Short film ‘Helping You Can Hurt Them’

Professors Robynne Quiggin and Dave Michayluk were funded by ECSTRA (formerly Financial Literacy Australia) to conduct research to investigate the use of ‘small amount credit’‑ such as loans made by payday lenders to Indigenous consumers in Western Sydney.

Researcher and film maker Giovanni De Santolo also joined the team. Unfortunately, COVID made it impossible to interview people, so the film project was pivoted, responding to the skills and strengths of the team, and utilising the advice of sector partner Lynda Edwards from Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) on financial wellbeing priorities. The film ‘Helping You Can Hurt Them’ also draws from stories told to researchers in the Pilbara‑based “No More Humbug!” Report.

After considering the issues, and the most important messaging for urban, rural and remote areas, the team decided to take a gentle, narrative approach to bring awareness to the needs of Elders when asking them for financial help. The film promotes this message of the need to be thoughtful about others' needs before asking for financial help.

Producer Giovanni De Santolo is of Maori (Tapu Ika, Te Awara, Te Aupouri & Ngati Kuri) and Aboriginal (Garrwa & Burunggam) descent. He is also a recent UTS Design Research Masters Graduate. The filming took place in Glebe and stars James Smith, otherwise known as Uncle Jimmy, and Nicole Yardley. In the span of two days of shooting, with the dedicated help of his cast and crew, they were able to produce the ground-breaking film. 

Mr De Santolo said that in creating the film he: 

“… wanted to develop a light-hearted version, didn’t want to antagonise any viewers, and wanted to highlight the outcomes and the general issue of people borrowing money without thinking of the consequences.” 

The film takes a caring approach to this difficult subject and encourages us to be thoughtful about the impact when asking our families for money.

Financial Counselling Australia (FCA) is funding final legal agreements and the short film will be launched and available online. For more information on this exciting film, please contact Professor Robynne Quiggin.