Proposed film to give voice to youth living in the Kimberley
THEIR intention is straightforward: to give some of the most remote Aboriginal communities a voice.
That’s the goal of three NSW women, and one filmmaker, who have launched a crowd-funding campaign to make a documentary focusing on Aboriginal youth suicide.
Donna Syron was shocked to hear of the Indigenous youth suicide crisis, with nine children taking their lives in a week in remote Western Australia.
“I was appalled that it wasn’t considered news,” she said.
“I think, all I saw, was one story in The Australian. I felt really disappointed that people weren’t talking about it. I felt personally affected by it.”
All the women behind the campaign are Biripi Aboriginal.
Mikele Syron, Donna’s daughter, is an aspiring journalist and Leanne Howard is completing a Masters in Public Health, specialising in Aboriginal Health and Well Being.
Sydney filmmaker Jake Lloyd Jones is also on board.
None of team have ever been to the Kimberley before, but all share a strong desire to visit and empower the region.
Donna said she was confident the documentary would be finished by the end of the year.
“We are not going there with a set list of questions and a plan to get a certain interview,” she said.
“We want to come home with a fantastic documentary, but one that is the story that the community wants heard.
“We have found, a lot of the time, it’s the politicians or CEOs saying what these people need. We want to hear from the people themselves.”
Researching the issue, the group found the Kimberley region had the highest indigenous suicide rate in the country, and 40 per cent of youth suicide victims in Australia were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders.
The crowd-funding page states the documentary will be “unvarnished” and a chance for communities to “share their truths and to discuss their ideas for possible solutions”.
So far, they have raised more than $4000. Donna said if money was left over after filming they would donate the funds to West Australian communities.
“The biggest part of this project is supporting the children,” she said.
“We want to make sure they are cared for.”
To donate to the campaign visit: www.chuffed.org/ project/crisis-in-thekimberley.