Jigalong youth to make film about safe choices in upcoming workshop

Secondary students from Jigalong Remote Community School are about to step behind and in front of the camera, using film to tell stories about social issues that matter most to them.

From May 19-23, students will take part in a week-long filmmaking workshop as part of the Constable Care Youth Choices program supported by Roy Hill, WA Police and the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation.

At the end of the program their work will be screened at a community event with an improvised theatre. The community will be invited to dive deeper into the themes explored and share their own insights.

Jigalong Remote Community School principal James Giddings said the previous workshop had a profoundly positive influence on the kids.

“Student engagement was fantastic . . . I think giving them confidence to stand up and express themselves in front of others is such a crucial part of their education,” he said.

“It has fostered some strong discussions around choices being made by young people and how to avoid getting sucked into poor decisions.”

Constable Care Foundation chief executive Ian Anstee said intensive programs like the one in Jigalong enabled participants to choose a topic relevant to their own lives and explore it for an extended period.

“Coming back to Jigalong a year later and working with students for a whole week again gives our expert facilitators lots of opportunities to get to know the kids, explore what’s going on and have a greater impact,” he said.

“It’s designed to give young people a voice and empower them with skills to face some of life’s biggest obstacles. They become more resilient and build teamwork, empathy, critical thinking, problem-solving and other valuable skills.

“The discussions that take place at the end of the process have a ripple effect throughout entire communities as they solve problems together. It really does work towards driving positive social change.”