As SBS and NAIDOC Week mark 50 years, NITV and SBS unleash a powerhouse lineup for 2025 to celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. with curated content for NAIDOC Week 2025 premiering across SBS and NITV from Sunday 6 July to Sunday 13 July.

Recognising the significant contributions of the world’s oldest continuous culture, and providing distinctive and authentic Indigenous perspectives, NITV and SBS’s extensive line-up for NAIDOC Week’s 50^th anniversary includes the NAIDOC Awards digital broadcast, a laugh-out-loud entertainment series, timely news and current affairs programs and compelling documentaries for all Australians, exploring the official 2025 NAIDOC Week theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.

Tanya Denning-Orman, a proud Birri and Guugu Yimidhirr woman and Director, First Nations at SBS, said: “This year marks a significant milestone as we celebrate 50 years of NAIDOC Week, and also 50 years of SBS as a network. We are proud to honour the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and cultures through programming across NITV and all SBS platforms, and reflect on the legacy of past leaders and draw inspiration from the next generation. Our content showcases the achievements and voices of First Nations peoples, unapologetically Blak, loud, and proud, premiering new original NITV commissions, and amplifying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices right across the network.

“Once again, Shelley Ware’s educational resources through SBS Learn will foster deeper understanding and connection for school children across the country. We’re also proud to feature this year’s NAIDOC Week poster artwork, ‘Ancestral Lines,’ created by Ngarbal Gamilaraay artist and NITV graphic designer, Jeremy Worrall, which is a powerful tribute to intergenerational knowledge and cultural strength.”

National NAIDOC Committee Co-Chairs, Steven Satour and Lynette Riley, said:

“NITV has delivered a deadly line-up for NAIDOC Week 2025 — a true celebration of Blak excellence on screen. From groundbreaking documentaries to laugh-out-loud entertainment and thought-provoking current affairs, this programming honours our past, celebrates our present, and champions our next generation.

“As we mark 50 years of NAIDOC Week, we’re proud to see our stories told with such strength, pride and creativity. We’re especially thrilled to have Barkaa headlining the 2025 National NAIDOC Awards — her voice, her fire, and her message embody the heart of this year’s theme: The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.”

SBS and NITV’s impressive multiplatform and multilingual offering includes:

• Big Backyard Quiz (BBQ), a cheeky new entertainment series hosted by 10 News First’s Narelda Jacobs OAM and comedian Steven Oliver that challenges contestants to see who knows the most about the people and history of Australia from a Blak lens. This season’s stellar line-up of comedians as contestants includes Meyne Wyatt (The Moogai, We Are Still Here), Shari Sebbens (The Moogai, Little J & Big Cuz), Matt Okine, Nina Oyama, Rhys Nicholson and Emma Holland, all in Episode 1. Also featuring this season will be Ernie Dingo, Rove McManus, Tasma Walton, and Peter Rowsthorn. Big Backyard Quiz is executive produced by Adam Manovic and Daniel Gallahar and was filmed with the support of ScreenWest in Boorloo (Perth).

Big Backyard Quiz premieres on Saturday 12 July at 7:30pm on NITV and SBS On Demand.

• Emily: I Am Kam (pronounced karma) is a heartfelt documentary about internationally renowned artist, Emily Kam Kngwarray from the Utopia community in the Northern Territory. The film delves into Emily Kam Kngwarray’s transformative impact on the international contemporary art world and her enduring legacy, providing a rare opportunity to witness her journey and the profound influence of her art and the power of Emily’s work to protect her Country, Alhalker. The documentary is produced by Tamarind Tree Pictures and directed by Danielle McLean (Barrumbi Kids).

Emily: I am Kam premieres on NITV and SBS On Demand on Wednesday 9 July at 8:30pm, and on SBS on Saturday 12 July at 8:30pm, after its world premiere at Sydney Film Festival this month.

