"It's the only thing I've done from start to finish and now I look back and see the result and I feel proud." - Student participant
In today's increasing visual and digital age, film content stands out as a powerful medium for communication, education and inspiration.
For young people, film can provide guidance and positive messages that are deeply impactful.
Show Me the Way has developed innovative programs that engage and inspire students to achieve their full potential.
These programs empower high school students from First Nations backgrounds to create short documentaries about community role models, showcasing diverse professions and positive life stories.
Through these documentaries, role models share their experiences, emphasising their deep connection to culture and language, the significance of family, community and well-being, their resilience in overcoming challenges and the importance of pursuing further education and career opportunities.
Show Me The Way offers hands-on film workshops and personalised mentoring for Year 10 to Year 12 students, enabling them to work with industry professionals to create documentary films about inspiring First Nations heroes.
Partnering with high schools across Australia, the program equips students with the skills and confidence to produce polished documentaries that celebrate cultural traditions and emphasize the importance of education.
Through this creative process, students develop critical and creative thinking, enhance intercultural understanding, and build self-esteem while fostering meaningful connections. With the guidance of experienced film facilitators, students bring their stories to life, creating documentaries that reflect their unique vision and celebrate local heroes.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures cross-curriculum priority provides an opportunity for all young Australians to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of First Nations’ histories and cultures, knowledge, traditions and holistic world views.
Show Me The Way partners with schools to create innovative, student-made and teacher-developed learning resources.
Through participation in Show Me The Way, students enhance general, personal, and social capabilities across key areas like English, History, Social Sciences, and the Arts.
By interviewing role models, students cultivate empathy, build positive relationships, and develop leadership skills. The program also encourages students to explore and value the diversity of First Nations’ knowledge in their communities.
Show Me the Way resources are held in library collections across Australia contributing to Australia’s unique identity in the global community.
With school and community, with student leadership body at school, expression of interest sent out to potential participants, permission letters sent to parents and guardians, Students notified that they are successful. Role models identified in consultation with community.
Just prior to workshops, launch to celebrate program start. Pre program survey completed by students.
Students meet with Show Me The Way facilitators in start of day yarning circle, introduced to cameras and briefs of role models to develop their questions, go to role model and film them, return and begin edit.
Show Me The Way finalises edits and completes all permissions/other documentation with individuals, organisations, government institutions.
Films are shown to participants, role models, teachers, whole of school and the wider community at special screening events inside and outside of the school. Awards are presented to the participants. Post program survey completed by participants. A third survey with participants takes place 6 months after screening to assess program impact. Additionally survey four is requested for each participant one year after leaving school.
The films are combined with lesson plans and become education resources These resources align with the National Curriculum and cover subject areas such as English, Aboriginal Studies, Geography and History.
With school and community, with student leadership body at school, expression of interest sent out to potential participants, permission letters sent to parents and guardians, Students notified that they are successful. Role models identified in consultation with community.
Just prior to workshops, launch to celebrate program start. Pre program survey completed by students.
Students meet with Show Me The Way facilitators in start of day yarning circle, introduced to cameras and briefs of role models to develop their questions, go to role model and film them, return and begin edit.
Show Me The Way finalises edits and completes all permissions/other documentation with individuals, organisations, government institutions.
Films are shown to participants, role models, teachers, whole of school and the wider community at special screening events inside and outside of the school. Awards are presented to the participants. Post program survey completed by participants. A third survey with participants takes place 6 months after screening to assess program impact. Additionally survey four is requested for each participant one year after leaving school.
The films are combined with lesson plans and become education resources These resources align with the National Curriculum and cover subject areas such as English, Aboriginal Studies, Geography and History.
The completed films are showcased at special screenings in venues around Australia such as the State Library of NSW, the Whitlam Institute, participating schools, community centres, distributed nationwide via public libraries and online via iTunes and Google Play.
Since 2008, Show Me The Way has produced broadcast-quality films, with every participant recommending the program.
89% of students have reported increased classroom engagement.
A 72% improvement in retention rates have been observed by schools.
To contact us please reach out to us or fill in this enquiry form and one of our team members will be in touch shortly.
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Show Me The Way acknowledges and pays respect to Elders past, present and future across Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this site may contain images of people that are now deceased.