Aunty Jane Rosengrave and Sarah Waardenburg only ask for a couple of things; to be seen, be heard, to stand up and speak up for disability and culture.

The pair are two members of the Deadly First Nations Shout Out Group, better known as 'The Deadlys', a self advocate group of Indigenous adults with intellectual disabilities and acquired brain injuries in Victoria.

Over the past two years The Deadly's connect in-person and online with one another, organisations, their community and, importantly, culture.

They operate in a space of intersectionality which comes with challenges.

Culture is something they've often felt separate from.

"We stand up and speak up for Disability and Culture," an opening frame of a new documentary about the group reads.

"The Deadlys often cannot access or are left out of traditional ways. These are in our blood".

Since 2023 the four members of The Deadlys have engaged with work on the issues which impact them.

The group has built a relationship with groups like the First Peoples Disability Network, engaged with community workshops, are forging plans for traditional gathering in the bush, and have started a podcast.

In the podcast, conversations address ways to put a stop to racism and discrimination, culture and arts, educating the public, police, health and justice sectors about First Nations people with disabilities, as well as what being a part of The Deadlys is all about.

From six months old to the age of 21, Aunty Jane was "locked up" in institutions, something she describes as a "bird cage", and says is still happening to other young kids today.

For Aunty Jane, being a part of The Deadlys is about showing Indigenous people with intellectual disabilities exist, contributing to community they embrace with acceptance and love.

"Why it's very important is because we want people to know that we exist out there, that we can speak up for ourselves, and that we know our rights and that we are not to be pushed around," she told National Indigenous Times.

"I've learned a lot from it. It's been really great."

Aunty Jane said their message is starting to get some notice - others around them are learning there's little positives for hiding yourself away.

"You can spit it out (what you're feeling) and let people know who you are, where you're from, what tribes you've got, what tribe you are from," she added.

Aunty Jane, a Yorta Yorta woman, says being accepted as an Aunty in recent years is the "best thing that's happened to me".

In December, The Deadlys released a new documentary about their efforts and individual stories.

Stories of personal challenges and suffering, experiences being forced to prove their identity and hurdles along the way meet with the system of support among the four group members.

It's a raw and emotional expression.

Sarah Waardenburg is a proud Gunaikurnai woman and member of the Deadlys.

"It's a great, great bunch of people. We've been going for two years... just one hell of a journey so far - with the filming and the songs. And you meet that many people along the way," she said.

Like Aunty Jane, Ms Waardenburg want's more people to grow a bond with - to spread all across Australia, she said.

"In a lot of places you've got people with intellectual disability who are First Nations that feel so alone. They can join on Zoom and everything else to help them a lot..to come out, speak up, not to hide...If you've got a bit of disability, be proud of who you are."

The documentary was launced with a lunch, speeches, awards and debut screening amongst friends and close-knit community at Koorie Heritage Trust in Naarm.

"It was telling people what us, the First Nations disability group, can do out there in the community, and that we're accepted, and what we've done...passing our information on to other people to learn from what we've been doing for the last two years," Aunty Jane said.

Highlighting their work and giving a 'Bunjil bird's-eye' into courageous individual stories, the hope is the film raises awarement to bring positive change to the issues the Deadlys and their peers face each day.

Ms Waardenburg said making the film was an exciting experience, particularly with the opportunity to get out of the country.

She added work with possum skin, cultural burning and beginning to learn language is next on her list of things to look out for.