You Can’t Do That in the Bush is a bold and inspiring short-form documentary series that challenges outdated perceptions of regional and remote Australia. Each episode spotlights real-life innovators, creatives, and changemakers who are building world-class ideas and businesses far from the city skyline—often with limited resources but limitless drive.
Created by regional storyteller and former journalist Laticia Braving, the series is a celebration of resilience, culture, and community-led ingenuity. From transforming marine debris into sustainable products in the Torres Strait, to high-end fashion design in Mareeba, each story reflects the unique power of place—and the global impact possible when people back themselves in the bush.
This isn’t just a documentary. It’s a movement to reframe the narrative about life, work, and opportunity in the regions—through the stories of people proving that the bush is not just surviving, it’s leading.
It showcases extraordinary people in unexpected places—those reshaping agriculture, tech, education, health, arts, and sustainability from rural and remote Australia. We’re seeking stories that make audiences stop and say: “Wait… they’re doing that where?”
This cinematic documentary series reveals how regional Australia sparks world-changing ideas, blending intimate character stories with striking visuals of place, innovation and resilience.
Ep #1 Remote Op Shop –Tanya Egerton’s Remote Op Shop model empowers Aboriginal communities to transform second-hand clothing into a sustainable enterprise and dignity.
From the Kimberley to Arnhem Land, Tanya Egerton is transforming fashion waste into opportunity — empowering remote communities and proving that even in the bush, fashion can spark reconciliation, resilience, and radical change.
Through her Remote OpShop Project, Tanya is redefining fashion as a tool for sustainability, dignity, and social enterprise across 45 remote communities. Each op shop reinvests profits into local cultural and youth programs, connecting women across Australia and turning waste into hope.
Key Themes: Circular economy | First Nations leadership | Women’s empowerment | Fashion for social change
TEASER:
Ep #2 Through Their Eyes: From Airlie Beach, Simon Lowe and People Tech Revolution use VR and AI to build empathy, reshaping training in hospitals, schools and workplaces worldwide.
From Airlie Beach, a small regional team is transforming how the world understands disability and empathy — proving that innovation from the bush can reshape lives globally.
Meet Simon Lowe and Leonie Sanderson, founders of People Tech Revolution, who use VR and AI to help teachers, carers, and health professionals literally see through someone else’s eyes. Their work — from classrooms to the Mayo Clinic — is proof that groundbreaking innovation can come from the most unexpected places.
Key Themes: Disability inclusion | Empathy through VR | Regional innovation | Co-design with lived experience
Ep #3 Wildlife for Life: In the Northern Rivers, vet Stephen Van Mil’s mobile wildlife hospital and treatment models are redefining how Australia cares for its injured native animals.
When a Northern Rivers vet saw Australia’s wildlife slipping through the cracks, he built a hospital on wheels that sparked a national movement — proving what’s possible when communities act boldly to protect the animals that define us.
Six years ago, Dr Stephen Van Mil noticed a devastating truth: injured wildlife were being treated in general vet clinics without the resources or training to give them the best chance at survival. Determined to change that, he raised over $1.5 million to build Australia’s first mobile wildlife hospital, now saving over 500 species and 10,000 animals a year.The film follows Stephen, head vet Dr Bree, and their growing team as they expand their operations into permanent hospitals in Ballina and Lennox Head, while preparing for a national awareness tour in 2026.
Key Themes: Wildlife resilience | Innovation in care | Community power | Policy reform | Hope and action
Regional and remote Australia is too often portrayed in the media only during times of crisis—fires, floods, drought, or decline. These narrow narratives not only reinforce outdated stereotypes but can deeply affect the morale and mental health of people living in the bush. When the only stories being told are of hardship, it’s easy to forget the ingenuity, creativity, and strength that thrive in these places every day.
You Can’t Do That in the Bush was created to flip the script. By spotlighting real stories of innovation, entrepreneurship and cultural richness across regional Australia, the series offers a powerful counter-narrative—one that builds pride, inspires communities, and challenges the divide between city and country.
This project doesn’t just change perception. It promotes wellbeing, encourages investment, and reminds audiences everywhere that big ideas don’t need a boardroom—or a capital city postcode—to make a global impact.
Impact Vision
You Can’t Do That in the Bush exists to shift the narrative about regional and remote Australia—from one of deficit and limitation to one of innovation, creativity, and pride.
Our vision is to inspire a new generation of regional storytellers, leaders, and changemakers by sharing powerful, real-life examples of what’s possible beyond the city skyline. Through authentic, place-based storytelling, we aim to:
– Break down harmful stereotypes and the city-country divide
– Strengthen regional identity and wellbeing through positive representation
– Foster national recognition of rural ingenuity, culture and contribution
– Spark investment, collaboration and opportunity for people building bold futures in the bush
We believe that storytelling has the power to shape perception, fuel confidence, and build stronger, more connected communities. This series is our love letter to regional Australia.
Outcomes
Shift the Narrative
Challenge outdated stereotypes and perceptions about regional and remote Australia by showcasing bold, world-class ideas thriving in the bush.
