Living Black

Barbara McGrady - Photographic Philosopher

Monday, 30 March at 8.30pm

Gomeroi/Gamilaraay photographer, Aunty Barbara McGrady has dedicated her life to capturing the recent history of Indigenous peoples. From sporting events to family tragedies and national protests, Aunty Barb as she’s known, has been there with her trusty camera. Karla Grant sat down with Aunty Barb at an exhibition showcasing the photographers work at Sydney University’s Chau Chak Wing Museum, where they talked about McGrady’s life and career, her interest in sociology, and her love of photography.

Bibi Barba

Monday, 14 April at 8.30pm

In 2013, artist Bibi Barba decided to do an online search of her artworks. She discovered that two of her artworks from had been replicated in a Polish hotel without her permission. Her designs were used on bar tops, wall panelling and furniture, still in the same colours. Bibi has threatened copyright infringement but the hotel has denied it. Karla Grant sits down with Bibi to talk about her life, her art and her struggle to prove the copyright infringement of her work five years on.

Female focus: New season of Living Black highlights women in Federal Election year

A new season of the longest-running Indigenous current affairs television program in Australia, the ground-breaking Living Black, premieres on National Indigenous Television (NITV) and SBS On Demand on Monday 21 April at 8.30pm. Living Black will encore on SBS on Tuesday 29 April at 3pm.

Join Western Arrernte woman, Walkley Award-winning presenter, Executive Producer and journalist Karla Grant as she interviews some of Australia’s most prominent and inspiring First Nations peoples in the program’s 22nd year.

Living Black continues to investigate critical national issues through a unique First Nations lens, with compelling stories told predominantly by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The series features a host of powerhouse First Nations female guests including tennis icon Evonne Goolagong Cawley AC MBE, Meriam woman and NAIDOC award winner, Dulcie Flower, former Shakaya musician Simone Stacey and more, this season.

Renowned for featuring powerful, in-depth investigations, this season of Living Black will shed light on youth incarceration in the Northern Territory, with more details to be announced in the coming weeks.

In episode five, premiering Monday 26 May, Living Black celebrates the 25th anniversary of Corroboree 2000 and the Walk for Reconciliation as part of Reconciliation Week 2025. The event was the largest political demonstration in Australia’s history, with 250,000 people marching across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of reconciliation.

In a special episode on Monday 9 June, Living Black will also recognise 50 years of First Nations stories as part of SBS’s 50-year anniversary, featuring interviews from TV icon Ray Martin and comedian Sean Choolburra, as well as current and former staff. The episode will reflect on the role the network has played in telling First Nations stories and amplifying voices over the past five decades.

Living Black host, Karla Grant, said: “Living Black continues to platform the stories of our people, remaining committed to inspiring viewers through our coverage. This season, we focus on Black excellence, women and community, while remembering the past with our anniversary episodes, and looking to the future with our investigations. “I can’t wait to share another unmissable season with all Australians, particularly during an election year.”

Tanya Denning-Orman, Director, First Nations at SBS, said:Living Black is a staple in the Australian media landscape with Karla Grant having worked at SBS for 30 years. We are so proud of the continued success of Living Black and Karla’s contributions to the network, as a leading voice in Indigenous current affairs.

This new season of Living Black is another gripping one, with urgent investigations and uplifting celebrations, the program is as necessary today and it was when it premiered in 2003.”

Watch Living Black weekly from Monday 21 April at 8.30pm on NITV and on SBS on Tuesdays from 29 April at 3pm.

Living Black will also be available to stream free on SBS On Demand and will be subtitled in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.

Season Premiere

Monday, 21 April at 8.30pm on NITV

Season 2025, Episode One: Marion Scrimgeour
Marion Scrymgour won the 2022 Federal Election by the narrowest of margins to become the Member for Lingiari, in the Northern Territory. Now she’s running again in what pundits are predicting will be another close race. Karla Grant travelled to Alice Springs to meet with the MP to talk about her hopes to re-gain her seat at the 2025 Federal Election and to hear what she thinks is the path to success.

Episode Two: Kerrynne Liddle

Monday, 28 April at 8.30pm

Arrernte woman Kerrynne Liddle is the Liberal Senator for South Australia. When she was elected in 2022, she was the first Indigenous woman to win a parliamentary seat in South Australia in either state or federal levels. Since her election she’s been working increasingly in Indigenous Affairs alongside the Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Karla Grant sat down with Senator Liddle to talk about her political rise, and what to expect from a possible Liberal government, ahead of the 2025 Federal Election.

Episode Three: Pat Turner

Monday, 5 May at 8.30pm on NTV

Pat Turner has been fighting for the rights of First Nations peoples her entire career across numerous areas of the public service. Now she’s the lead convenor of the Coalition of Peaks, which is working with all governments to try and Close the Gap. Karla Grant travelled to Canberra to speak to Auntie Pat about her life, illustrious career, and to hear her thoughts about the 2025 Federal Election and what she hopes to achieve with the incoming government.

Episode Four: Sean Choolburra

Monday, 12 May at 8.30pm

Sean Choolburra had ambitions to perform comedy professionally from the age of 10 but detoured to become a dancer with the acclaimed Bangarra Dance Theatre. However, it would be through a chance encounter in the early 2000’s that saw him follow his calling to the comedy stage. Karla Grant caught up with the comedian to talk about his life, how he finds his inspiration for his comedy, and how he came to play a character on the world’s largest children’s television show, ‘Bluey’.

Episode Five: Simone Stacey

Monday, 19 May at 8.30pm

In 2002, the pop music duo Shakaya stormed the charts with the hit ‘Stop Calling Me’, winning several Deadly Awards and an ARIA nomination. But Simone Stacey’s world changed after experiencing domestic violence in her marriage. Since then, she’s dedicated her talents to helping First Nations youth. Karla Grant travelled to Far North Queensland to speak with Simone about her life and career, touring with the band Destiny’s Child, and why she’s passionate to help Indigenous youth find their voice.

Episode Six: Unfinished Business

Monday, 26 May at 8.30pm

Corroboree 2000 On a bitterly cold May day in the year 2000, the largest political demonstration in Australia’s history took place. Over 250,000 people marched in solidarity in support of reconciliation with Australia’s First Peoples across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Now 25 years later, Karla Grant talks to current and past leaders to hear how they felt about it and to ask if reconciliation still stands a chance in Australia today. Episode guests include Former Minister for Indigenous Australians, Hon. Linda Burney and CEO of Reconciliation Australia, Karen Mundine.

Episode Seven: Just Kids

Monday, 2 June at 8.30pm

Join Western Arrernte woman, Walkley Award-winning presenter, Executive Producer and journalist Karla Grant as she interviews some of Australia’s most prominent and inspiring First Nations peoples in the program’s 22nd year.

This special investigation episode explores youth detention. Young detainees sit down with Karla Grant to describe the harsh conditions they experienced in lock up. Living Black visits Alice Springs to assess the impact of the Northern Territory’s new tough-on-crime Justice policies on children and the community. We heard kids are being told to drink toilet water, and subject to daily threats of violence. Children as young as 10 are offered few opportunities for rehabilitation. The experts ask: Will Canberra take action to protect their human rights?