Fadil Zamroni during his placement at Disruptor Media
Overview
The Professional Placements program, delivered on behalf of the Australian Government, facilitates short-term business placements and is designed to grow and strengthen business relationships between Australia and Southeast Asia. In July 2025, a key placement was hosted in Wollongong, New South Wales, spotlighting collaboration between creative industries in Indonesia and Australia.
Participant
Fadil Zamroni
Senior Animator, Lumine (Indonesia)
Fadil, a skilled animator with deep knowledge of production workflows at Lumine, a Jakarta-based 3D animation studio, was selected for a two-week placement with Disruptor Media in Australia. With over a decade of experience in editing, audio compositing, and motion graphics, Lumine saw Fadil as the ideal candidate to share expertise and absorb new skills.
This placement marked Fadil’s first time outside Indonesia. Initially apprehensive about working in a foreign country, he quickly embraced the opportunity as exciting and transformative.
“At first I was nervous because I’d be on my own in a different country, but now that I’m here, it’s exciting. I’ve shared a lot about my workflow, and learned so much about re-colourisation from the team here. We’ve really exchanged knowledge.”
Host Organisation
Disruptor Media, Wollongong
A Media Company Restoring, Acquiring & Distributing Film
Disruptor Media is a content-driven company operating across Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia. Specialising in film restoration and curation for video-on-demand platforms, Disruptor is deeply invested in independent storytelling and creative collaboration. The team hosted Fadil for hands-on experience with their systems and workflows, with a particular focus on re-colourisation.
Participant Experience and Insights
During his placement, Fadil gained direct exposure to film restoration workflows and was particularly focused on re-colourisation techniques, a critical area Lumine is beginning to explore. He also improved his English-language communication and engaged in professional and cultural exchanges.
“The main thing I’ll take back is what I’ve learned about re-colourisation. Disruptor has systems already in place, and now I can bring those ideas back to Lumine. I’ve also realised that even though we’re in different countries, the way we work is very similar.”
Fadil also noted how the professionalism and punctuality of Australian business culture made a strong impression.
“One thing I’ll change when I get back is probably my discipline. In Indonesia, sometimes we start late - but I feel like I can change that.”
Outside work, he enjoyed cycling along Wollongong’s beaches and planned a visit to Sydney before returning home.
Benefits to the Host Organisation
For Disruptor Media, hosting Fadil offered a rare opportunity to build a direct bridge with Indonesia’s thriving animation sector - something founder Corey has long aimed to do.
“I’ve been trying to build relationships with Indonesia for a decade, and it’s something I’ve struggled to do in my industry. The government’s support gives this program weight and makes these connections easier to build.”
Corey emphasised that placements like these are just the beginning, and ongoing conversations and relationships are essential to deepening ties.
“Fadil’s experience here will be invaluable. But to generate meaningful relationships, we need to keep the momentum going.”
Mutual Benefits and Broader Impact from this Placement
For the Participant from Indonesia:
· Exposure to advanced film restoration and colour workflows
· Improved professional English communication
· Cultural exchange and new professional connections
· Transferable technical knowledge to apply within Lumine’s pipeline
For the Host Organisation in Australia:
· Insights into Indonesian animation workflows and production practices
· Strengthened regional ties with Southeast Asia
· Increased opportunities for collaboration in animation and media production
· Pathway to future talent exchange and joint creative ventures
Lessons and Future Opportunities
Fadil’s placement highlighted the potential for cross-border knowledge exchange in creative industries. While two weeks delivered strong value, both parties acknowledged that longer placements or structured follow-ups could deepen collaboration further.
From improved production discipline to technical cross-training, this placement is already delivering lasting benefits - and has opened the door to new industry-to-industry engagement between Australia and Indonesia.
Conclusion
The Professional Placements program is more than a knowledge exchange - it’s a powerful tool for creating enduring relationships between Australia and Southeast Asia’s creative sectors. For host organisations like Disruptor Media, it provides access to new ideas and markets. For participants like Fadil, it’s a transformative personal and professional experience.
Interested in hosting or undertaking a placement? Visit our Placements page.
Fadil Zamroni and Corey Peason from Disruptor Media
