All titles in the ‘Health’ genre
38 titles - sorted alphabetically or by year
A
Abortion, Corruption and Cops: The Bertram Wainer Story documentary – 2005
The powerful story of Bertram Wainer’s crusade to overturn the laws against abortion in 1960s Victoria and the web of corruption he uncovered as a result.
Alicia documentary – 1996
Alicia and her parents believe the family’s collective faith aided her recovery from a brain injury sustained in a car accident.
Argentine Ants Advertisement advertisement – 1968
In this television ad, Barry Crocker encourages kids to hunt Argentine ants in their local neighbourhood for a $10 reward.
Australian Story – With This Ring television program – 2005
Australian Story revisits remarkable couple the Shanns, two years after Gayle became entangled in a drilling machine on their property.
B
Backs to the Blast, an Australian Nuclear Story documentary – 1981
Made 25 years after nuclear tests were conducted in SA in the 1950s, this documentary stirred up a political hornet’s nest.
Betelnut Bisnis documentary – 2004
Betelnut is the fourth most consumed legal substance in the world after tobacco, alcohol and caffeine.
Big Girls Don’t Cry documentary – 2002
This is about Indigenous women living with renal disease, and their strength pulls at the heart strings.
Billal documentary – 1996
Skilled documentarian, Tom Zubrycki, set out to make a film about young Lebanese-Australians in Sydney but had to change tack.
The Bones of Building sponsored film – 1956
This Waterside Workers’ Federation Film Unit production is a safety film for building workers, commissioned by the Building Workers’ Industrial Union.
C
The Constant Threat sponsored film – 1946
This short film promotes the importance of having a free chest x-ray, provided by the NSW Department of Public Health, to test for tuberculosis.
D
Disturber of the Peace sponsored film – c1945
A short government announcement advising citizens to consider each other’s need for sleep and to keep noise levels low when others are sleeping.
E
Eyes Right sponsored film – c1950
A short public awareness film about the importance of eye health. It explains how our eyes function and how to protect them.
F
Final Insult documentary – 1997
When some people are 'allergic to the 20th century’ they become captives in their own homes.
G
Good Girls Do Swallow documentary – 2000
Dumb Idiotic Eating Trauma – Rachael Oakes-Ash takes a witty look at widespread dieting and its sometimes deadly consequences.
The Growing Child sponsored film – 1938
What has changed in the last 70 years is how the public health message is delivered. Rather than highlight dire consequences, this short film positively reinforces correct behaviour.
H
The Happy Years sponsored film – c1958
This film showcases the health services provided to state school students.
A Hard Rain documentary – 2007
A Hard Rain came out of David Bradbury’s concern that Australia was about to embark on the biggest environmental disaster since white settlement.
Helen’s War: Portrait of a Dissident documentary – 2003
Filmmaker Anna Brionowski follows her aunt, anti-nuclear activist Dr Helen Caldicott, for a year to capture the feelings of frustration and urgency of a 30-year campaign.
L
Least Said, Soonest Mended documentary – 1999
When she was 16, Val had a baby out of wedlock and was coerced to have her adopted out. After 25 years, Val and her daughter make contact.
M
Midwives … Lullabies … and Mother Earth documentary – 1993
In Europe from the late 14th to the 17th centuries, many midwives were accused of being witches and burnt at the stake.
N
Narbalek documentary – 2001
Narbalek is one of more than 100 documentaries made in the Nganampa Anwernekenhe Series, designed primarily for Indigenous audiences.
No More Needles Please documentary – 1997
Since the age of two, James has required two daily injections of insulin to keep him alive. Now 12, he explores options for people with diabetes.
P
Poisoned Daggers sponsored film – c1941
The evocative title lends a sense of drama to the message being conveyed: that the mosquito’s bite is a threat not just to the health of the community, but also the war effort.
R
Rachel: A Perfect Life documentary – 2007
An intimate, observational documentary following a young woman as she goes through brain surgery to control her epilepsy.
Rare Chicken Rescue documentary – 2008
After a battle with depression Queensland chicken breeder Mark Tully embarks on a mission to protect the endangered chickens who, he reckons, saved his life.
S
Sadness documentary – 1999
Australian photographer William Yang explores loss, love and identity as he investigates a family murder and honours the lives of friends who have died from AIDS.
Selling Sickness documentary – 2004
Direct-to-consumer advertising and newly created diseases such as ‘premenstrual dysphoric disorder’ have led to overuse of antidepressant drugs.
Sewerage of a Great City: Melbourne sponsored film – c1922
By the time this sponsored documentary was made, over 166,000 homes and 70,000 people were, according to its intertitles, 'enjoying the benefits of sewerage’ in Melbourne.
Size 10 documentary – 1978
Size 10 is about how four young women break free of the pressure to conform to beauty and fashion norms.
Super Flu: Race Against a Killer documentary – 2005
In 1997, Avian flu erupted in Hong Kong and crossed over into the human population. This is a report on the world’s preparedness for an airborne pandemic.
Suzi’s Story documentary – 1987
A mother who has contracted AIDS bravely decides to make a film of the experience.
T
Take the Tempo from the Teeth sponsored film – 1948
An early promotional film advocating milk as a key part of a balanced diet, with teeth acting as the barometer for good health.
Think Twice sponsored film – 1958
This occupational safety film for metalworkers highlights three main sources of injury – heat, rays and fumes – and illustrates safe and unsafe ways to operate in the workplace.
Time Bomb documentary – 2003
A time bomb’ is how Frank Djara, a diabetic and the first male health worker in Areyonga, refers to living with diabetes.
The Trouble With Medicine: Conceiving the Future television program – 1993
This is a thought-provoking program about advances in medicine, which we leave in the hands of doctors at our peril.
W
Was That Really Me? documentary – 1997
Tracey’s response to her baby’s crying led her to realise that there was something wrong. An insight into postnatal depression.
Where Angels Fear To Tread documentary – 1997
Explores the political situation relating to voluntary euthanasia in the Northern Territory through the point of view of controversial figure Dr Philip Nitschke.
White River of Life sponsored film – c1950
A short government film made in the early 1950s to promote the health qualities of milk and milk-based foods.
