© ATOM A STUDY GUIDE BY KATY MARRINER http://www.metromagazine.com.au ISBN-13-978-1-74295-072-3 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au PLEASE NOTE: TEACHERS ARE ADVISED TO PREVIEW THE FILM BEFORE SHOWING IT TO STUDENTS. STUDENTS SHOULD ALSO BE BRIEFED ABOUT THE CONTENT AND PURPOSE OF WALL BOY PRIOR TO VIEWING. WALL BOY WALL BOY is a sensitive account of the issues facing vulnerable young people in contemporary Australian society. The film is both unsettling and brave in its dramatisation of the fractured world of a vulnerable adolescent. Some students may find the references to sex and drugs too confronting and the dimensions of the narrative too upsetting. This study guide accompanies the short fiction film WALL BOY by Shark Island Productions, makers of THE OASIS documentary. It has been written for senior secondary students and practitioners, and provides information and suggestions for learning activities in English, Drama, Health and Human Development, Media, Religion and Society, VCE VET Community Services and curriculum projects exploring social justice issues in contemporary Australian society. WALL BOY could also be shown to teachers as part of professional development sessions addressing student welfare and pastoral care. Some of the questions and activities in this study guide will be of use to organisations, community groups and counselling services that support vulnerable young people. WALL BOY is the story of a vulnerable sixteen- year-old boy forced to work as a male sex worker at a notorious spot in inner city Sydney called The Wall. A youth worker from the Salvation Army’s outreach bus tries to reach out to him, but the © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION boy won’t speak or even make eye contact. One night the boy takes a risk and leaves a message on one of the laptops in the outreach bus. His cry WALL BOY has a running for help sets a daring rescue plan into motion. time of 17 minutes. 2 About the filmmakers Shark Island Productions is an award- winning Australian documentary production company based in Sydney. The company’s films include THE OASIS, IN THE COMPANY OF ACTORS, ALONE ACROSS AUSTRALIA, POLLY AND ME and WOODSTOCK FOR CAPITALISTS. The company’s films have extensive education and outreach components and are developed as part of broader initiatives to make a significant social impact. The company states FOCUS PULLER, 16 MM CAMERA they create strategic partnerships with the philanthropic and not- for-profit sector, to educate and bring about social change. a daily basis. These organisations is a story behind every person. will be using the films as part of a WALL BOY is part of the ongoing program to raise awareness about The filmmakers hope that the film outreach and education program the issues they are all involved will act as a powerful deterrent for based around the award-winning in, when young people’s lives are vulnerable young people thinking documentary THE OASIS. in crisis. The film can be used at of running away from home, and fundraising events to generate inspire them to seek other options. Following the release of THE OASIS discussion and raise awareness. in 2008, the directors Ian Darling and OASIS Youth Sascha Ettinger Epstein have written Key messages Support Network and directed two short fiction films, based on some of the untold stories Vulnerable young people frequently The Oasis Network gives homeless that came out of their three-year run away from their problems at home and disadvantaged young people documentary experience. POLLY AND and end up with much bigger, more hope, help and opportunities ME (Dir. Ian Darling) and WALL BOY serious problems out in the world. to access relevant education, (Dir. Sascha Ettinger Epstein) have training, jobs, counseling, and been made as companion pieces, The grim reality of Tom aka Wall Boy’s drug/alcohol programs. and deal with a wide range of social life since running away is frighteningly issues that have affected the lives common, and its graphic depiction Oasis cannot effectively undertake of many young homeless kids. on screen sheds light on the very real, this intensive work until young and often life-threatening, danger people are off the street and in a These short films should ideally that young people face when they safe, stable environment. On any be seen in conjunction with THE naively enter the world of the streets. given night, Oasis Surry Hills helps OASIS documentary, in order to to accommodate and feed more provide a broader context for the The film also shows the true value than 100 homeless young people. two stories. The two fiction films of intervention services in turning deal collectively with issues around lives around and the importance of StreetConnect bus addiction, physical and mental outreach workers having a presence service run by Oasis abuse, and neglect. They provoke in the darkest, most dangerous Youth Support Network much discussion about dealing with locations of the city – places where complex social problems, and raise most of us do not want to go. The StreetConnect outreach bus issues about the adequacy of service features laptop computers, wireless levels surrounding prevention and The statistics overwhelmingly broadband connection and mobile response programs in the community. show that involvement in drugs phone access. Homeless young and experience of physical harm people are able to use this technology © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION Partnerships were formed with are often the harsh reality of life to search for accommodation charitable organisations for the on the street for young people. and other support services, send outreach and education component and receive emails and at times of the initiative, that deal specifically WALL BOY puts a human face reconnect with family and friends. with the issues raised in the films on and story to the statistics. There 3 USING WALL BOY IN THE Fact sheet: Missing Persons in Australia CLASSROOM A missing person is defined as anyone who is reported missing to the police, whose whereabouts are unknown and Teachers may select from the about whose safety or welfare people are concerned. following activities to support • 35,000 people are reported missing • In Australia, anyone can be reported students’ viewing and close each year in Australia – one as missing if their disappearance analysis of WALL BOY. person every fifteen minutes. is out of character and there are • 95 per cent of missing persons concerns for their safety and welfare. BEFORE VIEWING are found within a short period • If you have concerns about a of time (usually within a week), missing person you can visit however, there are currently your local police station to file • What images come to mind 1600 long-term missing persons a missing persons report – even when you think of a young (people who have been missing if the missing person lives in person described as a for more than six months). another state or territory. street kid or ‘at risk’? • There are three primary groups at • You do not have to wait twenty-four Ask students to share their risk of going missing: those suffering hours to report someone as missing. thoughts with the class. from a mental illness, young people If you have serious concerns for the Afterwards, provide students (particularly females aged between safety and welfare of a person, and with the following information: thirteen to seventeen years) and their whereabouts are unknown, The term ‘youth at risk’ is used the elderly. Out of the estimated then you may immediately report to describe or identify young 35,000 missing persons, 20,000 them as missing to your local police. people who, faced with particular are under the age of eighteen. • All details about missing persons difficulties and disadvantages, • Approximately one third of missing are kept confidential and are not are thought to be likely to fail persons go missing more than once. made available to the public unless permission has been granted by to develop sufficiently in their • Most children that are reported the family of the missing person adolescent years in a way that missing are located safe and well and investigating officers. would provide a sound basis for a within twenty-four hours. • When located, a missing person satisfying and fulfilling adult life. • For every missing person reported, must give permission before • What stereotypes/attitudes it is estimated that twelve other their whereabouts are released. do some people have people are directly affected whether it is emotionally, psychologically, In the case of a located missing about street kids? physically or financially. child or adolescent, information • Discuss how the media, and decisions regarding their • Going missing is not a crime. particularly film and television, circumstances and their location portrays street kids. Are these • People usually go missing to remove may be made in consultation portrayals sensational? Clichéd? themselves from something that with relevant agencies. isn’t making them happy. Reasons Authentic? Constructive? • By being a missing person you may for going missing include anxiety • Share your opinion of the role put yourself in an unsafe position, and depression, misadventure, the following institutions and making you sensitive to becoming a homelessness, dementia, domestic victim of a crime, or forcing you to people should play in supporting violence, becoming a victim of commit a crime to stay ‘missing’. young people who are ‘at crime, drug/alcohol abuse. risk’: local, state and federal • If you believe you may have seen • For young people, family dysfunction a missing person, please submit governments; charities; churches; and conflict, miscommunication, a sighting report. Information community groups; individuals. issues associated with puberty can be treated confidentially • Make a list of the organisations and peer pressure, mental health upon your request.