First Contact (Australian TV series)

{{Use Australian English|date=January 2016}} {{Convert to Episode table}}{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}} {{Infobox television | image = | caption = | alt_name = | genre = Reality television Documentary | director = Ronan Sharkey & Dora Weekley (s1) David Grusovin & Bruce Permezel (s2) | presenter = Ray Martin | starring = | judges = | voices = | narrated = Hugo Weaving | theme_music_composer = | opentheme = | endtheme = | composer = Matteo Zingales Russel Thornton | country = Australia | language = English | num_seasons = 2 | num_episodes = 6 | list_episodes = | executive_producer = Rachel Perkins (s1) Jacob Hickey (s2) | producer = Darren Dale Jacob Hickey | editor = Steven Robinson Mark AtkinASE | location = | cinematography = Nicola Daley Bonnie Elliott Micah Walker | camera = | runtime = ≥ 52 minutes<ref name="abc" /> 60 minutes (inc.adverts) | company = Blackfella Films | channel = SBS One | first_aired = {{Start date|df=yes|2014|11|18}} | last_aired = {{End date|df=yes|2016|12|1}} | related = | writer = Jacob Hickey }} '''''First Contact''''' is an Australian reality television documentary series that aired on SBS One, SBS Two and NITV from November 2014. A second season aired in 2016. The show, produced by Blackfella Films and presented by Ray Martin, takes six European Australians on a journey across Australia, challenging their preconceived ideas about Indigenous Australians. In the second season, the non-Indigenous participants are all well-known Australians.

==Synopsis== The show documents the journey of six European Australians who are challenged over a period of 28 days about their pre-existing perceptions of Indigenous Australians.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Galvin|first1=Nick|title=In First Contact, Ray Martin explores his Aboriginal ancestry and passion for photography|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/in-first-contact-ray-martin-explores-his-aboriginal-ancestry-and-passion-for-photography-20141103-11g6d1.html|access-date=24 November 2014|journal=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/shop/product/category/DVDs/10973/First-Contact-DVD-Digital-Download |title=First Contact (DVD / Digital Download) |publisher=SBS |access-date=7 January 2015 }}</ref>

''First Contact'' shows some of the cultural divisions that exist between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and highlights the lack of awareness many non-Indigenous Australians have about Indigenous Australians and the various different cultures and lifestyles they currently maintain. A stated premise is that 60% of European Australian have never had any contact with Indigenous people, a statistic that may explain the prevalence of the racist, unsympathetic and generally prejudicial attitudes that are often directed towards Indigenous Australians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/ten-things-we-learnt-from-first-contact-20141121-11r4gp.html |title=Ten things we learnt from First Contact |last=Galvin |first=Nick |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=21 November 2014 |access-date=7 January 2015 }}</ref>

In making their "first contact" with Indigenous Australia, the selected six participants are taken to Aboriginal communities both in the city and the country, and are even processed into a regional prison at Roebourne in Western Australia, where social problems are particularly acute, resulting in incarceration of large numbers of Indigenous Australians, often for quite minor offences. The relationships between Indigenous people and local police in Roebourne are notoriously poor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archive.deathsincustody.org.au/johnpatrciadicreport |title=Royal Commission Into Aboriginal Death In Custody Report of the Inquiry Into The Death of John Peter Pat |last=Johnston QC |first=Elliott |publisher=Deaths in Custody Watch Committee WA |date=30 March 1991 |access-date=7 January 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://aic.gov.au/publications/previous%20series/lcj/1-20/wayward/ch5t.html |title=Chapter 5: An Aboriginal death in custody : the case of John Pat |last=Grabosky |first=P N |publisher=Australian Institute of Criminology |access-date=7 January 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.criminologyresearchcouncil.gov.au/reports/2-85.pdf |title=Aboriginal/Police Relations in the Pilbara: A study of perceptions |publisher=Criminology Research Council |access-date=7 January 2015 }}</ref>

