
In the role, the award-winning journalist, producer and presenter leads the editorial direction and oversees the output of NITV's distinctive daily news, its current affairs line-up including weekly show The Point and the long-running Living Black, and news coverage of special events.
Natalie joined NITV in 2008 as a member of its inaugural news team and has been at the forefront of reporting news and events from a First Nations perspective in the Australian media. As the long-time anchor of NITV News, Australia's only dedicated First Nations national news bulletin, and weekly news review program show Nula, Natalie has reported and broadcast from communities across the continent over more than 15 years. She has also presented live coverage of a range of significant national events, including NITV's rolling coverage on January 26 each year, and from on the ground in northeast Arnhem Land for the annual Garma Festival, in addition to her extensive work behind the camera as a producer and senior member of NITV's news and current affairs team.
General Manager of NITV, Peter Noble, a Girramay and Bandjin man, said: Nat is one of Australia's most experienced Indigenous affairs journalists, trusted by communities to tell their stories. She's passionate about exploring issues through a First Nations lens and embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into the stories that matter for all Australians. Her determination and dedication to the work she does is underpinned by a wonderful warmth that sees her connect with people in a unique way, whether on Country, on screen, or in the newsroom. We're thrilled to have Nat leading the team, and at such an important time in the national conversation.
On her appointment, Natalie added: NITV's news and current affairs play a vital role in providing a platform for First Nations voices to be heard. There are so many wonderful stories of the people and places of this country that we have unique access to and are privileged to share, along with the trust of communities to shine a light on issues and explore them with nuance and understanding unlike any other broadcaster. I'm proud to have the opportunity to work with the incredibly talented news and current affairs team at NITV, as we continue to amplify and elevate these stories, at a time when we know the importance of ensuring Australians are listening.
Natalie will continue to maintain an on-air presence on Nula and across special events coverage.
For a PDF version of this media release, click here.
About Natalie Ahmat, Head of Indigenous News and Current Affairs, NITV
A proud Mudburra (Wave Hill, NT) and Wagadagam (Mabuiag Island, Torres Straits) First Nations woman, Natalie Ahmat is passionate about telling Australian stories through an Indigenous lens.
Since joining the inaugural NITV News team in 2008, Natalie has travelled around the country reporting on First Nations issues, and has anchored the channel's live coverage of some of the most significant Indigenous events in recent history, including Garma from north east Arnhem Land, the Uluru First Nations Constitutional Convention and the National NAIDOC Awards.
Natalie and the NITV News team were early adopters of broadcast technology which allowed them to take the news out of the Sydney studio, to broadcast on country', talking directly to grassroots community about the issues affecting them. Natalie has broadcast NITV News from nearly 100 remote, regional and urban communities across mainland Australia, including Broome and Kalgoorlie in WA, South Australia's APY Lands, Kalkaringi and Yirrkala in the Northern Territory, and Thursday Island in the Torres Straits, to name just a few.
She has also appeared on television internationally, presenting Nations without Borders, a current affairs program produced in partnership with the World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network, and shown in Canada, Aotearoa/New Zealand, Taiwan, the US, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Ireland and Scotland. She has appeared as a commentator on radio and television programs, both in Australia and internationally, providing analysis on both Indigenous issues and bringing a black perspective on the big stories of the day. In 2017, she produced Shark Curry, a documentary celebrating the achievements of the Australian Indigenous Womens Cricket team on their history making tour of India.
Her on-air profile has given Natalie the opportunity to give back to community through a range of voluntary roles. Natalie is the Co-Chair of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, and an Ambassador for Neighbours Every Day and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. She sits on Cricket Australia's National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cricket Advisory Committee and is a past member of the Walkleys Judging Board.
Natalie has won several awards for her contributions to the media industry and Indigenous community, including the University of Canberra Chancellors Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022, Journalist of the Year at the 2015 Multicultural and Indigenous Media Awards and the 2012 Deadly for Community Broadcaster of the Year. She was also a finalist in the NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year Award in 2023.
Asia, Australia & Oceanic Stories
07/05/2025
SBS and NITV mark National Reconciliation Week with compelling premieres recogni...
07/05/2025
SBS commences search for a new Western Sydney production hub location
7 May, 2025
Media releases
SBS has today launched a Request for Expressions of Intere...
02/05/2025
SBS On Demand achieves stellar month on the back of Alone Australia and The Hand...
01/05/2025
01 05 2025 - Media release Screen Australia empowers 100 distinctive Australian narratives
All The Boys Are Here writer/director Goran Stolevski and It s All...
30/04/2025
Slam poet Huda the Goddess wins 2025 Les Murray Award
30 April, 2025
Media releases
Australia for UNHCR and SBS are proud to announce that Huda Fadlelmawla...
30/04/2025
SBS, NITV and NIDA partner to empower the next generation of screen creatives
30 April, 2025
Media releases
SBS, National Indigenous Television (NITV) and ...
23/04/2025
We heard that you could use a little pick-me-up, so get ready to sh-sh-shake it ...
22/04/2025
McAvaney takes the lead for SBS' Coverage of the World Athletics Championshi...
