Screening ToolkitIn conjunction with our website, this guide is intended to help you plan screenings of On Richard’s Side.

Table of Contents

About the Film and its maker – Film Synopsis & Andrew WisemanThe Issues – How to Host A Screening – Tools to Prepare, Promote & PresentQ&AEvent Evaluation Form Partners & Credits

About the film

Film synopsisFilmed over three decades, On Richard’s Side charts the life-story of Richard, a young man with an intellectual disability since birth. The film provides intimate and poignant insights into his parents’ quest to establish a quality life for their son and for themselves. Richard’s mother Deirdre is now ageing. His father has passed away. Who will care for Richard in the next stage of his life?

This remarkable story begins thirty-four years ago when Richard was born. This latest film is the third in a trilogy of documentaries about Richard and his family – Driving with Richard (1992) and Wonder Boy (2001). The documentary begins by stepping back in time, revealing through home movies and footage from the previous films how Deirdre coped caring for Richard as a lovable child, who also had highly erratic and often violent impulses. It also reveals the strong bond that grew between a father and son when Richard’s dad Charlie, became his sole (primary?) carer for eighteen years. After a short battle with cancer, Charlie passed away in December 2013. Once again Deirdre, now in her early sixties, is her son’s primary carer and she must plan the remainder of both of their lives. Deirdre is facing the same questions she posed in the earlier films: Who will care for Richard as he ages? How will she cope? What will happen to Richard when she is no longer around? What is considered to be a ‘good life’ for Richard? We witness the extraordinary day-to-day effort required to look after Richard and Deirdre’s resolve in performing the role of carer after three decades. Deirdre wants to build a circle of friends and carers for Richard in case anything happens to her. Critically, she needs to try and find a suitable, long-term accommodation solution for Richard, but can she? The leading voice of this film is Deirdre. Fearless and impassioned, her voice, and only one of many, tells us that to care for someone means to care for life. Amidst the immense struggle, the film reveals moments of humour and great tenderness and how, in many ways, Richard gives to others even as he receives their care.

“If we have a notion that there is something in humanity that is intrinsically worthwhile and valuable and that people who call forth our caring and our love and our compassion are doing a service to us because those are qualities that enrich our humanity…then without people who are vulnerable, without people who need us, how do we practise our caring and our compassion?” Deidre Croft

About the film maker

Andrew Wiseman – Director /Producer Andrew has worked as a producer and director for over thirty years. Combining drama and documentary work he has created award-winning productions for Australian and international audiences. With a particular interest in the interplay between historical events and the present, recent drama titles include Parer’s War (2014), Sisters of War (2010) and Curtin (2007). Andrew’s documentaries focus on health - related stories and include Driving with Richard, (1992) Wonder Boy (2001) and Shake Rattle and Roll. In a trilogy of documentaries, Wiseman aimed simply to provide a canvas for Richard and Deirdre to tell their story. The film uses an observational and non-interventionist approach, letting the rawness, joy, honesty and enormous challenges that confront them both to be laid bare.

“It is my view that stories, in a variety of media that shine a light on tales about caring and disability might help all of us consider what we think are the really important elements that make for a just and fair society,” Andrew Wiseman.

What are the issues?

On Richard’s Side speaks to a number of issues, including people with disabilities and caregivers. The fact is every person in our community is either a carer, being cared for or will become a carer at some stage in their life. The film gives a stark insight into the world of just one of the 2.7 million Australians currently providing care to someone with a disability or long term health condition. Caring responsibilities can a significant impact on physical and emotional welfare and employment status. We want the film to help raise awareness of the need to create a more inclusive and caring community. Interdependence is in our DNA.

In 2015 there were over 2.7 million unpaid family and friend carers in Australia 1

An estimated 1.9 billion hours of unpaid care was provided by Australian carers2

The replacement value of unpaid care is more than one billion dollars a week 3

Around 37% of carers who provide more than 40 hours of care per week have been in this role for 10 years or more4

One in every eight employees in the workplace is a carer5

Around 700,000 Australians under the age of 25 are caring for someone with a disability. 75,000 registered caregivers are under the age of 15 ?? Source

1 Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (nearly 20% are over 65 & the majority are women)2 Deloitte Access Economics 2015, ‘The economic value of informal care in Australia in 2015’3 Deloitte Access Economics 2015, ‘The economic value of informal care in Australia in 2015’ 4 Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers5 Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers

There are 306,000 young carers aged up to 25 years in Australia. Of these, 23,200 are primary carers - those providing the majority of care to an individual6

In Australia, access to early childhood education and care services assist parents to combine paid work and unpaid care. In contrast, services for carers of people with disability, chronic illness and frailty focus on supporting them in their caring role and providing short-term relief rather than facilitating combining care and paid work.

