Jaylon’s Indigenous Story Telling Traineeship
June 3, 2025
Jaylon is a Kaurna and Narungga man undertaking a traineeship through the Pathways to Community-Led Language Work program at the MLT, where he is exploring Indigenous storytelling through filmmaking. Through a range of film projects, he is using his knowledge of language and identity to share stories from an Indigenous perspective.
His major project is a medium-length documentary that explores the life and legacy of his grandmother, Elizabeth Newchurch. Elizabeth was one of the first Aboriginal women in South Australia to gain a teaching qualification, and she went on to return to Point Pearce on Narungga Country to teach generations of her family and community.
Jaylon’s traineeship allows him to explore both the technical aspects of filmmaking and the creative side of storytelling and language elicitation. By researching archives and conducting interviews, he is working to weave together a rich portrait of his grandmother’s story—one that will be preserved for his family and future generations of community members.
Jaylon filming Yankunytjatjara Woman and Senior Aboriginal Language Expert Karina Lester at Iwantja on the APY Lands.
Alongside this major work, Jaylon is also producing short films and documentaries about other Aboriginal trainees at the MLT. Through the Pathways to Community-Led Language Work program, he is capturing their stories and projects, amplifying their voices, and showcasing their impact through film.
“Building skills in technical filmmaking and storytelling is crucial to being an Aboriginal Language Worker. The stories of community are complex and intricate, and they deserve time and nuance in the telling. Filmmaking is one of the best ways we can do that, and as I grow my skills, I feel I can contribute to the larger project of language maintenance and revival across the state.”
Check out Jaylon’s film of Josh Hughes, a trainee in the Pathways to Community-Led Language Work.