by FilmInk Staff
University of Sydney student Kenya Woodborne created her first documentary through Australia Speaks as NSW expands drones, SMART drumlines and other shark-management measures
A University of Sydney student who had never previously used a video camera has created a documentary investigating whether shark nets remain the best way to protect swimmers following recent shark incidents along the New South Wales coast.
Kenya Woodborne’s documentary, Between the Flags, examines what shark nets can and cannot do, how they compare with drones, SMART drumlines and listening stations, and whether public safety and marine conservation have too often been treated as competing priorities.
The documentary was one of nine participant projects recognised at the inaugural Australia Speaks Ceremony, held at Adobe Sydney on 18 September.
Woodborne’s investigation comes as the NSW Government delivers a shark-management program valued at approximately $120 million over two years. Current measures include year-round drone monitoring at 72 ocean beaches – including all 38 Sydney ocean beaches – alongside 51 shark nets, 305 SMART drumlines and tagged-shark listening stations.
“Before Australia Speaks, I had never used a camera, and my editing experience was limited to Photoshop or iMovie,” Woodborne said.
“Having access to professional equipment, software and support gave me the opportunity to make a documentary about an issue I have cared about since childhood.
“I wanted to look beyond shark nets to the wider cultural conversation, including the way sharks are often vilified, and encourage a healthy discussion about shark-mitigation policy at the intersection of science and policy.”
Born in South Africa and raised in rural Queensland, Woodborne is a Dalyell Scholar studying International Relations and English at the University of Sydney. Her interests in politics, public policy and civic participation informed her approach to the documentary and its examination of the choices facing governments and coastal communities.
Between the Flags was developed through Australia Speaks, a free six-week national factual-storytelling program spearheaded by Adobe in partnership with Pedestal.
Participants received access to Adobe Creative Cloud tools, professional Sony camera equipment, expert mentoring and practical production support as they researched, filmed and edited factual stories about issues affecting their communities.
Ryan Chow, Managing Director of Pedestal and creator of Australia Speaks, said Woodborne’s project captured the purpose of the program.
“Kenya chose an issue that is immediate, emotional and genuinely contested,” Chow said.
“She approached it with curiosity rather than a predetermined answer, giving audiences a way to consider the evidence, competing perspectives and trade-offs behind decisions made in the name of beach safety.
“Her journey from having never used a camera to completing a topical factual documentary also demonstrates what young people can achieve when they are trusted with professional tools, guidance and a platform for their ideas.”
At a time when educators, governments and industry are increasingly focused on future skills and AI literacy, Australia Speaks was designed to develop the creativity, critical thinking, digital capability and communication skills young Australians will need throughout their lives and careers.
Jennifer Mulveny, Adobe Director of Public Policy APAC, said the participants combined technology with distinctly human perspectives.
“What impressed us was seeing participants use powerful technology while allowing the human element to shine through in every project,” Mulveny said.
“Australia Speaks demonstrates why creativity, critical thinking and responsible storytelling remain essential skills as technology continues to reshape how people learn, work and communicate.”
Nine young Australians recognised
The inaugural Australia Speaks Ceremony celebrated nine participants and their factual projects before an audience of government, civic, education and industry leaders.
Guests included Susan Templeman MP, Special Envoy for the Arts, representing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese; NSW Minister for Youth Rose Jackson MLC; Jacqui Munro MLC, Shadow Minister for Science and Technology; Councillor Jess Miller, Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney; and Li Ping Lo, Head of Public Affairs at the U.S. Consulate General Sydney.
Alongside Between the Flags, participants explored subjects including:
- Youth loneliness and the emergence of offline social clubs in Sydney – Charli Waite;
- The environmental, social and creative consequences of artificial intelligence – Jaydon Sciré Giesekam;
- Declining Australian snowfall and whether snow may become a nostalgic memory – Max Stanner;
- The relationship between digital culture, online harassment and women’s safety – Ivah Lynch;
- Whether young people have a meaningful voice in Australia’s national-security conversation – Lucy Lamb;
- The privilege, sacrifice and homesickness of building a life between countries – Sasha Byk Giroux;
- The people sustaining local and underground music communities – Alexander Crawford; and
- Community volunteers whose service frequently takes place without public recognition – Om Karki.
Susan Templeman MP, Special Envoy for the Arts, told participants: “I commend the Australia Speaks program. I do hope it’s given you the tools and the confidence not only to tell stories, but to tell them grounded in evidence, curiosity and integrity.”
NSW Minister for Youth Rose Jackson MLC said the participants were developing capabilities vital beyond the screen: “All of those things are incredibly important skills, not just for you to have – they are important to our democracy, to our society.”
The Ceremony marked the completion of the participants’ six-week development journey, during which they progressed from early concepts to completed factual projects with creative, technical and editorial support.
Image: Australia Speaks participants with Jacqui Munro MLC, Shadow Minister for Science and Technology; Councillor Jess Miller, Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney; and Susan Templeman MP, Special Envoy for the Arts, at the inaugural Australia Speaks Ceremony at Adobe Sydney on 18 September 2026.
About Australia Speaks
Australia Speaks is a free six-week factual-storytelling program for Australians aged 15-24, spearheaded by Pedestal in partnership with Adobe and Sony. Participants combine industry mentoring, professional creative tools and supported production to create stories grounded in the people, places and issues affecting their communities.
About Pedestal
Pedestal delivers the Australia Youth Film Festival (AUYFF), a not-for-profit national program dedicated to finding, celebrating and empowering the next generation of Australian filmmakers and creators. Open to young creatives aged 15-24, the Festival provides a national platform for emerging talent to showcase their work, gain industry exposure and access invaluable learning opportunities.
Founded by then-university student Ryan Chow in 2023, the Australia Youth Film Festival is the Australian counterpart to the New Zealand Youth Film Festival. Together, the festivals serve as a launchpad for young filmmakers and creators, supporting the long-term sustainability of the screen and media industries by nurturing new talent and creativity. The program is entirely free to enter, ensuring accessibility to aspiring filmmakers across the country.