When caring ends, or caring demands reduce, it is often difficult for carers to re-enter the workforce. Access to re-skilling and training options is required for carers wanting to re-attach to the labour market.7 There are no targeted Federal Government programmes in place to support people who are transitioning from a long-term caring role to employment.8

There is an overwhelming case to promote carer-friendly working environments, supplemented by the broader availability of carer support services in the community, to help carers combine work and care. The benefits of providing carer-friendly workplaces accrue to carers themselves, employers (who would otherwise risk losing experienced employees and face rising recruitment costs), and to government by reducing outlays on social security benefits for unemployed carers9.The need to take on caring responsibilities will grow with the ageing of the population. Whether or not a carer is forced to leave the workforce to take on a caring role will often depend on the extent to which their employer is understanding of their caring responsibilities and able to provide flexible working conditions. Many employers are not familiar with the term ‘carer’, nor aware of employees in their own workplaces who may also have an unpaid caring role. Improved employer awareness is needed to highlight the benefits of supporting carers in the workplace, and to provide information and guidance to employers

6 Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers7 http://workingcarers.org.au/index.php/work-n-care/work/1732-supporting-carers-in-the-workforce8 Carers Support Addressing Collateral Damage’, Carers Australia 20169 Carers Support Addressing Collateral Damage’, Carers Australia 2016

on a range of approaches to support working carers and to keep them connected to the workforce.10

Young Carers In addition to substantial caring responsibilities, many young carers face a range of economic, health and social disadvantages that require more intensive and ongoing support. These families face issues such as financial hardship, homelessness, long-term unemployment, social isolation and family breakdown. There is a need for proactive, intensive, wrap-around support and early intervention before these young carers and their families fall into crisis. Current funding for the Information, Advice and Referral Component of the Young Carers Respite and Information Services activity is inadequate to undertake outreach services. There is a need to increase the awareness of other institutions which come into contact with young carers (such as hospitals, schools, the police and other health professionals) and to improve their capacity to refer young carers to appropriate support services.11

10 Carers Support Addressing Collateral Damage’, Carers Australia 201611 ‘Carers Support Addressing Collateral Damage’, Carers Australia 2016

On Richard’s Side – The Impact Campaign

About Good Pitch Australia

Good Pitch2 Australia brings filmmakers together with philanthropists, NGOs, foundations, policymakers, broadcasters and key players in the film industry, to form powerful coalitions and campaigns around significant social and environmental issues. On Richard’s Side was one of six documentary films to be selected as part of Good Pitch2 in 2015. The film was presented to a select group of philanthropists in September 2015 where it received support for both production and impact campaign.

To follow the Impact Campaign

Subscribe to our mailing list via our website – www.onrichardsside.com.auJoin the conversation on social media

/onrichardsside.com.au

@onrichardsside

onrichardsside

Support our Outreach Initiatives

info@onrichardsside.com.au

How to host a Community Screening Thank you for your interest in hosting a screening of ORS. A screening is an effective and easy way to share ORS with your community and to spark conversation and agitate for action.

Here a few tips to help make the most out of your screening

Planning the event

Find a space to accommodate your guests Send invites, ideally six to four weeks before the event Ensure that the invite informs your guests of the time commitment. It is best to allow at leas

two hours best Allow 15 minutes prior to the screening for arrival and possible introduction. The viewing of the film, and a post screening

Post screening – a discussion or Q&A of 15-20 minutes

Publicity

As the screening host we recommend sharing news about the screening Use all avenues to spread the word including Facebook.

To set up a Facebook page……

Take advantage of our marketing materials. Download the film flyer. Attach the film’s trailer to your email invite. In the section ‘Media Kit’ you will find stills and

Cost

If you are screening the film without charge, you can stream the film online for a small fee. A link under ‘Screenings’ will take you to the film’s distributor, Ronin ……..

$5.20 FOR 48-HOUR STREAMING ACCESS, AND $13 FOR A DOWNLOAD:

If you are hosting a community screening and charging admission, TUGG

Day of screening

Test your equipment

Post

To follow the Impact Campaign

Subscribe to our mailing list via our website – www.onrichardsside.com.auJoin the conversation on social media

Partners and Credits On Richard’s Side is grateful to the following Impact Campaign supporters

Ai-Media Antoinette, Emily & Anna Albert Australian Women Donors Network Phillip Cornwell Creative Partnership Australia Packer Family Foundation David Paradice Sustain Community Housing Doc Ross Family Foundation

The Vasudhara Foundation

Supporter Organisations Australian Human Rights Commission Carers Australia Carers ACT Carers NSW Carers NT Carers QLD Carers SA Carers TAS Carers VIC Carers WA FACS Foundation for Young Australians Future Living Trust Human Rights Law Centre Macquarie Bank Moores Legal Mirabel Foundation National Disability Services YMCA