A First Nations trailblazer and icon across Australia’s media landscape, Rhoda Roberts AO, a Widjabul Wieybal woman of the Bundjalung nation and SBS’s inaugural Elder in Residence has passed away over the weekend.
Roberts was known for her huge contribution in showcasing Indigenous culture, music, art, stories, history and language locally and around the world – and for making history as the first Aboriginal host on mainstream television.
In a statement, SBS acknowledged they were “deeply saddened” by her passing following a period of illness after being diagnosed with cancer last year.
“Rhoda will be remembered as one of Australia’s most influential arts and creative sector leaders. A pioneer and cultural authority, she helped reshape representation across the arts and media, carrying culture with her into every space she entered, and championing First Nations voices across the nation,” they wrote.
An award-winning producer, artistic director, journalist, broadcaster, actor, curator and advisor, Roberts built a career defined by landmark achievements across Australia’s cultural landscape and on the international stage.
Her work included co-founding Australia’s first national Aboriginal theatre company, the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust, and serving as Creative Director of Awakening for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
She held a series of senior creative leadership roles, including Creative Director of Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, inaugural Head of First Nations Programming at the Sydney Opera House, co-founder and Artistic Director of the Dreaming Festival, co-founder of The Deadlys, and Creative Director of the Parrtjima Festival in Alice Springs. In 2016, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of her distinguished service to the performing arts and her role in advancing contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
Reflecting on her long association with the broadcaster, SBS noted her foundational role in shaping its First Nations representation.
“At SBS, she has been a defining force over many decades. Joining as a young journalist, she made history in 1989 as co-host of First in Line with Michael Johnson, becoming the first Indigenous presenters on prime-time Australian television, and later hosting Vox Populi,” the organisation shared.
“She went on to play a key role in major SBS milestones, including leading coverage of NITV’s launch as a free-to-air channel as part of SBS in 2012, and becoming SBS’s inaugural Elder in Residence in 2021.”
SBS Director, First Nations, Tanya Denning-Orman, said Roberts’ influence extended far beyond her on-screen and leadership roles, describing her as a guiding force for the sector and a source of inspiration for many.
“Rhoda, our fiercely proud Bundjalung woman, reminded us of the shoulders we stand on and the importance of the work we do. Stunning in so many ways, seeing her on prime-time TV inspired me, and many others. She did not just lead change, she galvanised a sector, nurturing and guiding the leaders who are carrying the flame of change forward, one lit in her by her family, her story, her ancestors. Her craft extended beyond screen and stage through her advocacy for First Nations leadership and her commitment to the next generation. Her spirit is held in Country, carried through land, story and community.
“To her family – including her children Sarah, Jack and Emily who she adored beyond words – thank you for sharing Rhoda with us, and so many others. To you Rhoda, we thank you, we miss you, and we will carry you with us in all that we do.”
SBS Chair, Nicholas Pappas, also paid tribute, highlighting her enduring legacy within Australia’s creative and cultural sectors.
“Rhoda Roberts led with bold, visionary leadership, conviction and a deep sense of cultural stewardship that has left an enduring mark on Australia’s creative and cultural life. Her contribution set a benchmark grounded in culture, integrity and purpose. She strengthened the connection between First Nations cultures and contemporary multicultural Australia and will always hold a special place within SBS. She expanded what is possible in Australian media, and her influence will continue to guide the SBS network, and the broader arts and media sector, for years to come.”
SBS Acting Managing Director, Jane Palfreyman, added that Roberts played a transformative role in embedding First Nations perspectives into the organisation’s work.
“Rhoda was a true trailblazer and a leader of so many firsts in our industry, playing a transformative role in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation across Australia’s cultural landscape. At SBS, her impact is deeply felt, most recently as our inaugural Elder in Residence, where she embedded culture into the fabric of our organisation. Immeasurably generous in sharing her knowledge, wisdom, and spirit, she will continue to guide how we work, lead and tell stories.”
