A thought provoking, revelatory and inspiring documentary telling the story of Bruce Pascoe’s Dark Emu – the publishing phenomenon that challenged Australia to rethink its history and ignited a raging debate. The 2014 best-selling book makes the explosive claims that First Nations people were not only hunters and gatherers but also farmers who were part of a complex economic system. But Dark Emu has ignited a fierce debate, sparking searing criticism. Academics, and conservative commentators have lined up to pour scorn upon Pascoe’s work and question the knowledge of the First Australians. The Dark Emu Story is a feature length documentary that delves into the controversy, provides a platform for First Nations people to share their remarkable stories and enlightens our understanding of Australian history.

Director: ALLAN CLARKE | Producers: BELINDA MRAVICIC, DARREN DALE, JACOB HICKEY

Brenda’s first memories were of growing up in a loving white foster family, before she was suddenly taken away and returned to her Aboriginal family. Decades later, she feels disconnected from both halves of her life. But the traumas of her past do not lie quietly buried. So, she goes searching for the foster family with whom she had lost all contact. Along the way she uncovers long-buried secrets, government lies, and the possibility for deeper connections to family and culture. The Last Daughter is a powerful and inspiring documentary about Brenda’s journey to unearth the truth in her past, and reconcile the two sides of her family.

Directors: BRENDA MATTHEWS, NATHANIEL SCHMIDT | Producers:  BRENDON SKINNER, SIMON WILLIAMS

There have been periods where if the Kimberley, in Australia’s far northwest, was a country it would have the highest suicide rates in the world. The vast majority are young Indigenous men. Mark Coles Smith, an Indigenous actor who grew up in the Kimberley, returns to try to discover why this is the case. This is a subject that is close to Mark’s heart – his best friend committed suicide when he was just 23. On his journey, Mark meets some remarkable people directly affected by suicide and who are now making a real difference in suicide prevention. He also faces up to his own loss and questions how others can learn from it.

Director: TYSON MOWARIN | Executive Producers: DAN BROWN, JACQUELINE WILLINGE | Host and Co-Producer: MARK COLES SMITH

A self-confessed shy man with 4th grade education, Jagera elder Neville Bonner was elected in both State and Federal Parliament for over 12 years across four changes of Federal government. He endured public “token black” jibes, parliamentary loneliness, and corrosive conflicts within his own political party for crossing the floor on issues close to his heart. In 1983, after being dropped from the Liberal party’s ticket, he stood as an independent and was nearly successful. After his defeat, he continued in politics behind the scenes, advising and sitting on several boards influencing policy and advocating for Indigenous Rights. He was pivotal in establishing media organisations across the country and was the first full time board member on the Australia Broadcasting Corporation. Always choosing ‘compromise over confrontation’, Neville’s vision was to work ‘within the system’.

Director: DOUGLAS WATKIN | Producer: CITT WILLIAMS | Executive Producer: DENA CURTIS

House of Skulls is the result of a three-year investigation into the University of Pennsylvania’s enigmatic Morton Cranial Collection. This extensive repository of human skulls, largely acquired through grave robbing, aimed to support white supremacy theories. Despite being an open secret at the university, its profound impact on global science, laws, and prejudice has remained unexamined. Journalists Marc Fennell and Pallavi Kottamasu meticulously combed through burial and archive records, crafting a global exploration of Morton’s collection. It delves into its far-reaching consequences, touching on Egyptian mummies, NFL class action lawsuits, and a tragic episode of police violence in America.

Key Creatives: MARC FENNELL, PALLAVI KOTTAMASU, PAUL HORAN

A day in the life of a supervised injecting site, where people from all walks of life are welcomed without judgement. 

Alongside healthcare workers, we get up close to the business of supporting safe drug use and preventing overdose. Practising harm reduction is a balancing act: from pharmacotherapy to karaoke to crisis care, bonds of trust between clients and workers sometimes see people turn their life around, and sometimes end in loss.

Every alternate episode we meet individuals who attend the centre as clients – candid portraits tinged with trauma, and rich in humour and a desire to thrive.

Producer: MICHELLE RANSOM-HUGHES

Karina has been a trailblazer in the field of factual television for over two decades.

She has overseen more than 20 factual series, including See What You Made Me Do (SBS), called ‘one of the most important documentaries you’ll ever watch’; Employable Me (ABC), which gave people with disabilities their first opportunity to participate in the workforce; and the globally successful Love on the Spectrum (ABC, Netflix), winner of four Emmy® Awards. Along with series co-creator Cian O’Clery, Karina has been recognised by the Producers Guild of America for advancing the portrayal and employment of disabilities in media.