The Independent Media Agencies of Australia (IMAA) has been nominated as a finalist in the prestigious 2024 LearnX global education awards.
The Academy has been nominated for several trophies at this year’s LearnX awards, including Best Learning Model – Best Learning (Industry Specific), Best Learning Model – Online Learning, Best eLearning Project – eLearning project, and Best eLearning Project – widespread eLearning implementation.
The annual LearnX Awards are held globally, celebrating learning and talent development projects across corporate, education, public and not-for-profit sectors. Now in its 16th year, the awards have recognised more than 2,500 projects from more than 30 countries worldwide, including hundreds of Australian initiatives.
The 2024 LearnX Award winners will be announced at a gala award ceremony at Melbourne’s Crown on November 26.
The IMAA Academy, launched in March last year, is the organisation’s most significant education initiative for the independent media agency sector. It was created to help address the national skills crisis and aims to future-proof the indie agency industry, upskilling staff and helping to attract talent to the sector.
The all-inclusive training program includes eight e-learning modules, covering media, audio, digital, cinema, TV, out-of-home, regional, and publishing and news, along with videos, digital glossaries, and podcasts featuring industry leaders and channel experts. Each module is IMAA certified, with participants receiving a course badge once they successfully complete each module.
Since launching, the IMAA Academy has trained hundreds of independent media professionals, while also offering in-person networking and training opportunities, coinciding with some of the module’s official releases.
The association also recently inked an innovative partnership with SBS for a new training module, focused on core inclusion skills, gender equity, cultural diversity, disability, First Nations, LGBTQI+, generational diversity and appropriate workplace behaviour.
Sam Buchanan
IMAA CEO, Sam Buchanan, said the LearnX nominations “solidify the importance of our investment in the Academy.”
“This program took more than two years to create, consultation with more than 70 media experts and more than 1,000 years of combined industry experience, to bring to fruition. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve delivered and achieved – it’s just another example of how the IMAA is leading the way in Australia’s media industry, helping to invest in the future of the sector,” he said.
Buchanan continued: “Since launching the IMAA Academy, we have trained hundreds of indie agency professionals, adding much-needed skill sets to our members and the broader media sector.
“The nominations for the LearnX Awards reflect our vision to create a truly innovative project, designed to help upskill and train talent. These awards are one of the most prized accolades for learning, talent and skill development – we’re incredibly proud just to be nominated.”