Media
Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation
Applications for 2026 are currently closed, with applications for 2027 to be announced in the coming weeks.
Applications for 2027 are now open, and can be completed through the Motorsport Australia Member Portal. Please contact communications@motorsport.org.au if you have any urgent queries.
Event specific accreditation is at the discretion of the event organiser or category promoter, and Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation does not guarantee access to events. You must still apply for relevant event accreditation/access. If you wish to apply for Supercars media accreditation, please contact Supercars directly.
All applications are processed at the end of each month unless you select the Urgent Fee upon application, whereby it will be processed within a week.
Important Note
Media Personnel must not sign-in at an Event registered as an Official.
Even if you may be volunteering, you must be covered under the Media Accreditation framework either as a holder of Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation or your own insurance policy as part of your business as a photographer or videographer.
If you are intending to fly a drone at a Motorsport Australia event, you do not need to apply for Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation – nor are you covered for the drone activity if you are an active Motorsport Media Accreditation holder.
Instead, you will require the consent of the Event Organiser to operate the drone at the Event.
You will need to provide proof of your CASA ARN, and a Certificate of Currency of your Public Liability Insurance policy that covers your drone work.
More information about Drones, including our Drone (RPA) Policy, is available at the Drones tab below.
If you are just starting out, and you have never been to a Motorsport Australia event before – you should instead get some experience in general spectator areas and observe how a motorsport event functions before applying for Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation.
When applying, please consider the following points:
- Supply within your application either 10 images if your primary work is photography, or a 90-second showreel if you are a videographer.
- These examples must be at motorsport events that you have captured personally – even if they are just from spectator areas.
- Your submission is considered based on your level of understanding of the sport and a general aptitude to operate safely and understand motorsport, as opposed to judging the creativity or technical ability of an applicant.
- Submissions that only include links to Instagram or Facebook accounts, or other sources that might be vague in detail of who captured the image, will not be considered.
Create an account, if you don’t have another licence already, and log in to the Motorsport Australia Member Portal.
To begin a new application, hover over the ‘Applications’ button on the main menu and click on ‘Start a new application’.
Download the Motorsport Australia app and log in with your member portal details. Your card will appear, along with your hi-vis vest (for photographers).
All accreditations are processed at the end of each month unless you select the Urgent Fee upon application, whereby it will be processed within a week.
Once you have successfully attained Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation, there’s a few things to be aware of when you are at an event:
- Ensure that you always consider the safety of your location, and be aware of the safety of others. If you are second-guessing your spot, then consider it unsafe and relocate to a safe position.
- Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation also does not include coverage to operate or fly a Drone. Please refer to our Drone section above for more information.
- You must also never, under any circumstance, share your vest with another person – particularly if they are not accredited. Your vest contains a unique identifier to ensure officials can appropriately track media personnel at a venue. You must wear your assigned vest at all times when you are performing your duties, even within a general spectator zone.
- Your Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation is not transferrable to another person, and is only valid within the calendar year it is issued for. Likewise, you must wear the vest allocated to the correct year. You may be requested to surrender any previously issued vests if it is found you are wearing an expired vest.
- Some events may choose to issue their own event specific media vests, and these should take priority over your Motorsport Australia-issued orange vest.
- Ensure you are always standing when performing your duties. You must not lie down or kneel when taking photos or video, as you will need to be able to swiftly manoeuvre if you need to exit from your location.
Applications for 2026 are currently closed, with 2027 applications to open in the coming weeks.
Log in to the Motorsport Australia Member Portal.
To renew, click the ‘Renew’ button next to your digital licence on the Portal. No gallery/portfolio link is required for renewals.
Download the Motorsport Australia app and log in with your member portal details. Your card will appear, along with your hi-vis vest (for photographers).
All accreditations are processed at the end of each month unless you select the Urgent Fee upon application, whereby it will be processed within a week.
As a holder of Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation, there’s a few things to be aware of when you are at an event:
- Ensure that you always consider the safety of your location, and be aware of the safety of others. If you are second-guessing your spot, then consider it unsafe and relocate to a safe position.
- Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation also does not include coverage to operate or fly a Drone. Please refer to our Drone section above for more information.
- You must also never, under any circumstance, share your vest with another person – particularly if they are not accredited. Your vest contains a unique identifier to ensure officials can appropriately track media personnel at a venue. You must wear your assigned vest at all times when you are performing your duties, even within a general spectator zone.
- Your Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation is not transferrable to another person, and is only valid within the calendar year it is issued for. Likewise, you must wear the vest allocated to the correct year. You may be requested to surrender any previously issued vests if it is found you are wearing an expired vest.
- Some events may choose to issue their own event specific media vests, and these should take priority over your Motorsport Australia-issued orange vest.
- Ensure you are always standing when performing your duties. You must not lie down or kneel when taking photos or video, as you will need to be able to swiftly manoeuvre if you need to exit from your location.
Applications for 2026 are currently closed, with 2027 applications to open in the coming weeks.
- Personal Accident Cover through Motorsport Australia at Motorsport Australia sanctioned events. Without this, you’re not covered.
