Facing the Numbers

First Nations People in Australia are the most disproportionately incarcerated people in the world, making up 32% of prison populations while comprising only 3.8% of the total Australian population.

Since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1991 there have been 580 First Nations deaths, without a single perpetrator brought to justice.

Many Australians know these statistics, yet few are familiar with the systemic issues that lead to them. Even fewer understand how these numbers impact individual experiences.

Numbers don’t convince people. Yet, stories do. Facing the Numbers will cut through apathy by putting Australians in the shoes of First Nations people who have been harmed by the legal system, to reveal how racism infiltrates policies, policing, judicial practices, and even the most ordinary aspects of everyday life.

Facing the Numbers will end systemic racism and disadvantage inherent in Australia’s criminal justice system.

A social impact campaign and documentary, FTN tackles the profound and ongoing impacts of our nation’s criminal justice system, unpacking institutional racism, racial profiling, police brutality and deaths in custody.

Moving beyond devastating statistics, FTN enables individuals to understand First Nations experiences of the justice system at a deeper level, by connecting to the humanity of the people affected.

Deepening this understanding, will lead to behavioural change. Significantly increasing the support and power behind existing, critical First Nations advocacy work and self-determined solutions, the collective actions of communities backing the campaign will influence systemic change by drawing national attention to disadvantage and injustice within law enforcement, challenging all Australians and all institutions to urgently address this national crisis.

The FTN Impact Campaign will shift Australians from apathy to deep solidarity. Led by Common Ground, renowned for story-driven systems change systems, and developed with First Nations Advisory Group of Elders and experts in criminal justice, law, policy, community services, advocacy and communications, the campaign will drive targeted action that mobilises a groundswell of change.

FTN will launch with a focused media push, community screenings and events. The campaign will see a microsite constructed, where individuals can access informative content to develop deeper understandings of the issues and people presented in the films. Each story will be accompanied by specific actions (personal, institutional and systemic) that address the relevant issues highlighted within the storyteller’s experience. Educational resources will be designed for Secondary School curriculums, to enhance student’s understanding of legal frameworks and enforcement at this transformative period of their lives.

A partnership between First Nations organisations Common Ground and GARUWA as well as Arrernte and Kalkadoon Cinematographer Tyson Perkins FTN is shaped by individuals with lived experiences of injustice and systemic racism.

Grounded in collaborative and holistic approaches to community-driven changemaking, the guidance of our First Nations Advisory Group ensures that wide-ranging needs and priorities are embedded throughout the project, including Apryl Day, Chelsea Watego, Amy McQuire.

Over the past 4 years, FTN’s Directors have cultivated deep relationships with Storytellers and their communities to foster deep trust and respect.

Other community partnerships include Dhadjowa Foundation, Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation, Institute Collaborative Race Research, NAATSIHWP, and Weenthunga Health Network.

To address the racism deeply embedded in Australia’s legal systems, each FTN episode will be accompanied by multi-layered actions and conversation starters, that address the relevant issues highlighted within the storyteller’s experience and are designed to encourage engagement at several levels:

— Personal and immediate actions, for example signing a petition, accessing resources to learn more, donating to a community organisation or sharing content on social media.

— Institutional and intermediate, ie. supporting existing advocacy work or hosting an event in an individual’s community that drives collective action.

— Systemic and long-term/intergenerational work, lobbying for political and educational reform.

By pinpointing core issues at personal, institutional and systemic stages and providing viewers with tailored CTAs, FTN will drive transformative action that addresses deeply-rooted inequalities in the criminal justice system in Australia.