Co-Design, Country and Storytelling: Creating a Biosecurity Training Series with NAILSMA
At Videoshift Media, we’re driven by helping organisations communicate important ideas with clarity, purpose and respect. One of the most meaningful projects we’ve ever worked on came from NAILSMA — the North Australia Indigenous Land & Sea Management Alliance.
They needed to communicate technical biosecurity procedures on Country to a very specific audience, many of whom have diverse accessibility needs and prefer information presented visually, simply and in culturally relevant ways. This was not just an information project — it was a responsibility. And it quickly became one of my favourite projects of my entire career.
The Cast of the Bio-Security training series, filmed on-location in Darwin.
Starting with Co-Design: Building the Message Together
This project began exactly where it should — with the experts, the instructional designers and the community SMEs.
The co-design process was central to the work. We spent time breaking down technical content into audience-first key messages, translating complex biosecurity procedures into plain, practical, easy-to-understand steps that rangers could use in the real world.
Before we touched a camera, I created a full set of illustrated storyboards to provide a clear pre-visualisation of each video. These were shared with NAILSMA, instructional designers and community SMEs for feedback and iteration. Everyone had a voice, and every refinement made the videos stronger, clearer and more culturally aligned.
Pre-production wrapped with approved scripts, storyboards and shoot schedules — all built collaboratively.
Filming on Country with Rangers and Community Members
With pre-production locked, our small crew flew into Darwin. Our team included:
Director (Videoshift Media)
Producer
Director of Photography
Sound recordist
Lighting crew
Over three days, we filmed in multiple locations, working alongside Indigenous rangers and community members who featured on camera in both interviews and staged on-the-job demonstrations.
Shooting on Country brought authenticity that simply can’t be replicated elsewhere. The rangers weren’t actors — they were the experts, demonstrating procedures they use to protect the land and sea every day. Their insights, their presence and their connection to Country shaped the entire look and feel of the series.
Turning Technical Knowledge into Accessible Storytelling
The completed project became a 10-part eLearning video series on biosecurity, covering:
real-world scenarios
step-by-step procedures
cultural relevance and context
clear visuals and pacing
voiceovers designed for accessibility
The goal was simple:
Make complex information feel approachable, useful and empowering.
And it worked. Not only did the training receive incredible feedback, but it was widely shared across partner organisations and communities because it made technical content feel accessible and culturally grounded.
Evergreen Resources with Real Impact
These videos now serve as evergreen training materials to support the protection of Australia’s delicate biosecurity, ensuring rangers and community members have clear, practical tools to carry out essential work.
It was a privilege to be part of a project that connected storytelling, culture, design and real-world impact — and to collaborate with the incredible teams at NAILSMA, the community SMEs and the rangers who shared their knowledge on camera.
This project wasn’t just rewarding — it was meaningful. And it remains a standout highlight in the story of Videoshift Media.
If your organisation needs to communicate technical processes clearly, respectfully and in a way that truly reaches your audience, Videoshift Media is here to help.
