Beyond the Fire (ATOM Study Guide)

Beyond the Fire follows the stories of Australia's unsung heroes as they band together to create life from ashes after the Australian Black Summer bushfire crisis.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Gippsland, Australia, each episode journeys through fire affected locations, connecting with local heroes to share courageous stories of overcoming heat, wind and flame.

We hear stories of survival, tragedy and the hope that springs from grassroots community support.

We meet Australians from all walks of life as they extend hands of generosity, share stories of resilience, initiative and highlight way-makers as they rebuild their world. The very essence of the Aussie spirit is alive and well as we celebrate new shoots of life and opportunities that arise from adversity.

Locals, family members, experts in the field, community leaders and emergency services share a multi-faceted view of the devastation and opinions on how to move forward whilst fighting against the rapid decline of mental health.

Curriculum Links:

Although bush fires have always played a significant role in Australia, the scale, impact and intensity of the 2019-2020 bushfire season has had a profound impact on the Australian psyche. Beyond the Fire series allows students to explore what is already a highly relevant topic through a mental health lens.

The series is most suitable for mid to senior secondary students with specific links to the English curriculum outcomes for years 10–12.

Beyond the Fire is particularly relevant to Personal, Social and Community Health strand of the Health and Physical Education curriculum, specifically:

• plan, implement and critique strategies to enhance health, safety and wellbeing of their communities (ACPPS096)
• critique behaviours and contextual factors that influence health and wellbeing of diverse communities (ACPPS098)

Beyond the Fire would serve as a useful supplementary text to the study of Geography, most notably: Year 10: Environmental change and management.

Teachers should watch this series before deciding to show it to students. It features images and evocative recounts of the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires which may distress some viewers.