Our Medicine gives rare insight into ancient First Nations healing practices in Western Australia
New documentary series, Our Medicine, will shine a rare spotlight on First Nations healthcare, including ancient healing practices in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, when it premieres on 29 May.
New documentary series, Our Medicine, will shine a rare spotlight on First Nations healthcare, including ancient healing practices in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, when it premieres on 29 May.
Narrated by screen icon Leah Purcell AM (The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson, High Country), the six-part observational series will air on National Indigenous Television (NITV), SBS and SBS On Demand, with funding support from Screenwest and Lotterywest.
The series is co-directed by Karla Hart (Yokayi Footy, Family Rules) alongside Broome-based Kimberley Benjamin (Warm Props), and is produced by Karla Hart Enterprises and Periscope Pictures.
With unique access to First Nations doctors, nurses, paramedics, traditional healers and other healthcare professionals around Australia, Our Medicine takes viewers behind the frontline of Australia’s strained medical services.
Alongside access to some of the oldest traditional healing practices in the world at Jalngangurru Healing in the Kimberley, the series tracks the day-to-day challenges of medical professionals,
including at Warmun Aboriginal Community and Kununurra.
The Jalngangurru cultural healing trial, initiated in 2019, offers modern access to ancient practices for those seeking alternative treatments for physical, mental, and spiritual concerns.
“Our Medicine provides wonderful, yet confronting insight into the daily challenges faced by First Nations health workers and their dogged commitment to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities,” said Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest Chief Executive Officer.
“Western Australia has an incredible pool of First Nations screen talent and Screenwest is pleased to support their work to tell these vital stories in the hope that it effects change in their communities and for generations to come.
“We look forward to supporting more of these impactful First Nations screen projects in the future.”
Dr Bianca Howard, Madeline Purdie, Dr Stephanie Trust
Life expectancy for First Nations peoples in Australia is approximately eight years lower than non-indigenous Australians, largely due to a higher incidence of chronic, respiratory, heart and kidney diseases, as well as diabetes. Our Medicine tackles this difficult but critically important subject matter through the eyes of First Nations medical professionals.
NITV’s Head of Indigenous Commissioning and Production, Dena Curtis, said: “This important seriescelebrates and showcases the incredible skills of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners across the country, who are blazing a trail for young people.
“NITV is incredibly proud to support this imperative documentary series from Karla Hart Enterprises andPeriscope Pictures, building on the “Our” brand which highlights Black excellence in emergency professions.”
Directors Karla Hart and Kimberley Benjamin said: “It was a privilege to see first-hand the incredible impact that First Nations peoples are making to our health across the country when filming this series.
“These professionals are doing life-changing work in their fields of expertise, using their knowledge ofculture, language and kinship to create better outcomes, safer spaces and to encourage our people not to fear the health system, which is saving lives by closing in on the catastrophic gaps in health and improving life outcomes for First Nations peoples.
“We are well-aware of the health disparities that exist with our mob, however, Our Medicine doesn’t focus on those statistics but instead speaks contextually from a strength-based lens, through the work of our medical participants. We hope Our Medicine inspires more mob to become health professionals, more engagement in bush and spiritual healing and a greater acknowledgment of the heroes working in these spaces.”
Our Medicine premieres Thursday 29 May at 7.30pm on NITV and SBS, with weekly double episodes. The series is also available to stream free on SBS On Demand.
Production credit: Our Medicine is a Karla Hart Enterprises and Periscope Pictures production for NITV. Principal production funding from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department and NITV. Financed with support from Screenwest, Lotterywest and the WA Regional Screen Fund.