• Weekly flagship Indigenous news and current affairs programs Living Black, and The Point will also premiere special NAIDOC Week episodes.
• Living Black is Australia’s longest running Indigenous current affairs television program, featuring inspiring and influential people talking about their lives and careers. Walkley Award-winning journalist Karla Grant explores the issues affecting First Nations peoples through candid interviews and powerful investigations. For this NAIDOC Week episode, she interviews legendary Australian tennis icon Evonne Goolagong Cawley AC MBE. Fifty years after winning the Australian Open, Evonne is still firmly entrenched in the sport. Keen to hear her insights, Karla travelled to Darwin to attend the National Indigenous Tennis Carnival where she spoke to Evonne about her extraordinary life and career, and how her foundation is on the lookout for the next generation of tennis stars.

Living Black, featuring Evonne Goolagong Cawley AC MBE and hosted by Walkley Award-winning Executive Producer Karla Grant, premieres on Monday 7 July at 8:30pm. 

• The Point is the home of First Nations perspectives, with the team travelling the country to hear from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. Join proud Wuthathi and Meriam man and SBS and NITV National Indigenous Affairs Editor, John Paul Janke, as NAIDOC celebrates 50 years. In this episode, The Point sits down with emerging leaders who continue in their ancestor’s footprints. What is it like to carry a name like Mabo, Dodson, or Bayles?

The Point will premiere a NAIDOC-themed episode on Tuesday 8 July at 7:30pm, hosted by National Indigenous Affairs Editor John Paul Janke. 

• The 2025 National NAIDOC Awards will take centre stage in Boorloo (Perth), honouring the outstanding achievements of First Nations people across the continent. Hosted by 10 News First’s Narelda Jacobs OAM and Mark Coles Smith, this year’s NAIDOC Awards are set against the backdrop of Whadjuk Noongar Country in Boorloo (Perth). The awards shine a spotlight on those who lead with strength, creativity, and Cultural pride. NITV, as the home of Indigenous storytelling on national television and digital media, is the Principal Media Partner and will be on the ground to capture all the colour, celebration, and community spirit — from Blak carpet arrivals and powerful performances to exclusive interviews with this year’s winners and changemakers.

The 2025 National NAIDOC Awards will air on Saturday 5 July at 7:30pm (WST) (9:30pm AEST) on SBS On Demand, and NITV’s Facebook and YouTube channel, and distributed to First Nations Media Australia (FNMA).

• Ablaze is an incredible biographical documentary from opera singer Tiriki Onus, who finds a 70-year-old silent film believed to be made by his grandfather, Aboriginal leader and filmmaker Bill Onus. As Tiriki travels across the continent and pieces together clues to the film’s origins, he discovers more about Bill, his fight for Aboriginal rights and the price he paid for speaking out.

Ablaze premieres on NITV and SBS On Demand on Sunday 6 July at 8:30pm.

• To kick off NAIDOC Week, SBS’s Elder in Residence, Widjabul Wiabul woman Rhoda Roberts AO, will deliver her third annual SBS Elder in Residence Oration, creating a historical record of Indigenous thought leadership while addressing current challenges and futures aspiration. The SBS Elder in Residence Oration provides a platform for First Nations voices to be amplified, offering a space for reflection, connection, and learning for all Australians. 

The 2025 SBS Elder in Residence Oration premieres on NITV and SBS On Demand on  Sunday July 6 at 6:30pm.

In addition to the above content, a dedicated hub of iconic and award-winning First Nations content will be available to STREAM FREE on SBS On Demand and will air across the network’s channels. SBS will share news and information in more than 60 languages across the network this NAIDOC Week. Multilingual and multiplatform coverage throughSBS Audio shares First Nations perspectives, celebrates cultures, knowledges and history, and showcases SBS’s unique ability toconnect the newest Australians with the world’s oldest living continuous culture.TheSBS Audio offering includesvideos, podcasts and articles in Filipino, Vietnamese and Urdu, and a special NAIDOC Week explainer video in Arabic, English, Greek, Mandarin, Punjabi and Vietnamese.

Additional highlights of the multiplatform offering across the SBS network during NAIDOC Week include:

• NITV News – Covering NAIDOC events from across the week and sharing the latest news from the oldest living culture, join Mudburra and Wagadagam woman Natalie Ahmat, Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara man Michael Rennie, and Worimi woman Breanna Holden for NITV News. Supported by a team of journalists, watch NITV News for stories from an Indigenous perspective, culminating on Friday 11 July with a special edition of Nula at 5.30pm, featuring NAIDOC marches and community gatherings from around the country.

