How do we attempt to transform narratives about stigma and discrimination in a way that ensures decision making and meaningful participation remains without or community?

Stories of Stigma and Discrimination is a participatory filmmaking project delivered by filmmaker and harm reductionist Conor Ashleigh in close collaboration Harm Reduction Victoria (HRVic) and our community. The initial concept for the project emerged when Harm Reduction Victoria identified the need to understand the experiences of stigma and discrimination among people who inject drugs when accessing health care. By understanding the experiences of people who inject drugs, HRVic can better advocate and educate health providers and governments on the needs of our community-people who inject drugs. Here on HR Vic's website https://www.hrvic.org.au/stigmaproject, the entire film series, workshop facilitation guide and behind-the-scenes short film can be viewed and used.

Too often storytelling projects strongly emphasise either the participatory process or the quality of production/output. At HRVic, we know it is possible to achieve both aims. In this session, we would like to share our process and learnings with other community-based drug user organisations to ensure they can achieve takeaway a practical guide for undertaking their own highly ethical advocacy and storytelling work.