==Cast== (As themselves) ===Participants 2014=== Series 1 participants were:<ref name=bfc1/> *Alice Lardner *Bo-Dene Steiler *Jasmine Johnston *Trent Giles *Sandy Clifford *Marcus Solomon

===Major Indigenous contributors 2014=== Indigenous contributors on series 2 included:<ref name=bfc1/> *Sharyn Derschow – Co-founder Linkidge Cross Communication Training Company *Margaret Gudumurrkuwuy – Elcho Island Arts *Marmingee Hand – School Teacher & Foster Carer for F.A.S.D children *Marcus Lacey – traditional owner, Teacher & Tourist Business Operator *Debra Maidment – Safe & Sober Support Service Program, Central Australia Aboriginal Congress *Victor Morgan – Senior Educator, Education Centre Against Violence & Chair Link-Up NSW *June Oscar AO – CEO Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre *Emily Carter – Deputy CEO Marninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre *Shane Phillips – CEO Tribal Warrior & Local Australian of the Year 2013 *Geraldine Stewart – Yipirinya School HIPPY Coordinator *Tangentyere Council Night Patrol

===Participants 2016=== Participants in the second series were:<ref name=bfc2/> *Natalie Imbruglia *Ian Dickson *David Oldfield *Tom Ballard *Renae Ayris *Nicki Wendt

==Production== [[File:Marcus Lacey at Nyinyikay.JPG|thumb|220px|Marcus Lacey in Nyinyikay in the Northern Territory]] ''First Contact'' was filmed and set in New South Wales,{{cn|date=August 2024}} home to the largest Indigenous Australian population of any state/territory, the Northern Territory, where Indigenous Australians make up a higher percentage of the population than in any other state or territory and Western Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4705.0 |title=4705.0 - Population Distribution, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, 2006 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |date=15 August 2007 |access-date=7 January 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3238.0.55.001 |title=3238.0.55.001 - Estimates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, June 2011 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |date=30 August 2013 |access-date=9 January 2015 }}</ref>

Darren Dale of Blackfella Films produced both series, while Jacob Hickey was series producer and writer for both. Rachel Perkins was executive producer on the first series, while Ronan Sharkey and Dora Weekley directed.<ref name=bfc1>{{cite web | title=First Contact 1 | website=Blackfella Films | date=18 November 2014 | url=http://blackfellafilms.com.au/project/first-contact/ | access-date=27 August 2024}}</ref> Jacob Hickey was executive producer on the second series, while David Grusovin and Bruce Permezel directed.<ref name=bfc2>{{cite web | title=FIRST CONTACT 2 | website=Blackfella Films | date=17 September 2016 | url=http://blackfellafilms.com.au/project/first-contact-2/ | access-date=27 August 2024}}</ref>

==Broadcast== ''First Contact'' aired on SBS One, SBS Two, and NITV, from 18 November 2014.<ref name="18th" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nitv.org.au/fx-program.cfm?pid=515E5195-CDAC-BE5E-7C86096D8F83186A |title=About First Contact |publisher=NITV |access-date=9 January 2015 }}</ref>

==Discussion== After the first series aired, ''First Contact'' was the topic of an ''Insight'' episode, hosted by Stan Grant and featuring a discussion involving many of the people who were involved in the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2014/11/sbs-lets-down-the-audience-after-first-contact-no-show.html |title=SBS lets down the audience after First Contact no-show |last=Knox |first=David |publisher=TV Tonight |date=22 November 2014 |access-date=9 January 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/first-contact-insight-special-sandy-couldnt-be-here-tonight-after-furore-over-racist-comments-20141121-11qxle.html |title=First Contact Insight special: Sandy 'couldn't be here tonight' after furore over racist comments |last=Galvin |first=Nick |publisher=TV Tonight |date=20 November 2014 |access-date=9 January 2015 }}</ref>