Monday to Thursday, 7-10 July at 6.30pm and Friday 11 July at 5:30pm on NITV and 3:00pm on SBS and SBS On Demand

• Throughout the week, SBS Food is proud to present NAIDOC themed episodes of The Cook Up with guest host Nornie Bero (Island Echoes with Nornie Bero), premiering weekdays from Monday 7 July to Wednesday 9 July at 7:00pm. Nornie will share stories and create incredible dishes with guests including entertainer Jay Wymarra, the ‘Bush Tukka Woman’ Samantha Martin, comedian Andy Saunders, and journalist Rae Johnston (Going Places with Ernie Dingo and The Secret DNA of Us).
• SBS World Movies will host a curated collection of acclaimed Australian cinema telling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ stories from Monday 7 to Friday 11 July at 9:30pm. This includes Sweet As, Mad Bastards, Walkabout, Bran Nue Dae and The New Boy.
• Students around Australia can discover more through SBS Learn’s popular NAIDOC Week education resource, authored by proud Yankunyjatjara, Kokatha and Wirangu woman Shelley Ware. This is the seventh National NAIDOC Week curriculum-aligned education resource developed by Shelley for SBS Learn. It is a valuable and culturally informed online teaching guide featuring activities, discussion prompts and videos to enable teachers to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into primary and secondary classrooms all year-round.
• As part of NAIDOC Week and aligning with this year’s theme of The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, NITV will launch a selection of Jarjums branded interstitials with First Nations children sharing their stories of culture and language.
• The NAIDOC Week Collection, including Shelley Ware Guest Curates and more, will live on the NITV Muy Ngulayg hub, a dedicated streaming hub on SBS On Demand that provides a platform for First Nations storytelling including First Nations films, documentaries and TV series from Australia and around the world that illuminate inner knowledge, traditional culture and lore.

SBS’s National NAIDOC Week activation proudly continues the work set out in SBS’s Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan 2022-2026. This plan outlines SBS’s commitment to reflecting, exploring and embedding First Nations stories, knowledges, cultures and languages across the network, and to connecting the oldest continuous culture on Earth with the newest Australians.

For a PDF of this media release, click here

The ABC is celebrating NAIDOC week with a collection of special content across all platforms headlined by the primetime premiere of That Blackfella Show airing on Saturday 5 July at 7.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.

NAIDOC Week 2025 will be held across the country from July 6-13, with the theme this year of The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy.

Led by ABC Indigenous, the ABC will showcase Indigenous storytelling across its screen, audio and digital platforms, including variety special That Blackfella Show hosted in front of a studio audience by Ernie Dingo, ABC News Breakfast’s Bridget Brennan, and Isaac Compton. Guests include Steph Tisdell, Dane Simpson, Kevin Kropinyeri, Jimmy Barnes, Abbie Chatfield, Outback Tom and Barkaa with musical performances by award-winning duo Electric Fields, Maningrida’s all-female rock group The Ripple Effect Band, and ARIA-nominated singer-songwriter Miss Kaninna.

Head ABC Indigenous, Kelrick Martin said: “National NAIDOC Week invites all Australians to come together, listen deeply, and celebrate the strength, resilience, and rich heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The ABC is proud to showcase powerful stories across all our platforms and create space for First Nations communities to be seen, heard, and respected.”

triple j will present Blakout Day on Sunday 6 July, featuring First Nations music throughout the day and interviews with artists including Jessica Mauboy and Barkaa. On Double J, Take 5 with Zan Rowe will feature a NAIDOC-themed episode with Outback Tom on Friday 11 July, while Weekend Mornings with Yumi Stynes will showcase all First Nations music from 8am on Sunday 6 July. Classic Albums revisits Coloured Stone’s iconic debut Koonibba Rock on Monday 7 July, and Live at the Wireless will broadcast Emily Wurramara’s 2025 WOMADelaide set on Tuesday 8 July. A new collaborative audio special from Double J and ABC Radio will also celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander songwriters.

