarts.net.au

Release and Marketing Help 2

FBi Radio Music Open DayFirst Monday monthly
FBi Radio, Alexandria
  • You getA drop-in chat with FBi's music team about your releases and gigs. FBi also listens to submitted music every Wednesday to choose what goes on air.
  • WhoAnyone. FBi plays Sydney music.
  • HowDrop in to 44 to 54 Botany Rd, Alexandria, from 3pm to 6pm on the first Monday of the month. Send music to [email protected] by Tuesday midnight for that week's listening.
  • WhenMonthly. The next open day is Monday 2 November.
  • Linkfbi.radio
UNIFIED Ground FloorRolling
UNIFIED Music Group and Community Music
  • You getSix months of mentoring and workshops on media, touring, social media, sync and money. It includes marketing and pitching to streaming services for your next release, and a live slot at a UNIFIED event.
  • WhoAustralian residents 16 and over with three original songs and a release planned in the next twelve months.
  • HowApply at least four months before your release. Ask about any costs or conditions before you sign up.
  • WhenApplications are taken all year.
  • Linkcommunitymusic.net

Workshops and Cohorts 6

EQUALIZESydney, 10 Oct
APRA AMCOS
  • You getA free one-day workshop from 9:45am to 4:30pm with guided songwriting, small-group co-writing, song-to-demo sessions and time to meet other writers.
  • WhoWomen and gender-diverse APRA AMCOS members. Joining APRA AMCOS is free.
  • HowRegister on Eventbrite through the APRA AMCOS page.
  • WhenSydney on Saturday 10 October 2026.
  • Linkapraamcos.com.au
Magesongs Songwriting WorkshopNext 21 Oct
Jacques M. Gentil, on Meetup
  • You getA free monthly songwriting workshop on Zoom, with peer feedback on songs.
  • WhoSongwriters at any level.
  • HowJoin the Sydney Songwriters Workshop group on Meetup and RSVP.
  • WhenMonthly. The next session is on 21 October.
  • Linkmeetup.com
Wamarra Music LabApplications closed
MusicNSW, in Redfern
  • You getSix free workshops with mentoring from First Nations industry people.
  • WhoFirst Nations musicians 18 and over who can get to Redfern.
  • HowApply to MusicNSW when the next lab is announced.
  • WhenApplications closed on 20 September. The 2026 lab runs from 1 October to 5 November.
  • Linkmusicnsw.com
RESONATE2026 round closed
APRA AMCOS
  • You getSongwriting and production camps. The hip hop stream pays a $1,000 honorarium and covers flights and accommodation.
  • WhoFirst Nations songwriters and producers 18 and over, anywhere in Australia.
  • HowOnline application for each stream.
  • WhenThe hip hop stream closed on 18 September and runs in Brisbane from 9 to 12 November. The songwriter and producer streams ran in June.
  • Linkapraamcos.com.au
Burranbala2026 round closed
Ensemble Offspring
  • You getA $1,000 honorarium and a week-long residency at Bundanon.
  • WhoFirst Nations musicians from NSW.
  • HowExpression of interest to Ensemble Offspring.
  • WhenEOIs closed on 29 June. The 2026 residency runs from 1 to 6 December.
  • Linkensembleoffspring.com
Level Up ClubApplications close Feb 2027
I Heart Songwriting Club, online
  • You getA twelve-month online cohort with about four live sessions a month. It costs $3,564, or $2,970 paid upfront.
  • WhoSongwriters 16 and over with at least 40 songs written and one mastered track.
  • HowOnline application.
  • WhenThe next cohort starts around March 2027, and applications close in February.
  • Linkiheartsongwritingclub.com