==Series overview== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! style="padding:0 8px; width:25px;" | No. ! style="padding:0 8px;" | Original air ! style="padding:0 8px;" | Consolidated Australian viewers (Mainland Capitals) |- | 1 | 18 November 2014 | 508,000<ref name="18th">{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaspy.org/forum/index.php?/topic/25135-tuesday-18th-november-2014/ |title=Tuesday 18th November 2014 |publisher=Media Spy |date=19 November 2014 |access-date=7 January 2015 }}</ref> |- | 2 | 19 November 2014 | 401,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaspy.org/forum/index.php?/topic/25138-wednesday-19th-november-2014/ |title=Wednesday 19th November 2014 |publisher=Media Spy |date=20 November 2014 |access-date=7 January 2015 }}</ref> |- | 3 | 20 November 2014 | 452,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaspy.org/forum/index.php?/topic/25141-thursday-20th-november-2014/ |title=Thursday 20th November 2014 |publisher=Media Spy |date=21 November 2014 |access-date=7 January 2015 }}</ref> |}

The show is estimated to have had a cumulative reach of 1,847,000 Australian viewers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/racist-australians-hard-to-crack-after-reality-show-first-contact-has-mixed-success/story-fn8yvfst-1227130690139 |title='Racist' Australians hard to crack after reality show First Contact has mixed success |publisher=News Limited |date=21 November 2014 |access-date=9 January 2015 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- ! style="padding: 0 8px;" rowspan="2" colspan="2"| Season ! style="padding: 0 8px;" rowspan="2" | Episodes ! style="padding: 0 8px;" colspan="2" | Originally aired ! style="padding: 0 8px;" | DVD release ! style="padding: 0 8px;" | DVD features |- ! Season premiere ! Season finale ! Region 4 ! + |- | style="background: #A90000;"| |'''1''' | 10 | 18 November 2014 | 20 November 2014 | 3 December 2014<ref name="abc">{{cite web|url=https://shop.abc.net.au/products/first-contact-dvd |title=First Contact |publisher=ABC |access-date=7 January 2015 }}</ref> | *Single Disc *Running time: 156 minutes<ref name="abc" /> |}

==Episodes==

===Season 1 (2014)=== <onlyinclude> {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%; margin:auto;" |- ! style="background:#A90000; color:white;" | No. ! style="background:#A90000; color:white;" | Title ! style="background:#A90000; color:white;" | Directed by ! style="background:#A90000; color:white;" | Original air date {{Episode list/sublist|First Contact (TV series) |EpisodeNumber=1 |Title=Episode 1 |DirectedBy= Ronan Sharkey and Dora Weekley |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=yes|2014|11|18}} |ShortSummary=Six European Australians, Alice Lardner, Bo-Dean Steiler, Jasmine Johnston, Trent Giles, Sandy Clifford and Marcus Solomon assemble near Uluru in Central Australia, where they are informed by Ray Martin that they will be spending the next 28 days meeting with Aboriginal Australians in various locations around Australia, beginning with the Morgan family in Redfern, NSW. After spending time in Redfern and discovering that it now has one of the lowest crime rates in Sydney, they embark on the second stage of their journey which sees them visiting Nyinyikay, an Aboriginal homeland community in Yolngu country, Northern Territory. In Nyinyikay, they are hosted by Marcus Lacey and they are given the opportunity to hunt for turtles and mangrove worms.<ref name="presskit">{{cite web|url=http://blackfellafilms.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/First-Contact-Press-kit-FINAL-141014-sml.pdf |title=First Contact Press Kit |publisher=Blackfella Films |date=14 October 2014 |access-date=7 January 2015 }}</ref> |LineColor=A90000 }} {{Episode list/sublist|First Contact (TV series) |EpisodeNumber=2 |Title=Episode 2 |DirectedBy=Ronan Sharkey and Dora Weekley |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=yes|2014|11|19}} |ShortSummary=The six participants are taken to Elcho Island, where the local Aboriginal people are living in some of the most deprived conditions in the western world. Up to thirty people live in each house and at the time of their visit, there were 600 unemployed people and only 20 job vacancies. After spending a night on the island, they are taken to Alice Springs, NT. Sandy, however, decides not to continue with the journey and she returns to her home. In Alice Springs, they visit the Yipirinya School, where students can speak and are taught in four different languages; Arrernte, Luritja, Warlpiri and English.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yipirinya.com.au/our_school/curriculum.phtml |title=Yipirinya School Curriculum |publisher=Yipirinya School |access-date=7 January 2015 }}</ref> Later, they have the opportunity to join the Tangentyere Council as they conduct their Night Patrol service, a service that gives assistance to drunk and vulnerable Australians.<ref name="presskit" /> |LineColor=A90000 }} {{Episode list/sublist|First Contact (TV series) |EpisodeNumber=3 |Title=Episode 3 |DirectedBy=Ronan Sharkey and Dora Weekley |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=yes|2014|11|20}} |ShortSummary=The six are now taken to the Pilbara region of Western Australia. In Karratha, they visit Sharyn Derschow who is currently running a successful program that promotes cross cultural awareness. Following this, they are taken inland in the back of a prison van to Roebourne Regional Prison, where out of all the inmates, 90% are Aboriginal Australians. After being strip searched and outfitted in prison clothes, they are allowed to interact with some of the inmates. They discover that many of the inmates there are incarcerated for minor offences, often for driving while drunk or on a suspended licence, which is often necessary in order to obtain essential supplies that aren't available in the remote desert communities that many reside in. Finally, the six participants travel to the town of Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia, WA where they meet a group of women who reveal that after their campaign to ban full strength alcohol in the area was successful, there has been a significant reduction in the amount of violent assaults, suicides and other societal issues. In Fitzroy Crossing, they also meet Tristan, a fifteen-year-old boy who suffers from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, just like one in every five children in the Fitzroy Valley area. Their journey comes to an end at Windjana Gorge where June Oscar AO performs a smoking ceremony.<ref name="presskit" /> |LineColor=A90000 }} |} </onlyinclude>

