NITV's flagship current affairs program The Point elevates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' voices and returns with a community-led new season filmed on Country

NITV's flagship current affairs program The Point elevates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' voices and returns with a community-led new season filmed on Country

14 June, 2024

Media releases

The Point: Road Trip premieres Tuesday 9 July on NITV, Friday 12 July on SBS, and SBS On Demand John Paul Janke and Narelda Jacobs return to the program

*Images here*

*Interviews available*

National Indigenous Television's (NITV) flagship current affairs program, The Point, returns with a community-led season, The Point: Road Trip, premiering as part of a huge programming line-up for National NAIDOC Week 2024 on Tuesday 9 July at 7.30pm on NITV, Friday 12 July at 2pm on SBS and SBS On Demand.

The continent-spanning Indigenous current affairs panel program ensures that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' perspectives are at the forefront of national discussions. This year, the show will once again travel across Australia to elevate voices nationwide, to drive change and look at solutions for the future.

In its ninth season, The Point: Road Trip will build on the success of last year's The Point: Referendum Road Trip and will continue to be a voice from the heart of communities in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Waiben (Thursday Island), Bwgcolman (Palm Island) and many other locations throughout the year.

In this new phase for The Point, join proud Wuthathi and Meriam man, John Paul Janke (Sunset Ceremony, Land Wars) as he travels across the country, speaking with locals about the issues that matter most to them. Janke also joins the SBS network in the role of National Indigenous Affairs Editor.

Whadjuk Noongar woman, Network Ten's Narelda Jacobs OAM (10 News First: Midday and 10 News First: Afternoons) will feature in The Point: Road Trip throughout the season. She also joins NITV's NAIDOC Week 2024 line-up as co-host of Big Backyard Quiz alongside comedian Steven Oliver. This new entertainment show includes special guests Barkaa, Dave Woodhead, and comedians and writers, Tom Ballard, Ivan Aristeguieta, Tegan Higginbotham, and Nina Oyama. Find out who knows the most about the people and history of Australia (while testing your own knowledge) on Saturday from 13 July at 7.30pm on NITV and SBS.

The Point: Road Trip includes commentary and analysis from guest panellists, with the first episode featuring Armani Francois, Shanaya McAdam-Bray, and journalist Marcellus Enalanga, and youth boxing coach and mentor Jason Lord. Later episodes feature NT Attorney General Chansey Paech, CEO of SNAICC Catherine Liddle, Founder of Children's Ground William Tilmouth. Community advocate Cherisse Buzzacott, and Professor Gracelyn Smallwood, barrister Joshua Creamer, Law Student and Junior Youth Parliament member Rikisha Phineasa, and role model Michael Cedar and more.

Proud Mudburra and Wagadagam woman, and NITV's Head of Indigenous News and Current Affairs, Natalie Ahmat, said: It's another landmark year for The Point in a community-led season. Following last year's coverage of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament Referendum, we're reminded of the program's significance in creating a safe space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to share their lived experience and issues impacting communities. I'm proud of The Point team and NITV network for leading with compassion, creating pathways for important conversations and thoughtful discussion to get to the heart of what matters.

Host of The Point and National Indigenous Affairs Editor, John Paul Janke said: It was wonderful to get back on the road to film the new season of The Point: Road Trip and spend time On Country, delving into the issues, latest news and stories from communities across Australia. The Point has a unique First Nations lens which plays a vital role in highlighting and elevating the ongoing aspirations and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It's such an honour to be trusted by First nations people and communities to share their voices with the nation.

The Point: Road Trip season will conclude in October, a year on from the Indigenous Voice to Parliament Referendum voting day. Recorded on Cammeraygal Country in Sydney, this special episode will be co-hosted by Narelda Jacobs OAM and John Paul Janke.

Synopses:

Episode 1: Who Cares About Alice (Tuesday 9 July)

The first episode of The Point: Road Trip elevates the voices of the youth of Mparntwe, Alice Springs, with an honest discussion about their challenges, escalating crime, curfews, and the political response. This episode features a panel of impressive young people including a member of the NT Youth Round Table Armani Francois, First Nations Youth Advisory Group Shanaya McAdam-Bray, journalist Marcellus Enalanga, youth boxing coach and mentor Jason Lord and includes a profile story on talented boxer Arnold Baird.

Episode 2: What's It Going to Take to Fix Alice? (Tuesday 16 July)

The Point: Road Trip is back in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) with host John Paul Janke to try to answer the question of how we Keep our children safe?'. This week's panel of experts includes NT Attorney General Chansey Paech, CEO of SNAICC Catherine Liddle, Founder of Children's Ground William Tilmouth and community advocate Cherisse Buzzacott with a profile story on Mother Sabella Turner and her daughter Janet and how they manage unsupervised children on the streets of Alice Springs.

Episode 3: Palm Island: From Prison to Paradise (Tuesday 23 July)

The Point: Road Trip travels to Palm Island (Bwgcolman) to get some insight into a place that has been in the media over the years for all the wrong reasons. Host John Paul Janke speaks with locals Mayor Alf Lacey, Councillor Mersane Oui and Doctor Robert Blackley and includes a story on Fred Bulsey who works on t

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