Skip to main content

See the latest news from Screenwest and the WA Screen Industry here.

Home • Filming in WA • Working with First Nations People, Content and Country

Working with First Nations People, Content and Country

All land in Australia is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land. It is essential that proper respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultural and heritage and Country is upheld in every stage of the filmmaking process.

Photo credit Warakurna elder Daisy Ward with Producer Taryne Laffar (Our Law, 2020)

Top 10 things to know

  1. All land in Australia is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.
  2. When working in Australia, filmmakers need to understand and respect that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the Traditional Owners of the land. They have been connected to and caring for the land for over 60,000 years.
  3. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have cultural responsibilities and rights in relation to the land of which they are the Traditional Owners.
  4. There are many different  and distinct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups within Australia, each with their own culture, language, customs and lore. Click here for a map of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia.
  5. Establishing who the local Traditional Owners are prior to filming and creating a good working relationship with them, will assist you to understand what places and objects may be restricted for cultural reasons and what the appropriate protocols are for access or filming.
  6. “No stories about us, without us.”
  7. If your project contains Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content, concepts or cultural elements, it is absolutely essential that you have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander filmmakers or consultants on your team. If you don’t, are you the right person to be telling this story?
  8. You should identify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elements as early as possible to ensure you implement the correct filmmaking protocols throughout the life of your project.
  9. If you are filming on lands controlled by the Aboriginal Lands Trust or vested in the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority, you will need to obtain a permit through the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.
  10. Screenwest requires its funding recipients to comply with Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights (ICIP) protocols.  ICIP refers to the rights that Indigenous people have to protect their traditional arts and culture. Click here for more information.

For more information on working with First Nations people, culture and concepts refer to Screen Australia’s guide below.

Screen Australia Pathways and Protocols: A filmmaker's guide to working with Indigenous Creatives, Content and Communities.
© Copyright 2025 Screenwest (Australia) Ltd Back to top

Acknowledgement of Country

NGALA KAADITJ WHADJUK NOONGAR MOORT KEYEN KAADAK NIDJA BOODJA

 

We acknowledge Whadjuk Noongar people as the original custodians of the land on which the Screenwest office is located.

 

Screenwest acknowledges and pays respect to all Traditional Owners of Country across the State of Western Australia and their Elders, past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, spiritual beliefs and relationship to land and waters and acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the people living today. We extend this respect to all Indigenous language groups.