In consideration of Indigenous cultural protocols, SBS/NITV has gained permission to use and reproduce Rhoda's name, voice and image. We are doing so in line with her wishes. We also continue to consult with her family and community.
When NITV launched on free-to-air television with a special 'switch on' from Uluru on the 12 December 2012, Rhoda Roberts AO was front and centre.
Rhoda — a Widjabul Wieybal woman of the Bundjalung Nation — proudly co-hosted the live broadcast from Uluru with journalist and Wiradjuri man Stan Grant.
But Rhoda's contribution reached beyond the launch and special concert. She was pivotal in bringing the celebration to Uluru, helping us work with deep cultural respect in building strong relationships with Anangu to deliver a powerful concert of national significance.
It was only fitting that Rhoda anchored our broadcast.
She was a trailblazer when it came to First Nations media. Rhoda started her media career as a volunteer at Radio Redfern, and in 1989, she presented the SBS program First In Line along with Michael Johnson, becoming the first Indigenous presenters on prime-time television.
In 1990, she joined SBS' weekly current affairs program Vox Populi as a presenter and worked as a roving reporter on Hotline, hosted by Silvio Rivier.
To celebrate the launch, a special concert was broadcast from Uluru, featuring some of Australia's best Indigenous artists.
Hosted by Ernie Dingo, the concert featured iconic First Nations artists including Troy Cassar-Daley, Frank Yamma, Christine Anu, Casey Donovan and Warren H Williams, performing in celebration of the strength, resilience and talent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Speaking at the time, Tanya Denning-Orman, now director of First Nations at SBS, reflected on the significance of the moment, describing the 'switch on' as an important event for the whole nation.
"This is nation-building," she said.
"We are providing images and stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and that is something you don't get on any other channel.
"While there have been some great developments on both ABC and SBS and some great independent productions in recent years, what we have here is a complete channel with an identity for and by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
"That is something that you can’t get anywhere else. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 80 per cent of the staff here. We are in control of a channel, and we are the ones making the decisions. We have only scratched the surface on what we can do and one of our biggest achievements is our daily live news service, but I am excited to see how this channel will grow."
Today, NITV is Australia's leading platform for First Nations storytelling.
NITV now reaches more than a million Australians each month on TV alone, and conneczt with communities and audiences across all platforms, including online, social media, radio and SBS On Demand — whether it's trusted news and current affairs, documentaries, drama, entertainment, sport, or kids programming.
NITV is created by, for and about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, for the benefit of all Australians.
2012 From the Heart of the Nation Concert
Saturday 4 April at 8.35pm on NITV and SBS On Demand
