A giant of Australian arts and television has been farewelled, with news confirmed Saturday that SBS’s Elder in Residence Rhoda Roberts AO passed away peacefully on Country.
The Widjabul Wieybal woman of the Bundjalung Nation leaves behind a legacy that helped reshape how stories are told across Australian screens and stages, her passing follows a period of illness after a cancer diagnosis last year.
Her family confirmed the news on Saturday, with multicultural broadcaster SBS acknowledging the profound loss felt by her community and the many creatives she championed throughout her career.
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Across decades, Roberts built an extraordinary body of work as a producer, broadcaster, artistic director and cultural leader, co founding the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust and helping lead major national moments including the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
Her connection to SBS ran deep, from her early days as a journalist to making history as one of the first Indigenous presenters on prime time Australian television, and later shaping milestones including the launch of NITV.
SBS Director of Indigenous Content Tanya Denning-Orman said Roberts inspired generations through both her presence and leadership.
“She did not just lead change, she galvanised a sector, nurturing and guiding the leaders who are carrying the flame of change forward.”
SBS Chair Dr Nicholas Pappas AM said her influence would continue to guide the industry.
“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.”
Her work as SBS’s inaugural Elder in Residence further cemented her impact, embedding culture and storytelling at the heart of the organisation.
Rhoda Roberts AO is remembered as a trailblazer whose influence will continue to shape Australian media for years to come.
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You can watch a curated SBS On Demand collection honouring Elder in Residence Rhoda Roberts AO HERE.
Vale Rhoda Roberts AO.
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