Get Your Voting Fingers Ready!!!

13 Jul 2011: It's Focus On Ability time!!! Entries for NOVA Employment's annual short film competition have now closed and voting is now open.

As of yesterday, you, the public, now have the opportunity to vote on these exciting entries from all around Australia. So far we've already had people from more than 10 countries voting on their favourite short film.

There are two categories for the comp; school's category and open entrant category. First prize for the schools category will be $AU5000.00, and runners up will receive $AU1500.00. Same thing for the open entrant category, first prize will receive $AU5000.00 and runners up will receive $AU1500.00.

The main goal of this competition is to educate people about the employ-ability of people with a disability in a fun and informative manner.

Last year's winning school was Bates Drive School for Special Purposes, taking away $5000 for their school. John Skene, from Bates Drive School had terrific things to say about the competition. “It is a great way to showcase the abilities and strengths of individuals/groups of people with disabilities through a visually engaging manner,” said Mr Skene.

I've just finished watching all 21 entries and I've decided on a few favourites that I hope take out the major prizes. For the open entrant category, I have to recommend ‘Working With Ability' – Annette Krause – which is about a young man with cerebral palsy who has held down a job at his local tavern for several years. It shows his success, but in a humorous way, that kind of pokes fun at how people perceive those with disabilities.

My other choices to keep an eye on in the schools category are; ‘Focus On Ability' – Mercedes College – It's a beautiful and honest short film, that captures how not only people with disabilities, should view life, but how all people should. It's very empowering and heart-warming, well done.

One that everyone in the office is talking about is ‘Focus On Ability' – Blaxland High School, a wonderful mixture of photos and film footage set to a lovely soundtrack, very inspiring.

One that I thought was awesome as well was ‘Believe In Yourself' – Cabramatta Public School, entered by year 6G, a funny short film that takes a look at some famous faces, who have overcome barriers and disabilities throughout their lives, and still maintained successful careers.

I'd also like to give a shout out to my very own High School who has entered into this year's competition, to my surprise! ‘The HHS Boy's Focus Session' – Hawkesbury High School. Although it's been many years since I've been back to my high school, it was great to see that they still embrace their students who have disabilities, good luck guys!

Good luck to everyone, there can't be a winner unless everyone votes, so jump onto http before July 30 and vote for your favourite short film entrant.... There are 10 I-pods to be given away at random to voters, so get in quick, before they're all gone!