''First Contact'' is an Australian reality television documentary series that aired on SBS One, SBS Two and NITV. It documents the journey of six European Australians who are challenged over a period of 28 days about their pre-existing perceptions of Indigenous Australians.

Overview

''First Contact'' shows some of the cultural divisions that exist between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and highlights the lack of awareness many non-Indigenous Australians have about Indigenous Australians and the various different cultures and lifestyles they currently maintain. A stated premise is that 60% of European Australian have never had any contact with Indigenous people, a statistic that may explain the prevalence of the racist, unsympathetic and generally prejudicial attitudes that are often directed towards Indigenous Australians. In making their 'first contact' with Indigenous Australia, the selected six participants are taken to Aboriginal communities both in the city and the country, and are even processed into a regional prison at Roebourne in Western Australia, where social problems are particularly

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, resulting in incarceration of large numbers of Indigenous Australians, often for quite minor offences. The relationships between Indigenous people and local police in Roebourne are notoriously poor.

Production

''First Contact'' was filmed and set in New South Wales, home to the largest Indigenous Australian population of any state/territory, the Northern Territory, where Indigenous Australians make up a higher percentage of the population than in any other state or territory and Western Australia.

Discussion

After the series aired, ''First Contact'' was the topic of an Insight episode, hosted by Stan Grant and featuring a discussion involving many of the people who were involved in the show.

Series overview

The show is estimated to have had a cumulative reach of 1,847,000 Australian viewers.

Episodes

Season 1 (2014)

Season 2 (2016)

Cast

(As themselves)

Six Participants 2014

*Alice Lardner *Bo-Dene Steiler *Jasmine Johnston *Trent Giles *Sandy Clifford *Marcus Solomon

Major Indigenous Contributors 2014

*Sharyn Derschow – Co-founder Linkidge Cross Communication Training Company *Margaret Gudumurrkuwuy – Elcho Island Arts *Marmingee Hand – School Teacher & Foster Carer for F.A.S.D children *Marcus Lacey – Traditional Owner, Teacher & Tourist Business Operator *Debra Maidment – Safe & Sober Support Service Program, Central Australia Aboriginal Congress *Victor Morgan – Senior Educator, Education Centre Against Violence & Chair Link-Up NSW * June Oscar AO –

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Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre *Emily Carter – Deputy CEO Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre *Shane Phillips – CEO Tribal Warrior & Local

Australian of the Year The Australian of the Year is a national award conferred on an Australian citizen by the National Australia Day Council, a not-for-profit Australian Governmentowned social enterprise. Similar awards are also conferred at the State and Territo ...

2013 *Geraldine Stewart – Yipirinya School HIPPY Coordinator *Tangentyere Council Night Patrol

Six Participants 2016

* Natalie Imbruglia * Ian Dickson * David Oldfield *

Tom Ballard Thomas Colin Ballard (born 26 November 1989) is an Australian comedian, radio and television presenter. Early life Ballard was born to parents Judy and Neil Ballard and grew up in Warrnambool, Victoria. He attended Brauer Secondary College ...

Renae Ayris Renae Ayris (born 17 September 1990) is an Australian dancer, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Australia 2012 and placed 3rd Runner-Up at the Miss Universe 2012 pageant. In 2014 she appeared in the starring ro ...

*Nicki Wendt

Major Indigenous Contributors 2016

Mother Nature

Adaptations

The series was adapted for Canadian television by APTN, which premiered ''

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'' in 2018."‘First Contact’: TV docuseries seeks to shatter Indigenous Canadian stereotypes"
Global News, 12 September 2018.

References

External links

First Contact SBS
– Official Website
SBS’s First Contact is the real ‘festering sore’ of the nation
On The Conversation {{Films and television series about Aboriginal Australia Australian English-language television shows Special Broadcasting Service original programming 2010s Australian documentary television series 2010s Australian reality television series 2014 Australian television series debuts Television shows set in the Northern Territory Television shows set in Western Australia Television shows set in Sydney Indigenous Australian television series