Arts Law works with artists and communities across Australia who often face complex legal issues around wills and estates. In many communities, particularly remote communities, the absence of a will can lead to confusion, conflict, and legal complications for families.

Communicating these legal concepts through traditional written materials is often ineffective, particularly for audiences with diverse cultural backgrounds and varying levels of legal literacy. Arts Law required accessible resources to communicate wills and estate planning to Central Australian and Pilbara communities.

Educational Animations developed a narrative animation to support community education around wills and estate planning.

The film contrasts two families who have recently lost a loved one. In one case, a will provides clarity and guidance. In the other, the absence of a will leads to confusion, conflict and legal difficulty.

Using storytelling, relatable characters and clear visual communication, the animation translates complex legal processes into everyday situations that audiences can easily understand.

A second version of the film was developed for Pilbara communities and produced in three Central Australian languages, ensuring the information was culturally and linguistically accessible.

The films provide Arts Law with an engaging communication tool to help communities understand:
• why making a will matters
• how a will protects families and communities
• what can happen when someone dies without one

By translating legal concepts into story-driven animation, the project supports legal education and knowledge translation, making wills and estate planning more accessible and memorable for audiences who may not engage with traditional legal resources.

Watch both videos on the Educational Animations YouTube channel.

Client Reflection:

The videos Educational Animations created for Arts Law and our Indigenous clients were very well received by our target audiences. They were informative and entertaining and quite lovely.  They were used in a variety of ways including online (social media, YouTube and website) and in many workshops as part of the explanations about the meaning and importance of Wills.

Donna Robinson, Lawyer

Arts Law