How to Watch “Incarceration Nation” in Australia

Trigger warning: this article discusses violence, abuse and contains images and videos of people who may have passed.

Australia’s treatment of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples by the nation’s justice system has been put under the microscope with the release of Incarceration Nation.

The documentary, made by Indigenous filmmaker Dean Gibson, lays bare the story of systemic injustice and oppression towards First Nations people on their own land.

Raw, emotional and confronting, Incarceration Nation is essential watching for every Australian who wants to learn more about the country’s colonial roots and help contribute to changing the current judicial landscape in Australia.

Here’s everything you need to know about Incarceration Nation.

How do I watch Incarceration Nation?

Incarceration Nation premiered on NITV on 29 August. If you missed the premiere, don’t worry ‘cos the doco is now available to watch for free on SBS On Demand right here.

If you’ve never used SBS On Demand before, it’s free to sign up and all you need is an email address.

What is Incarceration Nation about?

Australia has had a graphic history of violence towards Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples ever since the British Empire arrived.

Fast forward to today and not much has changed. To put it into perspective, First Nations people are amongst the most incarcerated people in the world with Indigenous men making up 29 per cent of prisoners and Indigenous women totaling 34 per cent of prisoners.

That is despite the fact they only represent 3.3 per cent of the Australian population.

Every single member of the Australian parliament should be required to sit and watch this documentary and see this country's police force in action on a daily basis. The violence, the abuse of power, the criminal behaviour never dealt with. #IncarcerationNation

— 💧Prof Anita Heiss (@AnitaHeiss) August 29, 2021

That’s not even the worst of it.

Around 65 per cent of incarcerated children aged between 10 and 13-years-of-age are Indigenous or Torres Strait Islander.

Finally, between 1991 and 2021, there have been 474 Indigenous deaths in custody with no criminal charges being laid.

Simply put, Incarceration Nation is about bringing these injustices above into the public sphere in the hope of making a change.

We must warn you before watching though, this film is confronting and includes footage of Indigenous Australians being abused while in police custody. 

What can I do to help once I’ve watched Incarceration Nation?

Once you’ve watched the film, there are ways you can help shift the national conversation about this important issue.

Firstly, the filmmakers are urging viewers to share the film on their social media to spread the truth about the current incarceration crisis in Australia.

Secondly, you can join their #RaiseYourVoice campaign here to help support Indigenous Australians.

Finally, write to your local MP and ask the government to implement change.

Your voice matters in Australia and writing to your MP is one way of showing your concerns for the Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander community.

You can search for their local MP here.

Are you experiencing suicidal thoughts, sexual assault or domestic and family violence? Seeking to support someone who is? Call Lifeline on 131 114 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.

Visit ReachOut to get support to help you with everything from everyday issues through to tough times.

Header Image: NITV