===Season 2 (2016)=== <onlyinclude> {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%; margin:auto;" |- ! style="background:#A90000; color:white;" | No. ! style="background:#A90000; color:white;" | Title ! style="background:#A90000; color:white;" | Directed by ! style="background:#A90000; color:white;" | Original air date {{Episode list/sublist|First Contact (TV series) |EpisodeNumber=4 |Title=Episode 1 |DirectedBy= David Grusovin and Bruce Permezel |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=yes|2016|11|18}} |ShortSummary=}} {{Episode list/sublist|First Contact (TV series) |EpisodeNumber=5 |Title=Episode 2 |DirectedBy=David Grusovin and Bruce Permezel |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=yes|2016|11|30}} |ShortSummary=}} {{Episode list/sublist|First Contact (TV series) |EpisodeNumber=6 |Title=Episode 3 |DirectedBy=David Grusovin and Bruce Permezel |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=yes|2016|12|1}} |ShortSummary=}} |} </onlyinclude>

==Adaptations== The series was adapted for Canadian television by APTN, which premiered ''First Contact'' in 2018.<ref name=global>[https://globalnews.ca/news/4440862/first-contact-aptn/ "‘First Contact’: TV docuseries seeks to shatter Indigenous Canadian stereotypes"]. Global News, 12 September 2018.</ref>

==See also== * ''Go Back to Where You Came From'' * ''Filthy Rich and Homeless''

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{imdb title|4284254}} *{{official|https://web.archive.org/web/20141105105403/http://www.sbs.com.au/programs/first-contact}} (archived) *[https://theconversation.com/sbss-first-contact-is-the-real-festering-sore-of-the-nation-34366 "SBS's First Contact is the real 'festering sore' of the nation"], by Chelsea Watego on The Conversation, 1 November 2014

Category:English-language Australian television shows Category:Special Broadcasting Service original programming Category:2010s Australian documentary television series Category:2010s Australian reality television series Category:2014 Australian television series debuts Category:Television shows set in the Northern Territory Category:Television shows set in Western Australia Category:Television shows set in Sydney Category:Indigenous Australian television series