ABC Country will present a special feature on Roger Knox, the Koori King of Country. In a unique partnership between Saturday Night Country and Radio National’s Awaye! with Rudi Bremer, Knox reflects on his incredible life and the release of his new album Buluunarbi and The Old North Star. Saturday Night Country will also dedicate its 12 July episode to NAIDOC Week, hosted by Beccy Cole and featuring music from Kankawa Nagarra, Loren Ryan, Emma Donovan, Troy Cassar-Daley, Archie Roach, Kev Carmody and more. This is Indigenous Country will return with a refreshed playlist of outstanding First Nations country artists, available on ABC Country and via the ABC Listen app.

On Radio National, Big Ideas will present two powerful NAIDOC Week specials. On Monday 7 July, Post-Referendum Voices: Where Do We Go From Here? (recorded at the Melbourne Writers Festival) will feature a conversation with Daniel Browning, Ben Abbatangelo, Thomas Mayo and Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts on the path forward following the Voice referendum. On Wednesday 9 July, Yuin woman and researcher Dr Jodi Edwards presents Unbroken Whispers: Finding Our Way Back to Sea Kin and Country, which follows whale migrations along the East Coast to revive cultural knowledge and songlines.

All week, ABC TV and ABC iview will feature NAIDOC-themed programming including the screening of the Namatjira Project documentary on Sunday 6 July, the film Spear, starring Aaron Pedersen on Sunday 13 July and a dedicated Gardening Australia episode.  ABC News will cover the NAIDOC Awards, and the ABC News Indigenous Affairs team will feature a story on Mitch Tambo, aligning with the release of his new track Blackfella and a performance at UNSW during NAIDOC Week. 

For younger audiences, Play School will share educational short-form content across Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts. Highlights include Charles Passi teaching the song Taba Naba (6 July), a Dreamtime story of the frilled-neck lizard told by Ranger Nabako (7 July), and a performance of the Noongar-language song Woordawoort about dragonflies, sung by Miah and Matt (10 July). ABC Kids Early Education has also curated a selection of viewing and listening resources for early years classrooms, community events and homes, helping educators introduce the significance of NAIDOC Week to young children. These include multimodal learning materials available via the ABC Kids Early Education website.

ABC Kids Listen will release a special NAIDOC edition of its popular News Time podcast on Friday 4 July, with all daily news bulletins from 7–11 July dedicated to First Nations stories and voices.

ABC Education has a curated resource hub featuring NAIDOC Week materials for schools including a special release of official 2025 education resources, developed in partnership with the National NAIDOC Committee and Culture is Life.

Location: UTS Campus (Ultimo) & Macquarie University Campus (North Ryde)

Position Type: Full-Time

Reports To: Station Manager

Are you passionate about community media and love working with people? 2SER is looking for a dynamic Volunteer Coordinator to lead our vibrant volunteer community!

In this role, you’ll:

• Onboard and support new volunteers
• Coordinate training and development pathways
• Foster a positive and inclusive volunteer culture
• Manage volunteer engagement and communications
• Help shape the future of community radio

What You Bring:

• Strong organisational and communication skills
• Experience in volunteer or community engagement
• A passion for radio, podcasting, or digital media (bonus!)

Be part of a creative, collaborative team making a real impact to amplify diverse voices across Sydney!

For more information or to apply email Station Manager Cheryl Northey at StationManager@2ser.com

NOVA Entertainment has announced the launch of Skye & Callum, a brand new podcast hosted by reality TV personalities and real-life best friends Skye Wheatley and Callum Hole, debuting June 12.

After first hitting it off in the jungle on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, the duo are now bringing their unfiltered friendship straight to your ears. Packed with their trademark laughs, chaos and no-holds-barred conversations, Skye & Callum will be available on the Nova Player and all major podcast platforms.

From unfiltered chats about influencer drama and cosmetic surgery to the truth behind their relationships, no topic is off limits for these two. Every episode will dive headfirst into their lives on and offline, with plenty of laughs along the way.

