The Korin Gamadji Institite (KGI) REAL program participants collaborated with Indigenous Hip Hop Projects and Hepatitis Victoria to create an exciting and powerful health promotion music video, titled ‘REAL Change’.
The song promotes the message of finding inner-strength, being proud of culture and identity, supporting those close to us, and raising awareness around hepatitis.
The group of young, inspiring Aboriginal leaders produced the video, made over three days during National NAIDOC Week (8-15 July) at Gundiwindi Lodge in Wandin, Victoria.
REAL Program participants were first involved in a health education session with Victorian Aboriginal Health Services (VAHS) and Hepatitis Victoria.
Following the session, the participants reflected and wrote about their learnings, recorded their song, and performed in the video.Hepatitis affects both the Indigenous Australians and wider community, and ignorance can lead to deadly liver disease.
Young people are at a higher risk of infection, and stigma and discrimination are major barriers to presentation, testing and treatment.
The artists sing about a topic that can be incredibly sensitive and confronting for some. The video aims to stop the stigma around hepatitis, and feel comfortable to talk about it – with a key message in the video being “with no shame, we’re changing the game!”
“The purpose of the project was to engage our youth to take an interest in their health and wellbeing, and use art as a way of expression and empowerment,” KGI Program Manager, Thara Brown said.
“The participants are all really proud of their video and ability to inspire other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth to advocate for positive social change.”
