White Rock: Community Screening and Conversation

White Rock was an Ocean Thinkers community event that brought together storytelling, food, science and conversation to explore one of Australia’s most significant marine restoration challenges.

At the centre of the event was a screening of White Rock, a documentary examining the rapid decline of kelp forests across the Great Southern Reef and the changing balance of marine ecosystems caused by the expansion of long-spined sea urchins. The film presents not only the challenges facing these underwater forests, but also opportunities for restoration, sustainable industries and collective action.

Ocean Thinkers designed the event as a space for community learning rather than passive viewing. Through shared meals, discussion and contributions from marine scientists, conservation leaders and local advocates, audiences were invited to engage with complex environmental issues in an accessible and hopeful way.

An important thread within the broader White Rock impact campaign is the recognition of Indigenous Sea Country leadership and the role of First Nations knowledge in marine stewardship and restoration. Across Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have cared for oceans, coasts, reefs and waterways for millennia, guided by deep ecological knowledge, cultural practices and an understanding of interconnected systems. These perspectives offer important insights into long-term approaches to caring for marine environments.

The White Rock project demonstrated how film can become a catalyst for community action — creating opportunities for people to gather, learn and participate in conversations about the future of Australia’s oceans.

It also reflected Ocean Thinkers’ broader approach: connecting creativity, science, culture and community to foster greater ocean literacy and support practical conservation outcomes.