Watch Family Rules

Family Rules is an Australian reality TV show that aired from 2017 to 2020, and it revolves around the lives of the Rule sisters who belong to the Gamilaroi/Euahlayi people from the Northwest of New South Wales, Australia. The show's executive producer was Renee Kennedy, while Dena Curtis directed it.

The show attempts to portray the diversity of Aborigine lives in Australia today by following four generations of women from the Rule family as they navigate life's ups and downs. The show is about family, culture, and growing up in Australia's Indigenous communities and reflects the everyday struggles of Indigenous Australians.

The Reality TV series is all about the lives of the Rule family's women, Olivia, Chelsea, Hannah, Tasman, and little twins Eva and Jessie. The matriarch of this Indigenous family is Nanny Carol, who rules with an iron fist with her house rules, hence the name of the show. The women of the family are often on the receiving end of Nanny's wrath when it comes to maintaining the house rules. The Rules sisters’ mother, Daniella, passed away, and non-Indigenous stepmother, Jessica, keeps the family connected to its roots.

The show follows the sisters as they juggle their upbringing and ancestral culture with the demands of modern Australian society. Living in the suburbs, the show depicts the challenges of keeping Aboriginal culture alive while living in a western world, such as dealing with racism without losing their dignity.

In Family Rules, the audience gets to watch Olivia navigate university life while discovering her identity as an Indigenous Australian. Chelsea, the eldest of the sisters, has her hands full with her five children and her eagerness to pass on her cultural heritage to her children. Hannah, the third daughter, is a basketballer who is chasing her sports dream while also trying to maintain her cultural practices. Tasman, the younger sister, is a schoolgirl who is trying to figure out who she is and what life has in store for her.

The show offers a great insight into the issues affecting Indigenous Australians, such as poverty, lack of education, cultural disconnection, and racism. The family often discuss past traumas caused by the government's past policies towards Aboriginal people or other issues affecting the wider Indigenous community. These issues, which are rarely discussed in a public forum, show the audience, instead of telling them, the hardships of the Rule sisters and their community.

The series also engages with the community and features events such as NAIDOC week, an annual event that commemorates the culture, history, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Additionally, the show features traditional dancing and stories in a bid to preserve the Indigenous culture and pass it to the younger generation.

Family Rules is an eye-opening watch because it offers a window into traditional Indigenous cultures and modern Australia. The show pulls at viewers' heartstrings as we see the sisters navigate life's challenges while balancing cultural obligations. The family's determination, along with their love and respect for their culture, is a testament to the viable future of Indigenous Australians.

Overall, Family Rules is an uplifting and informative show. It is an important tool to assist in understanding the modern indigenous experience in Australia. The Rule sisters have brought the Indigenous community's beauty to our screens, and by doing so, have created an appreciation and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.