Bushfires From Above

“what is seen here?”

“A glowing red sky from a plane window … this image shows the scale of the Eastern Australian bushfires and their impact on the people of Australia.”

“This problem relates to our lives and the lives of many others affected by bushfires, because it represents the devastation and loss that has occurred due to this disaster.”

“This image could help people to understand that what is causing these fires is a significant issue. If we don’t act and pressure global leaders and politicians to do the same, these events will only get worse.” - Liz Solly

Photographer: Zahara Harrison

This photograph featured in the Youth Booth exhibition showcasing the work of 10 Victorian young people produced over the 2019-2020 Australian summer. Their work captures their collective experience: being digitally savvy, the stress of study, influence of social media, climate change and the impact of poor mental health. These perspectives, along with our video series produced alongside this, allow us to see the complex situations that impact the youth experience of education.

For schools, teachers, parents and policy-makers it highlights the importance of listening and collaboration with young people, particularly when developing policies and implementing practice to build more inclusive communities. For researchers, we hope this exhibition highlights one way to use participatory visual research methods to support and strengthen the voice of youth.

The exhibition adopts a rights-based perspective which emphasises the importance not only of listening to youth, but actively and authentically collaborating on matters that directly affect them.

The study was conducted by researchers Dr Christine Grove and Louisa Trainer in 2019-2020 at Monash University and is funded by the Monash Education Small Grant Award.