My First Weekend as a Production Assistant for Delta Goodrem

SYDNEY : When I accepted a role as a production assistant for Delta Goodrem’s 2025 holiday special, Christmas With Delta, I had a conceptual understanding of what the job entailed. I knew there would be celebrities, sets, and schedules. What I didn’t account for was a step count of 35,000 over just 48 hours.

The set was completely transformed into a Winter Wonderland.

The production was a massive undertaking, sprawling across two buildings with dressing rooms tucked away on multiple levels. As a PA, my mission was simple but exhausting: ensure everyone was exactly where they needed to be, exactly when they needed to be there.

Samantha Jade, Amy Shark and Sophie Monk joined Goodrem for a Mean Girls segment.

The buzz on day one centered on a single line at the bottom of the 8:00 AM call sheet: “6:00 PM: 5 Seconds of Summer arrive.” For my 15-year-old self, who once had their posters plastered across my bedroom wall, it was a moment of peak professional testing.

The dance looked so fun I had immediate FOMO.

When the black van finally pulled up and security stepped out, my colleagues were confused by the entourage. But the second Ashton Irwin stepped onto the pavement in the band’s signature bold fashion, there was no doubt. Leading Luke, Ashton, Calum, and Michael into the studio—which had been transformed into a glossy white “Winter Wonderland”—was a career highlight that required every ounce of my professional composure.

I knew I recognised Roger Bart (left) from somewhere, but at first I wasn’t sure where.

The weekend was a revolving door of Australian and international talent:

Gregory Porter proved to be perhaps the friendliest star on set, while Amy Shark and Pete Murray brought a relaxed, professional energy.

I walked Roger Bart (Back to the Future The Musical) to his dressing room, only to realize later via Google that I was currently watching him in his iconic early role on Desperate Housewives.

Cody Simpson lived up to every rumor of being “lovely and charming,” leaving the crew speechless with his down-to-earth demeanor.

My younger self was barely holding it together when I met 5 Seconds of Summer.

The shoot concluded with a 30-person kids’ choir and a prawn cocktail masterclass from chef Luke Mangan. But the most impactful moment came as the audience departed and the gear was being packed away.

Cody Simpson was as great sport on set, agreeing to an elf costume with no hesitation.

Delta Goodrem, the woman whose songs I had spent my childhood “massacring” on SingStar, took the time to find the production assistant team to personally say thank you. In an industry that often moves too fast for gratitude, her warmth and presence (and yes, she is very tall!) left a lasting impression on a team that had spent two days running on adrenaline and sore feet.

Pete Murray joined Goodrem for an emotional performance.

Christmas With Delta 2025 isn’t just a holiday special; it’s a masterclass in production scale—and a reminder that sometimes, meeting your idols is exactly as cool as you hoped it would be.