Elevate Regional Voices
Give a national (and global) platform to underrepresented innovators, creatives, and changemakers from rural communities whose stories often go untold.
Boost Regional Pride & Mental Wellbeing
Foster a sense of pride, connection, and hope by showing the positive, powerful side of life in the bush—helping counteract the fatigue and isolation that can come from negative media portrayals.
Bridge the City-Country Divide
Encourage greater understanding, respect, and collaboration between metro and regional audiences—breaking down the idea that the bush is “behind” or “less than.”
Inspire the Next Generation
Show young people (especially in rural areas) that ambition doesn’t require relocation—that you can do big things from your hometown.
Drive Investment
Encourage support, funding, and partnerships.
Stakeholders
You Can’t Do That in the Bush is not an outside lens looking in—it’s a story told from within regional Australia.
Blue Clay Creatives, the production company behind the series, has been working across regional and remote Australia for over 15 years, partnering with local businesses, councils, community organisations, and economic development groups to tell their stories with integrity and heart.
The series is led by creator and executive producer Laticia Braving, a former journalist and storyteller with more than 20 years’ experience in media and marketing—and a proud country girl, born and raised. Her deep lived experience in the bush is matched by a broad network of stakeholders, clients, and collaborators across the country.
Importantly, our entire team is made up of regional Australians. We don’t just film in the bush—we live here, work here, and care deeply about the people and places we’re representing.
This long-standing, trusted presence gives us genuine access to stories that matter—and ensures they are told with the respect, authenticity, and nuance they deserve. We are embedded in the fabric of rural Australia, and we have a powerful network of advocates and supporters who share our vision to see these stories reach the national stage.
Calls to Action
While each episode will carry its own unique message and personal call to action, the series as a whole invites audiences to engage with a bigger purpose: elevating regional voices and reframing what’s possible in the bush.
1. Elevate Regional Voices
Share and talk. Help amplify the people and places making a difference in the bush. Visibility changes everything.
2. Rethink What’s Possible
Challenge assumptions about where success, innovation, or leadership can come from.
3. Back the Bush
Whether it’s investing, partnering, mentoring, or buying local—every action counts.
4. Start a Conversation
Use these stories as a spark. In classrooms, boardrooms, community halls or kitchens—start talking about the value of rural Australia.
5. Get Involved
Follow the series. Subscribe. Share. Comment. Recommend a story. The more engagement we get, the further these voices travel.
6. Be the Bridge
If you’re in the city—listen, learn, and look for ways to collaborate with regional communities.
CREW
Laticia Braving
Director & Producer
Laticia Braving is a director with a strong foundation in journalism and storytelling, known for creating purpose-driven documentaries that spotlight regional Australia. As the founder of Blue Clay Creatives, she leads the development and direction of original film content, including the groundbreaking docuseries You Can’t Do That in the Bush, which showcases innovation and leadership in remote communities. With roots in broadcast journalism at the BBC, Fairfax, and Southern Cross Austereo, Laticia brings sharp narrative instincts and on-the-ground experience to her directing style. Her work is defined by a deep respect for lived experience, a cinematic eye for place and people, and a commitment to amplifying voices often overlooked in mainstream media. From creative development through to final cut, Laticia blends editorial depth with visual storytelling to create powerful, authentic films that move and inspire.
Project Update: Fashioning Change is gaining momentum
Project Progress and Milestones, Fundraising, Get Involved
13/05/2026
Project Update: Fashioning Change is gaining momentum
We are incredibly excited to share that Fashioning Change, the next episode of You Can’t Do That In The Bush!, is moving closer to production — and we now have just $20,000 left to raise to bring this important story to life.
This episode will follow the work of Remote OpShop and the Indigenous women whose lives, leadership and opportunities have been shaped through this powerful community-led project.
After years of building trusted relationships across remote Australia, Remote OpShop has created far more than access to clothing. It has helped open pathways for enterprise, creativity, confidence, connection and cultural expression in communities that are too often left out of national conversations.
Fashioning Change will be a 22-minute documentary that takes these stories beyond the communities where they began, sharing them with a wider audience and helping more people understand the impact that can grow from grassroots, community-led change.
We are currently seeking tax-deductible donations through Documentary Australia to help us complete production and post-production.
Every contribution brings us one step closer to getting this story on screen.
Thank you to everyone who has already supported the project, shared the campaign or helped champion this story. Your support means we can keep creating films that elevate regional and remote voices, celebrate local leadership and show what is possible when people back ideas born outside the mainstream.
We have just $20,000 to go — and we would love your help to get there.
Laticia Braving
Administrator Blue Clay Creatives
Thank you to our very first donor!
Fundraising
05/02/2026
A big thank you to our very first donor, Bright Moon Trust, which is supporting the episode “Remote Op Shop,” Featuring Tanya Egerton’s mission to empower Aboriginal communities and transform second-hand clothing into a sustainable enterprise and a source of dignity! You have helped us launch into production, and we can’t wait to share our fundraising teaser, filming schedule, and locations with you all soon!