16/04/2025
Finalists announced! Five stand-out brands shortlisted for SBS Media's Susta...
15/04/2025
Claudia Karvan, Tom Gleeson, and Mark Coles Smith join in the adventure of a lif...
15/04/2025
SBS and Volleyball World sign landmark deal for Beach Volleyball World Champions...
14/04/2025
SBS becomes first Australian broadcaster to have near-and long-term carbon reduc...
11/04/2025
Isn't that Insightful? Kumi Taguchi dives deeper into Insight's taboo to...
09/04/2025
SBS On Demand partners with Euronews to extend network news offering
9 April, 2025
Media releases
SBS is expanding its international news offering with the...
09/04/2025
SBS announces TV's hottest new couple, Tony Armstrong and Courtney Act, as E...
09/04/2025
09 04 2025 - Media release Screen Australia and ACTF Kids IP Incubator Initiative enters next phase
Kids IP Incubator recipients in Melbourne for the workshop...
07/04/2025
Olympic Gold medallist and World Time Trial Champion Grace Brown joins SBS comme...
07/04/2025
Female focus: New season of Living Black highlights women in Federal Election ye...
07/04/2025
SBS News' Cost of Living Secrets podcast returns to tackle one of the key is...
04/04/2025
SBS announces initiatives to provide all Australians with trusted news and infor...
01/04/2025
01 04 2025 - Media release Bus Stop Films' first feature Boss Cat to begin production in June
Boss Cat cast (L-R): Olivia Hargroder, Penny Downie and Juli...
31/03/2025
Ready, set, Party Time!' SBS News empowers young voters with a new politica...
28/03/2025
Marion Grasby's Flavours of Heart & Home is a celebration of culture and fam...
28/03/2025
SBS delivers Federal Election news to Australians in over 60 languages
28 March, 2025
Media releases
As Australia heads to the polls on 3 May, Australia...
26/03/2025
The Secret DNA of Us premieres 17 April
20 March, 2025
Media releases
Family secrets, royal relationships and hidden histories revealed What would you disc...
24/03/2025
ABS further Strengthens Leadership Team with Appointment of Matthieu Boutrolle a...
19/03/2025
NITV and Cricket Australia elevate First Nations sport with National Indigenous ...
19/03/2025
Yumi Stynes wants older women to be SEEN' as SBS podcast returns
19 March, 2025
Media releases
Feminist icon Yumi Stynes shines a spotlight on trailbl...
12/03/2025
Telespazio and ABS Expand Partnership to Deliver Tailored C-Band Connectivity So...
09/03/2025
No more Monday morning blues for football fans as Major League Soccer comes to S...
06/03/2025
06 03 2025 - Media release Powerhouse Speakers named for Untapped 2025
Top (L-R): Jet Wilkinson, Michael Shanks. Bottom (L-R): Ryan O Connell, Megan Park.
Au...
05/03/2025
SBS marks 50 years of sharing culture and knowledge with all Australians this Ra...
04/03/2025
SBS seeks risk-taking and boundary-breaking ideas for its next factual hit with ...
04/03/2025
Satellite Mobility World interviews ABS CEO, Mark Rigolle...
28/02/2025
Marlee Silva reveals how we can make our nation safer for women through Australi...
26/02/2025
Global viral pop sensation Go-Jo to represent Australia at this year's Eurov...
24/02/2025
Adam Liaw delivers all new dishes and chat to help you reach culinary greatness ...
20/02/2025
18 02 2025 - Media release Feisty Feminist Murder Mystery He Had It Coming Announced
Stars of He Had It Coming, Lydia West, Natasha Liu Bordizzo and Liv Hewso...
20/02/2025
18 02 2025 - Media release Screen Australia and Stan Announce New Comedy-Horror Series Gnomes
Gnomes writers Tegan Higginbotham and Paul Verhoeven, and creato...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
13/02/2025
SBS Media sustainability challenge open for applications
13 February, 2025
Media releases
The challenge offers brands and agencies $500,000 in advertising ...
13/02/2025
Love at First Bite? SBS podcast - Should You Really Eat That? returns
13 February, 2025
Media releases
Join food writer Lee Tran Lam for another epic cul...
12/02/2025
Meet the Cast of Alone Australia Season 3
12 February, 2025
Media releases
Wilder, tougher and more extreme than ever
Alone Australia is back for an epic ...
11/02/2025
In 2025 Australia's most trusted news brand celebrates 50 years with bold st...
11/02/2025
NITV's flagship footy show Over the Black Dot returns Tuesday 4 March from L...
10/02/2025
New series Memory Bites with Matt Moran stirs up nostalgia with a taste of the p...
05/02/2025
Screen legend Jacki Weaver tears back the curtain on Australia's most outrag...
05/02/2025
04 02 2025 - Media release Sanctuary Pictures Unveils Punk-Horror Feature Penny Lane Is Dead
Writer/Director of Penny Lane Is Dead, Mia'Kate Russell
Sanc...
04/02/2025
ABS appoints Sameer Karimbhai as New General Counsel...
03/02/2025
SBS boosts commitment to Indigenous leadership and innovation with Executive tea...