Advice Any Time 5

MusicNSW CoordinatorsBook any time
MusicNSW
  • You getA meeting with a MusicNSW coordinator. Membership is free and includes tailored advice.
  • WhoNSW musicians. There are coordinators for First Nations artists, Western Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and six regional areas.
  • HowUse the Book a meeting link next to the coordinator on the contact page.
  • WhenAny time.
  • Linkmusicnsw.com
Arts Law Centre of AustraliaAny time
Arts Law
  • You getLegal advice by phone on contracts, copyright and other questions. It's free for artists who meet the means test. Artists in the Black is a free service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
  • WhoArtists anywhere in Australia.
  • HowSend a question through the online legal query form. Arts Law then calls you.
  • WhenAny time.
  • Linkartslaw.com.au
Support Act24/7, free
Support Act
  • You getA free 24/7 wellbeing helpline on 1800 959 500 covering mental health, career, money and conflict. Money Moves is a free online money course that takes under an hour.
  • WhoAnyone working in Australian music.
  • HowRing the helpline, or start the course on the site.
  • WhenAny time.
  • Linksupportact.org.au
Song FeedbackAny time
Australian Songwriters Association
  • You getWritten feedback on a song for $33 for members or $44 for non-members, or $22 for lyrics only. Membership is $99 a year, or $49 for under 18s and over 65s.
  • WhoSongwriters anywhere.
  • HowSend the song through the association's site.
  • WhenAny time.
  • Linkasai.org.au
MusicNSW Social ClubThrough the year
MusicNSW
  • You getFree meetups for musicians and people in the industry.
  • WhoAnyone.
  • HowWatch the MusicNSW page for the next date.
  • WhenA few times a year.
  • Linkmusicnsw.com

Under 25 5

Home BaseWeekly, Mondays
Heaps Decent, at City of Sydney Creative Studios on Bathurst St
  • You getFree weekly studio sessions with one-on-one mentoring from working musicians in songwriting, production and recording. You leave with your own mixed track.
  • WhoAges 15 to 25. LGBTQI+, First Nations and disabled young people get priority.
  • HowRegister online.
  • WhenMondays, 12 to 4:30pm. Email [email protected] for this term's dates.
  • Linkwhatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
The Push Music Industry Mentoring2026 round closed
The Push
  • You getAbout 150 hours of work experience at a music organisation, with a mentor and an allowance for travel and meals.
  • WhoAges 18 to 25, anywhere in Australia.
  • HowOnline application.
  • WhenThe last round took applications from 25 June to 8 July 2026, for placements from August to December.
  • Linkthepush.com.au
SongMakers Academy2026 Academy full
APRA AMCOS, with Sound NSW
  • You getA free songwriting and production academy with working songwriters. Regional travel is covered.
  • WhoAges 16 to 19 who have done a SongMakers workshop in the past three years.
  • HowApply through SongMakers.
  • WhenThe 2026 NSW Academy runs from 6 to 8 October in Woolloomooloo. Applications have closed.
  • Linksongmakers.com.au
Bondi WAVE2026 program finished
Waverley Council
  • You getTwelve weeks with rotating mentors, a concert and a studio recording.
  • WhoAges 12 to 18.
  • HowEmail [email protected].
  • WhenThe 2026 program ran from May to August.
  • Linkwaverley.nsw.gov.au
Conscious NXT2026 intake finished
Conscious, in Campbelltown and Macarthur
  • You getTen sessions of mentoring in songwriting, production, performance and the business side. You write and release an original song.
  • WhoAges 15 to 18 in the Macarthur region. Hip hop, rap and R&B.
  • HowApplication form.
  • WhenThe 2026 academy ran from June to August.
  • Linkconscious.org.au

Grants That Pay for a Mentor

Some grants list mentoring as something you can spend the money on. MusicNSW Tone Shift gives up to $2,500 to women, trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming musicians, with one-on-one help on the application, and closes on 31 October. Creative Australia's Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups funds mentoring and residencies, and its next round closes on 2 March 2027. The Music Australia Export Development Fund pays for co-writing camps and producer time overseas, and closes on 13 October. The details are on the Grants page.

More programs for particular groups are on the Programs by Community page, and programs for under 25s are on the All Ages and Youth page.

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