Skye Wheatley became a household name after appearing on Big Brother in 2014 and took home the crown on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2024. A mum of two and one of Australia’s most well-known influencers, Skye shares the highs and lows of motherhood, renovation life with her partner Lachlan, and all things beauty, fashion and fitness with her dedicated online following.

Callum Hole first appeared on Love Island Australia in 2022, where his quick wit and spontaneous energy made him an instant standout. He went on to star in Love Island Games and placed third on I’m a Celebrity…, where he struck up an unforgettable friendship with Skye. With his signature Welsh accent and headline-making humour, Callum has become a social media favourite and a regular on red carpets and reality shows around the globe.

Skye Wheatley said of the podcast launch, “I’m so excited for people to finally hear this. Cal and I are such a fun duo, and we’ve been dying to share our chats. We’re chaotic in the best way. Expect lots of laughs, a bit of madness, and some very real moments.”

Callum Hole added, “I’m honestly buzzing to be doing this with Skye. Ever since we became besties in the jungle, we’ve wanted to create something together and now it’s here! There’s a lot of juicy stuff coming and it’s going to be unfiltered, unhinged and totally us. We don’t hold back.”

Rachel Corbett, NOVA Entertainment’s Head of Podcasts, said, “Skye and Callum are naturals behind the mic and their chemistry makes you want to be in the room with them. They’re honest, hilarious and completely open with every aspect of their lives.  We know listeners are going to be hooked from the first episode.”

Skye & Callum is a Nova Podcast with new episodes released weekly

Listen now on the Nova Player or wherever you get your podcasts

About Nova Podcasts

The Nova Podcast network brings together an extensive and diverse stable of award-winning content, featuring voices of authority, influence and expertise across all key content verticals. Nova Podcasts features a growing slate of high-quality original content as well as premium audio content from partners including One Daydream, Johns Media, Schwartz Media, Fear & Greed, The Australian, Sky News Australia, The Daily Telegraph, Fox Sports, news.com.au and many more. Nova Podcasts are available on the Nova Player and wherever listeners access their podcasts.

Each of the copyright collecting societies, Australasian Performing Right Association Limited (“APRA”), Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society Limited (“AMCOS”), Phonographic Performance Company of Australia Limited (“PPCA”), Copyright Agency Limited (“Copyright Agency”), Audio-Visual Copyright Society Limited (“Screenrights”), Australian Writers’ Guild Authorship Collecting Society Limited (“AWGACS”) and Australian Screen Directors Authorship Collecting Society Limited (“ASDACS”), subscribes to a code of conduct. In its original form, the Code came into effect in July 2002. The most recent update came into effect on 20 May 2025.

A copy of the Code is available on each Society’s website or from the Code of Conduct for Copyright Collecting Societies website https://www.copyrightcodeofconduct.org.au/code and can be downloaded or, if requested, a copy can be supplied by post.

Compliance by participating collecting societies with the Code’s standards of conduct is the subject of an independent annual review. The Code Reviewer for this purpose is former Federal Court judge and former President of the Copyright Tribunal of Australia, The Hon Kevin Lindgren AM, KC. His current task is to review the Societies’ compliance with the Code during the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.

The Code allows for interested parties to make submissions to the Code Reviewer concerning a collecting society’s compliance or non-compliance with the Code. If you wish to make a submission, please inform the Code Review Secretariat at the address:

Suite 704
4 Young Street
NEUTRAL BAY NSW 2089 

or by email (codereviewer@gmail.com). 

Buckle up for the drive home – Triple M’s Lu & Jarch go live nationally on Tuesday June 10, bringing their trademark authenticity, raw honesty and signature wit to the station’s new Early Drive show. Airing weekdays from 2pm to 4pm across the Triple M network, listeners can expect the same laugh-out-loud moments and relatable takes on everyday life that have made them two of Australia’s favourite larrikins.

Luisa Dal Din and Jack Archdale will now bring their unfiltered energy to the drive home nationwide, joining Triple M off the back of their massive digital success. As hosts of We Mean Well, one of the fastest-growing and top-rated podcasts in Australia, they’ve built a loyal audience with their sharp, irreverent take on everyday life. With a combined social media audience of over 900,000 and more than 28 million likes on TikTok alone, they’ve become standout voices in the Australian audio and digital landscape. Their distinctive style is a natural fit for Triple M, perfectly aligned with the network’s core pillars of sport and comedy. 

