Short film compettition about youth homelessness

In its second year, THE HOMELESSNESS SHORT FILM COMPETITION 2012 was launched today, a  national competition for secondary school students and part of the on‐going philanthropic initiative,  which aims to raise awareness about homelessness in our community.  The patron, Cate Blanchett, has  been a long‐term supporter of this cause.

“THE HOMELESS SHORT FILM COMPETITION is a vital part of our strategy to engage young  Australians in this important social justice issue, along with the THE OASIS Schools Curriculum  Resources, which have been made available to every secondary school around Australia.

Since THE OASIS documentary and youth homelessness initiative was launched, Shark Island  Productions in collaboration with The Caledonia Foundation, and a number of philanthropic and  community partners, have focussed on continuing to raise awareness of homelessness.

Through  school curriculum programs supporting teachers and involving young people, the long term aim is to  prevent and solve youth homelessness. And, increasingly more students are inspired to raise funds,  volunteer and engage their local community in the effort to address the issue.” said Ian Darling,  award winning documentary filmmaker and Director of Shark Island Productions.   

Shark Island Productions provides a total prize of $25,000 for the competition.  Last year’s first prize  of $7,000 was awarded to Harristown State High in Queensland.  The student Warwick Beanland’s  winning film “ Homeless” can be viewed on the Shark Island Youtube channel.

The judging panel for the film competition includes Patron and Co Artistic Director of Sydney Theatre  Company, Cate Blanchett, Chair of The Caledonia Foundation and AFI‐Award winning documentary  filmmaker with Shark Island Productions Ian Darling, Oasis Schools Liaison Officer and former Oasis  client Bee Orsini, and Major Robbin Moulds, AM, Director of The Oasis Youth Support Network.

Also announced today, is the launch of THE OASIS Schools Teacher Resource “Teaching Social Issues  through English” written by the English Teachers Association NSW.

Eva Gold, Executive Officer, says  “One aspect of the rationale for English as a compulsory subject is that through engaging with texts,  students develop the resources for informed, capable and active citizenship. THE OASIS  documentary compels the viewer to engage with youth homelessness and the activities in the  resource provide students with the support to try to do something about it.”     

This resource is in addition to the cross‐curricula linked Schools Curriculum Resource Youth  Homelessness Matters a free online resource found on www.theoasismovie.com.au  

The incidence of youth homelessness has doubled in Australia over the last 20 years with 32,000  young people under 25 defined as homeless (including children under 12, this number increases to  around 44,500 Source: ABS Census 2006).

For further details about The Homeless Short Film Competition , the Schools Teachers Resource  “Teaching Social Issues through English” and THE OASIS Initiative go to:  www.theoasismovie.com.au

To view all the finalist films in 2011, go to http://www.youtube.com/user/SharkIslandDoco 

For more information about Shark Island Productions: 
Contact: Mary Macrae, Production Office Manager  Shark Island Productions p. 02 83533623  www.sharkisland.com.au 

For more information about The Caledonia Foundation: 
Contact: Ruth Johnstone, Executive Director   The Caledonia Foundation p. 02 9255 7616  www.caledoniafoundation.com.au