Students’ stories screen at TAFE film festival

A GROUP of forty Bendigo TAFE students with disabilities had the opportunity to present their own short films at the institution’s short film festival earlier this month. 

Crystal Sutherland Wearne, in her second year of studying Certificate I in Work Education, was involved in two of the 10 films, and hosted the event for the second year running.  

Wearne said one of the films was to do with contrasting jobs of the past to jobs today, and in which she portrayed a stable hand called Charlene. 

Yet the second movie didn’t go quite to plan.  

“The second film was supposed to be carpool karaoke, but none of the students turned up so we had to do it on the roof,” said Wearne. 

“It was just a bunch of random songs with only the people who were in class. It was fun and hilarious.” 

Wearne said the main thing was that everyone had fun making the films. 

The projects took a lot of time to make, and the presentation night is one of the course highlights of the year. 

Bendigo TAFE CEO Sally Curtain said the transition and work education course is important in supporting people with disability to continue their education after school and in preparing for the next steps in their career or higher study. 

“The short films reflect our students’ skills, experience and creativity, and we’re thrilled to be able to show this to the community through our annual TWED Film Festival,” she said. 

Wearne said she wanted to thank all those involved in the film festival, and following her work education courses she wants to pursue animal studies. 

“I’d like to give a congratulations to the media team, the teachers, the supporters, and everybody who was there on the night watching the films,” she said.