Originating from New Zealand, Luisa has quickly made her mark in Australia’s digital and audio comedy landscape scene, drawing on her background in radio production and media to create content that’s both sharp and engaging. Lu has introduced a fresh perspective to the creative space with her unique ability to blend depth and authenticity, evident in her ever-growing social platforms – amassing a 176K following on Instagram and more than 378K on TikTok.

Jarch has become one of the country’s most recognisable creators, rising to fame through his skits that depict the comedic quirks of Australian life and culture, through a cast of self-made characters and upbeat concepts. Raised on a sprawling property in the regional NSW town of Walcha, Jarch draws heavily on his country upbringing as inspiration for his short videos. His authentic, comic take on rural and suburban culture have earned him a loyal following – boasting over 371K followers and 5.5M Likes on TikTok, along with 175K followers on Instagram.

Ahead of their first show Lu said: “I’m extremely excited and also a bit nervous, hopefully the dump button doesn’t get a good workout. Very much looking forward to starting on the Triple M airways on Tuesday.”

Having done a bit of everything over the years,  including radio sales, Jarch said: “Super exciting to go from the sales floor to behind the glass, it’s a bit of a 360 moment for me. Couldn’t be happier to have Lu by my side for it.”

Matthew O’Reilly, Head of Triple M Metro Content, said: “The ideas Lu and Jarch have come in with have genuinely blown us away. They bring a fresh, funny and unpredictable energy that’s set to teach us all some new tricks about radio. Expect a chaotic, clever  and hilarious take on everyday things.”

Lu and Jarch will be anchored by Triple M Sydney’s Lachie Pringle and joined by a talented production team led by Executive Producer Codie Jones. Codie brings over 14 years of live radio experience across Australia and the UK, most recently at triple j Breakfast. She also spent time as Creative Content Director on Capital Breakfast in London and began her radio career as a Producer with SCA. Joining her is Producer Ashley Kind and Digital Producer Lachlan Paull. 

Triple M’s Lu & Jarch will air from 2pm to 4pm nationwide followed by The Rush Hour with JB & Billy in the AFL states (Victoria, Adelaide, Western Australia and Tasmania), The Rush Hour with Dobbo & Elliott in Queensland and The Rush Hour with Maroon in New South Wales.

Triple M’s Lu & Jarch can be heard weekdays from 2pm – 4pm from June 10 on Triple M or on the free LiSTNR app. 

The issue

The Radiocommunications (Allocation of Transmitter Licences – Low Power Open Narrowcasting Licences) Determination 2015 is due to sunset on 1 October 2025. The instrument sets out a price-based allocation system for the allocation of transmitter licences for low power open narrowcasting (LPON) services.

LPON services are an important part of the diversity of broadcasting available. They usually serve audiences with niche or local community interests.

Our view is that the determination is operating effectively. We plan to remake the instrument before the sunset date, with minor changes to:

• provide more flexibility around the bidding and auction process
• make minor formatting and drafting changes to modernise and update the instrument. 

You can access details of our proposal in the consultation paper. The draft Radiocommunications (Allocation of Transmitter Licences – Low Power Open Narrowcasting Licences) Determination 2025 is also available.

Have your say

We invite your feedback about the proposals in this consultation.

Click the ‘Upload submission’ button at the top of this page to send us your views. You can send submissions by post using the details in the consultation paper.

Publication of submissions

Read about the ACMA’s policy regarding the publication of submissions.

ABC Radio Australia’s Pacific Break, the Pacific’s biggest music competition, is back for 2025. 

From Friday 27 June 2025, the search begins to discover the Pacific and Timor Leste’s best original artist.  The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to perform at WOMADelaide, Australia’s biggest international music, arts and dance festival. 

This year, Pacific Break launches for the first time in Samoa with a free, star-studded concert at iconic Friendship Park in downtown Apia. On the line-up are Pacific music’s biggest names including Pacific Break past winners Chris Rohoimae (2024, Solomon Islands), Ju Ben (2023, Fiji) and Danielle (2022, Papua New Guinea) and Samoan superstars, country music icon Mr Cowboy and soulful vocal queen Tofaga Meke.  

