Canberra-based Charles Sturt University School of Social Work and Arts Ms Dalanglin Dkhar (pictured above) shares how her documentary, Unconditional, not only opened the eyes of the community to the challenges carers face, but went on to inform government policy, educational resources and garner an audience spanning Australian and international cinemas.

Unconditional is the culmination of my own experiences as a full-time carer for my young son and a desire to help others in similar positions. It follows the lives of four carers (pictured below).

It’s been a journey through every emotion you could imagine. And it has continued since the documentary officially launched at Canberra’s Palace Electric Cinema on Monday 25 March  and screened publicly in August, with the support of nonprofit organisation Carers ACT.

On Tuesday 3 December, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I’ve found myself reflecting on all that has happened in the short time since the documentary’s release.

Unconditional has so far been screened by three federal government departments, several organisations and by carer advocacy bodies in the ACT, NSW, Tasmania, Victoria, QLD and WA.

It has been viewed by thousands in their own homes, both in Australia and overseas, and requests for access to view Unconditional continue to arise from carers nationally and internationally through the free carer link.

The documentary has also been recognised at film festivals, including the Official Section and Screening at 2024 Indian Film Festival Melbourne at Hoyts Melbourne Central, and the Official Section with Honorary Mention at 2024 International Social Change Film Festival US.

Shifting attitudes

These achievements, while grand, do not compare to the sense of pride I feel when reading the results of the post-viewing survey conducted as part of my research, from both carers and non-carers.

A few of the most notable are:

“The film showed me I was not alone as a carer, and that my experience of not feeling supported, heard or valued was far from unique. The film motivated me to start advocating for carers like I have spent years advocating for my beautiful daughter. I am so grateful to have seen it.” – Anonymous carer respondent.

“The way the people in the film spoke about their role as a carer made me realise just how much courage and strength of character it does take to be a carer. Perhaps I just hadn't had the chance to stop and think about it before. It was very uplifting.” – Anonymous non-carer respondent.

Tangible impacts

One of the  goals of Unconditional was the creation of a Carer Recognition Card that will empower and create further recognition of a carer in all the various places they exist, work and advocate.

As it stands, we carers do not have anything tangible to identify ourselves with and that can add to the feeling of having a role that is invisible and powerless in our dealings with the many levels of health, education, front line services and support systems we interact and work with every day.

Carers ACT had included the Carer Recognition Card as one of their eight election asks for the political parties at the recent ACT state election.

We had two major parties commit to this concept as a result.

The Labor party won the recent election and has already started working with my industry partner to cost the card and have the government administer it through Access Canberra.

This will hopefully see 58,000 Canberra carers receiving a recognition card and is such a hopeful sign to see the government listening and acting. There will be more to come in this space.

Another exciting outcome of the research is the use of Unconditional as an education tool.

Carers ACT is progressing discussions to have the documentary used as part of the Learning Management System through an ACT-wide Carer Awareness Training Module for the 27,000 ACT government employees.

On the horizon

I am currently writing my exegesis – an extremely stimulating and gratifying process which I am enjoying despite doing it in the crazy hours of 11pm onwards.

It has given me space and the luxury amid my daily caring duties to pause and reflect on the process so far.

Intermediate outcomes I continue to work on are building bridges between impacted communities, educating lawmakers and encouraging people to take a stand on these issues.

Pedagogical impacts I have already been validating include using Unconditional as part of diversity and inclusive knowledge tools, writing carer policy with informed lived experience and forming partnerships with carer-led research.

In the long-term, my goals centre around increasing visibility, recognition and knowledge around the roles of carers in society and how they may need support, increasing flexibility for carers in the workplace and continuing to influence policy and public debate so the overall welfare of communities where families with disabilities live are improved.

A note of thanks

This entire process has been possible because I have had the most incredible partnership and encouragement from my industry partner, Carers ACT. I want to acknowledge the immense support  they have contributed to the project through funding and expertise.

I also would like to acknowledge my wonderful academic supervisors who have led, advised and supported me on a steep learning curve every step of the way.

I am filled with gratitude by the viewers (carers and non-carers alike) who have watched the film and decided to recommend it to others.

The lesson I have taken from all this is that community spirit and motivation is very much alive and that is extremely humbling to experience.

For more information on Unconditional, head to the website or follow along via Instagram and Facebook.