SBS AT 50: LIVING BLACK CELEBRATES FIRST NATIONS STORYTELLING
BY AMBER SAGGERS-NEPE AND TANGIORA HINAKI
SBS’s 50th anniversary is being marked with an encore screening of Living Black’s special episode, Redefining Australia: 50 Years of SBS, which explores the broadcaster’s pivotal role in amplifying First Nations voices. The program airs this Friday, September 26, at 8:30pm on SBS.
Hosted by Walkley Award-winning journalist Karla Grant, the hour-long special features reflections from leading storytellers, past and present SBS staff, and Indigenous leaders on how the network has reshaped the way Australia sees itself.
Ms Grant, a Western Arrernte woman who has been with SBS for three decades, said the broadcaster’s contribution to Indigenous storytelling has been transformative.
“When no one else was really telling Indigenous stories in the way they should be told, SBS came along,” she said.
“It created the very first Indigenous current affairs program on Australian television and gave us a voice we didn’t otherwise have.”
The program highlights milestone productions from First In Line to Living Black, as well as groundbreaking series including First Australians, First Contact, and Australian Wars.
Ms Grant said the network’s commitment has always been about truth-telling and allowing First Nations peoples to tell their stories their own way.
This year also marks Grant’s 30th anniversary at SBS. She described the milestone as both personal and professional, noting her children grew up around the broadcaster, with her daughter now presenting on NITV Radio.
“I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to elevate our stories, give our people a platform, and nurture the next generation of journalists and producers,”
Featured voices in the special include journalist Ray Martin AM, Bangarra Dance Theatre artistic director Frances Rings, comedian Sean Choolburra, NACCHO CEO Pat Turner, SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle, ABC news presenter Nakari Thorpe, outgoing SBS managing director James Taylor, SBS Director of First Nations Tanya Denning Orman, and NITV Head of Indigenous News & Current Affairs Natalie Ahmat.
She said she hopes viewers take away an appreciation of SBS’s role in educating Australians about Indigenous history, culture, and truth.
“It’s all about giving our people a voice and telling the history of this nation in a truthful way,”
Now in its 22nd year, Living Black remains Australia’s longest-running Indigenous current affairs program. With SBS at 50, Grant says the mission of elevating First Nations voices is more important than ever.
Listen to Ngaarda Media’s Tangiora Hinaki speak with Karla Grant: