This series reveals what Australia thinks about disability, obesity and old age through emotional personal stories, confronting social experiments and a nationwide survey.

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Age in the spotlight

Taking a closer look at how we think about ageing and older people. 

News

Is Australia ageist? We asked older Australians about their experiences

A survey commissioned by SBS as part of new documentary series 'What does Australia really think about ...' has found age discrimination is rife in Australia.
Guide

Is Australia in denial about its attitude to ageing?

The latest episode of ‘What Does Australia Really Think About…’ explores our nation’s misconceptions about its older generation.
RESEARCH

The numbers of age

Key findings from a national survey that delved into what Australians think about being older.
News

'It's hard to get work when you're older': Ageism in the workplace

When Kate decided to make a sea change at the age of 60, she thought there would be no shortage of work for her. But she claims age discrimination is alive and...
SBS Voices

Ageing into homelessness: "It feels like we are sleepwalking into a national crisis"

From workplace discrimination to negative stereotypes of older Australians as incompetent and feeble, age discrimination is rife across the nation.
SBS Voices

This pandemic proves that Nonna really does know best

I didn’t realise that learning to do things like grow my own food, preserve it and cook from first principles would hold me in such good stead for a pandemic.
topics

The problem with how we talk about ageing and the elderly

We need to foster a society that sees the value in all stages of life.

A deeper look at disability

Stories of challenges and achievements. 

RESEARCH

Do these numbers surprise you?

Key findings from a national survey on attitudes to disabilty.
Guide

Disability in the arts: Why don’t our screens reflect the society we live in?

While progress is being made, there’s more work to be done in representing people with disability, in front of and behind the camera.
SBS Voices

Living with Tourette Syndrome: "It wasn't until four years ago that I actually felt like I could cope"

"Now I can finally say I’ve got true friends and I’m in love. I’ve waited so long for that."
SBS Voices

How spoons became a powerful symbol for invisible disability

"The spoon symbolises our shared yet diverse lived experiences, our undeniable resilience, and our determination to be understood," writes artist and author Chloe...
NEWS

Artists bringing unique qualities to dance - and life

South Australian dance company embraces the unique qualities of performers with and without disability.

Attitudes to obesity

The third episode of 'What Does Australia Really Think About ...' looks at obesity. 

SBS Voices

Casey Donovan: "I wasn't the shape society wanted me to be"

Obesity is the last bastion of acceptable discrimination, says Donovan: "because it's not seen as a disease - it's still seen as your fault that you're fat."
RESEARCH

National numbers

Key findings from a national survey on attitudes to obesity.
NEWS

On Insight: Tackling Australia's rising obesity rate

Australians are getting fatter. And experts say diets just don’t work in the long term. But should we be looking at this debate differently? And are people...
SBS Voices

Exposure therapy: How I learned to accept my body by taking loads of selfies

"It became a kind of exposure therapy, to encourage me to get used to myself, double chin and all. I found I didn’t need any hacks, because I liked my look just...

National conversations

Powerful documentaries and discussions, from across SBS, NITV and SBS On Demand. 

ANNOUNCEMENT

SBS asks: 'What Does Australia Really Think About' ….Disability? Old People? Obesity?

This new documentary series hosted by Kurt Fearnley, Noni Hazlehurst and Casey Donovan premieres 18 August, 8.30pm on SBS.
Current Affairs

The issues that affect us: the latest from 'Insight'

Australia's leading forum for ideas tackles topics that touch on lives across Australia, from health and happiness to the events that change lives forever.
Documentary

Groundbreaking series 'Addicted Australia'

A bold, revelatory and inspiring documentary that puts a spotlight on Australia’s addiction crisis in the most powerful and deeply personal way, streaming now at...
Documentary

The conversation we need to have: 'See What You Made Me Do'

This powerful three-part series confronts our somestic violence crisis. Streaming now at SBS On Demand.
discussion

'The Whole Table'

A ground-breaking all Indigenous panel show, exploring a range of issues that impact Indigenous people both here in Australia and abroad.