- Media Accreditation signals your portfolio’s quality and adherence to the Media Accreditation Policy, endorsed by Motorsport Australia and recognised by event organisers.
- Non-accredited individuals may have restricted or limited access at events.
Important Note
Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation does not guarantee entry to events like Supercars, Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, or Shannons SpeedSeries. It’s advised to contact event organisers or media personnel in advance.
RPAs (drones) can be used at Motorsport Australia events if operated within the guidelines of the Motorsport Australia Policy. The Policy includes important application details and safety rules to follow at each event.
In short that is:
- The UAV operator or controller is certified by CASA
- Carries their own public liability insurance
- Their operating name appears on the event permit
You will need to seek clearance from the Event Organiser first, and from there they will send to Motorsport Australia the above documents to ensure you are listed on the Event Permit. There is no fee to process this request.
Importantly, Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation alone does not permit or cover the operation of RPAs.
Can I use Media Accreditation from another motorsport body? (ie. Karting Australia)
No. Media Accreditation from other bodies is not reciprocal.
Other motorsport bodies such as Karting Australia hold their own insurance policy independent of Motorsport Australia.
Is Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation compulsory?
No. It is up to individual events to outline the requirements for media access.
Some events will mandate Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation as a requirement, and some will allow a third-party insurance policy linked to an individual’s business – for example, media agencies, broadcasters, film studios, etc.
In particular, journalists who do not need to access restricted areas such as photographer zones, do not require Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation. You just need to apply for an event’s own accreditation as media.
If you are attending an event as accredited media, you should not sign-on to events in any other capacity such as an Official.
I don’t get paid to take photos, why do I have to pay this?
Regardless of whether you are getting paid or not to capture images at an event, in securing media accreditation, you are considered a working member of the media.
The role and responsibilities of media personnel is unique and you must never sign-on at an event as an Official if your role is being a photographer or videographer, especially if you do not hold Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation or hold your own insurance policy.
I'm an Official, can I get free Media Accreditation?
Unfortunately, no.
Regardless of whether you are getting paid or not to capture images at an event, in securing media accreditation, you are considered a working member of the media.
The role and responsibilities of media personnel is unique and you must never sign-on at an event as an Official if your role is being a photographer or videographer, especially if you do not hold Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation or hold your own insurance policy.
Likewise, if you are an Official performing a role – you should not also take on photography duties either on-duty or during your break.
However, your experience and knowledge of motorsport, and the potential hazards associated with it, may be valuable should you wish to formally apply for Media Accreditation. You will just need to determine whether you will be attending an event as either an Official or Media.
What if I take photos of an event without insurance?
Taking photos is not prohibited, but with accreditation brings different access, rights and expectations. If you present yourself to an event without valid Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation, or your own insurance policy, then it is unlikely you will granted photographer or videographer access.
Should you continue to work as a photographer or videographer without insurance coverage, and you are subsequently injured at the motorsport event, you are not entitled to any insurance benefits or protections that you would have otherwise been afforded under Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation Media Cover.
Who needs Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation?
Photographers or videographers, who will require access to restricted areas at a motorsport event that is typically reserved for accredited media personnel.
Journalists do not require Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation as they otherwise should not be in a restricted zone and should instead apply through an event’s individual media accreditation process.
What am I covered for at events?
Personal Accident Cover under Motorsport Australia Media Cover provides financial assistance for individuals for certain costs associated with an injury sustained during a Motorsport Australia event. Media Cover does not apply to damage sustained to tangible items such as camera equipment or rental vehicles. More information on Motorsport Australia’s insurance offering can be found here.
Does Motorsport Australia Accredited Media give me automatic access to all events?
No.
Regardless of whether you hold Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation or not, you must still apply for attendance through an event or championship’s own accreditation system. While the Motorsport Australia Media Cover gives you protection if you were injured at that event, the event’s own media accreditation grants you entry to the venue.
Can I fly a drone?
Only if you have formally notified the Event, and they have confirmed your approval to fly.
To be eligible, you must hold relevant CASA certification, your own Public Liability Insurance covering your drone work, and consent from the Event Organiser.
You will need send the Event Organiser all of the relevant documentation, and they will notify Motorsport Australia. From there, your name will be noted on the Event Permit as an approved operator.
Importantly, Motorsport Australia Media Accreditation does not grant you access to conduct drone activity as it is a separate application process.
More information can be found in the Drone section on this page.
Photographers and videographers must read the Policy before applying or renewing accreditation. It outlines key application details and safety rules to follow at events.
Accredited Media must wear a Motorsport Australia Accredited Media vest at all times during events, unless the event supplies and mandates use of their own vests.
Motorsport Australia and the Australian Officials Commission have developed the Social Media Policy and guidelines to ensure responsible and positive use of social media. These guidelines are useful for officials and event organisers to share before or during events.
Motorsport Australia has implemented mandatory Working With Children Checks (WWCC) or Working With Vulnerable People Checks (WWVP) for all officials and accredited media across all states and territories, except Western Australia (WA) where the current legislation prohibits Motorsport Australia from requesting one.