Heroes star in short films

Story courtesy the Koori Mail

TO celebrate NAIDOC Week, national not-for-profit Show Me The Way (SMTW) launched the DVD My Story Matters at the State Library of NSW.

The DVD features six short films showcasing unsung heroes in Indigenous communities, which were created by First Nations students during SMTW film workshops.

Bundjalung man and SMTW chair Wayne McEwen said over the past 11 years, the organisation had helped make more than 50 films, which are held by the State Library.

“We really encourage schools and libraries to access the stories,” he said.

“They are about people in community as role models and mentors, and the films are produced by school kids. They narrate them and hone their skills in production.

“Our mob can relate to stuff visually. We played a couple of videos the other day at the launch and everyone was excited by the visual aspect.”

The Show Me The Way program empowers Aboriginal students to stay at school and study while remaining culturally relevant. Students learn to see the relevance of education while being mentored by workplace role models.

“The students can develop their career and ask questions and get advice,” Mr McEwen said. “They find a lot of personal growth and can continue in business if that’s their passion. Learning becomes a two way journey for the mentor and the student.

“Some of the learning partners involved with the program have conversations about their own mistakes with the young people and help them at the in start of career. They talk about education, education, life and work, dispelling myths around gender.”

Noonuccal woman Tiarnah Class, a SMTW graduate who now works with Westpac, spoke of how the program had changed her life.

“In 2011 and 2012, I participated in the Show Me The Way program doing a school based traineeship with Westpac,” she said. “It helped me because it’s not every day young Indigenous people get the opportunity to get traineeships in banks or traineeships at all.

“During the program, I was supported every step of the way. Weekly, I had one-on-one time with a Westpac mentor to progress my skills within the bank and the consistent guidance and knowledge about our identities and our Aboriginal backgrounds.”

Mr McEwan said Show Me The Way is funded by donations and hoped that sales of the DVDs through libraries will help to fund future programs.