iLA: Independent Living Australia

Brief

iLA collaborated with Campfire x and Aboriginal health organisations (VAHS and VACCHO) to create a pilot project focused on Assistive Technology (AT).
The project focused on three main goals:

Cultural Safety: Providing AT information that is accessible and culturally appropriate for First Nations people.
Elder Independence: Helping Elders manage the challenges of ageing while staying active and connected to their community.
Capacity Building: Using a First Nations lens to bridge the gap in healthcare information and support well-being.

Idea

After researching culturally safe communication, Campfire x pivoted from clinical instructions to authentic community storytelling.
The project highlighted:

The “Lapa” Aunties: Featuring Elders from La Perouse to share lived experiences and memories.
Practical Integration: Showing how simple Assistive Technology—like specialized kitchen tools—helps Elders stay active.
Cultural Connection: Focusing on how these tools support social traditions, such as preparing a “big feed” for the community.

Execution

The production was executed as a pilot project in the 2023/24 period, involving location filming at La Perouse to capture the Aunties in their natural environment.

Cultural Safety & Storytelling: The execution prioritised “yarning” as a methodology, allowing the Aunties to share deep-rooted memories of the “Blue Hall” dances, the “Mission Church” weddings, and gathering oysters on the rocks.
Demonstrating AT: Within this social context, the film captured the practical use of Assistive Technology, such as a manual tomato slicer, demonstrated through a shared kitchen activity.
Trust-Building: Crucial to the execution was the trust developed between Campfire x and the La Perouse Elders, ensuring they felt comfortable discussing personal topics like widowhood and the loss of community members while highlighting the resilience of “always coming back like the boomerang”.

Outcome

The pilot project achieved significant recognition within the sector:

Industry Reception: The content was highly well-received by the industry for its culturally safe approach to information delivery.
Strategic Development: The project directly informed the development of a Better Practice Guide focused on creating culturally safe information about Assistive Technology for First Nations people.
Data & Reach: The video and associated toolkit increased reach across digital platforms, and within the regional Aboriginal health networks.
Broader Impact: The initiative has provided a roadmap for how large health organizations can engage with Elders through respectful, identity-affirming content that prioritises community knowledge over clinical mandates.

Testimonial

From the outset, Campfire x took the time to get to know us as the client and identified the communities we hoped to engage with. They patiently helped us navigate a new engagement, made the effort to facilitate learning opportunities, shared their stories, and invited us to participate. With a focus on flexibility, understanding, and a mutually beneficial exchange, the result was a smooth collaborative process. The Campfire x Team’s cultural and creative expertise were evident in every step of the project. We learnt so much, personally and professionally, through this project that we have also been able to share with the rest of our organisation. We feel lucky to have found a creative partner in Campfire x, that is genuinely invested in delivering outstanding results, with heart.

Michael Barlow Stringer, LiveUp Program Manager, iLA