VALID
A virtual reality documentary to increase understanding of the experiences of people with intellectual disability in Australia's criminal justice systems
People with intellectual disability - especially First Nations people - are overrepresented across all areas of Australia’s criminal justice systems, often resulting from trauma and lifelong disadvantage.
The Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability (VALID), came to Maitree looking to shine a light on this problem and share the stories of people with intellectual disability in the criminal justice system.
In consultation with the VALID working group and advocacy team, Maitree created the 360 virtual reality documentary “[They Will Use] My First Name” - an immersive short film centred on the real, and often confronting experiences faced by people with intellectual disability in the justice system.
Image by Leigh Bramall
Outcomes
- An emotive narrative film with people’s real stories that continues to support training in criminal justice programs around Australia.
- A successful consultation process with VALID and the working group which included running a disability-led participatory online workshop to shape the content, and get input on how the film would be delivered.
- Despite the challenges covid presented during development and production we took on each challenge collaboratively and ensured the product was delivered to the highest quality.
Services
Elearning & Advocacy
Immersive Experience Design
Digital & Media
Filming & Animation Production
Sectors
Elearning & Advocacy
Immersive Experience Design
Digital & Media
Filming & Animation Production
Guided by powerful voices
“By using immersive video to take people into the courtroom, behind 20ft prison walls, and into a small, bare prison cell we wanted audiences to get a sense of the confusion, isolation, erosion of identity and trauma we heard in the stories of our contributors” says Maitree producer Peta Khan.
Guided by the powerful voices of people with lived experience, the film takes audiences on an immersive journey into the vulnerability, neglect and loss of human rights people with intellectual disability experience in Australia’s criminal justice systems.
With its accompanying report, the film was presented to people working in various levels of the justice system in Australia, including the Australian Government’s Royal Commission enquiry into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. You can download and read VALID’s report by going to the official site of this project: myfirstnamefilm.com
“I’d really like to be able to incorporate this into our teaching programme” Educator at Melbourne University.
“Case workers for every disability person in contact with the justice system should see this. It would have been difficult to make. Let’s see this film shown everywhere and make a difference.”
“Brilliant work!! Incredible, harrowing stories. I feel like crying. So evocative and powerful in this format, can’t wait to watch it in VR. Congratulations to everyone involved in this meaningful project.”
"Thank you for the bravery of everyone who has shared their experience in the film. And to Maitree and producer Emily Dash - your ability to allow authenticity and humanness to flow in what you create, is so powerful and valuable."
Image by Leigh Bramall
Images by Leigh Bramall
