Shattered: Progress Update

Shattered is now in post-production. This is the stage where the story takes shape — where hours of testimony are carefully woven together and the reality of what we’ve uncovered begins to emerge on screen.

In recent months, new developments including Parliamentary Inquiries and the release of the Robertson Report just weeks ago have added critical dimensions to this story.

Many people have been deeply affected and retraumatised by this system, and we feel a responsibility to ensure their experiences are shared with care and dignity. This is not an easy task. The process of documenting these harms has impacted us as filmmakers as well, reminding us that we are also part of the human story unfolding.

We would not be human if we didn’t acknowledge that these recent developments have intersected with our work in unexpected and personal ways, deepening both the challenge and the responsibility we feel to those whose voices we carry. To the many sector experts who have shared their deep insights into the system’s problems, we are profoundly grateful.

We know this has not been an easy journey for those who have shared their stories, or for those who have worked on the project. To help us navigate the complexities of trauma storytelling, we are seeking advice from Screen Well and Support Act, and have also sought guidance from other production companies experienced in this work. Their insight is helping us consider how best to proceed and complete the project with care.

For these reasons, we are deliberately taking additional time to reflect. This includes extending filming and further developing the screenplay so that the documentary not only captures the most current and credible picture of systemic failures, but also honours the people whose courage has made this work possible. Our goal is not just to complete a documentary, but to create a record that carries care, and historical weight.

What began as a little project has become much more shaped by the many expert voices who have worked with us sharing their professional knowledge of the system or their personal stories.

Our commitment remains unwavering: to tell this story with rigour, compassion, and integrity. Though we are new to filmmaking, we have done our best learning, adapting, and staying true to the responsibility we carry, despite the many obstacles we have faced. While this has extended our timeline, it has also strengthened the accuracy and depth of the work.

At times the path has been more complex than anticipated, shaped by forces outside our control, but every step is making the film stronger.

Together, we are shaping not just a documentary, but also a valuable historic account of a system in disrepair one that has harmed generations of Australians. We are also seeking a permanent home for the many hours of filmed testimony, ensuring it remains as a historical record of the system’s impact.

We will not be undertaking further public promotion of the documentary until these steps are complete. We’ll share more on release dates as soon as possible.