Pacific Break’s 2025 judges have also been announced, with Australian-based Fijian artist and label head Joji Malani joining returning judges PNG-born Australian neo soul diva Ngaiire, WOMADelaide Associate Director Annette Tripodi, and ABC Radio Australia music presenters, Hau Lātūkefu (In The Fale) and Sose Fuamoli (Sista Sounds and On The Record).

According to Malani, “Pacific Break has played an important role in showcasing talent from across the Pacific in a way no other competition has done before. There is a unique sophistication within our cultures—deeply rooted yet universally relatable—and Pacific Break provides a platform to share that with the world. I’m humbled to contribute, even in a small way, to this important movement.”

Fuamoli said: “It is exciting to see the return of Pacific Break for 2025! It is such a special platform for a diverse range of artists from throughout the region. In previous years we have seen how both winners and finalists have benefited from the radio, television and social support of the competition and I look forward to meeting this year’s class of nominees and seeing who takes out the top honour for 2025.” 

Lātūkefu said: “The talent pool in our neck of the woods is so deep. It always has been. We just need the opportunities for our musicians’ talent to be seen and to be heard. That’s why it’s so important for something like Pacific Break to exist so the rest of our region and the world can hear the beauty that we hear. I’m super excited for this year to kick off!”  

Find out more about the Pacific music industry leaders who will be deciding Pacific Break’s 2025 winner and what they are looking for here.   

PACIFIC BREAK 2025 – THE LAUNCH CONCERT

Celebrate the return of Pacific Break with a free, all-ages launch concert at Friendship Park, Apia, Samoa on Friday 27 June. Come along from 5pm West Samoa Time (WST) with performances from 6pm to 9pm. 

Click here for more event details.

PACIFIC BREAK – THE COMPETITION

Competition entries open at 9am AEST on Friday 27 June 2025 and will be open until 11:59pm AEST on Monday 25 August 2025.  

For more information about Pacific Break visit www.abc.net.au/pacificbreak

The ABC won 12 of the 15 categories at the 2025 MEAA Tasmanian Media Awards.

April McLennan was named Tasmanian Journalist of the Year for her investigative reporting, in particular her work on women who have experienced traumatic births at Launceston General Hospital.

“April’s body of work exemplifies her investigative skill and commitment to public interest journalism,” the judges said.

“Her ongoing coverage of issues within the Launceston General Hospital led to her powerful piece on women who’ve experienced traumatic births, shining a light on the hospital’s failure to respond to the women’s concerns. 

“April approaches her craft with compassion and sensitivity, ensuring her stories have integrity as well as impact.”

The ABC’s Airlie Ward received the Keith Welsh Award for Outstanding Contribution to Journalism, a lifetime achievement award recognising her “enduring dedication to Tasmanian journalism and her significant influence on the industry over many years”.

Full list of ABC winners

2025 Journalist of the Year
April McLennan, ABC

Keith Welsh Award for Outstanding Contribution
Airlie Ward, ABC

Arts Reporting 
April McLennan, ABC, ‘Tasmania’s Arts Underbelly’

Best New Journalist
Eliza Kloser, ABC

Best News Image
Luke Bowden, ABC, ‘Body of Work’

Best News Story 
Jessica Moran, ABC, ‘Puppies in the Freezer: Inside Tasmania’s Largest Puppy Farm’

Comment & Analysis
Adam Langenberg, ABC, ‘Political Analysis’

Coverage of a Breaking News Event
James Dunlevie, Daniel Miller, Loretta Lohberger and Adam Langenberg, ABC, ‘Tasmanian Election 2024 Breaking News Event’

Excellence in Legal Reporting
Adam Holmes, ABC, ‘Body of Work’

Feature, Documentary or Current Affairs
Adam Holmes, ABC, ‘Builder Collapse Exposes Failures in Regulation and Consumer Protection’

Health Reporting
Lucy MacDonald, ABC, ‘LGH Staff Break Silence’

Public Service Journalism
April McLennan, ABC, ‘Body of Work’