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Australian Story

  • 1996-2026
  • 31 seasons
  • Documentary

Acclaimed biographical documentary series "Australian Story" has aired continuously on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) TV since 1996. Australian Story is known for its narratorless storytelling in which the subjects tell their own stories in their own words. The program has featured both famous and previously-unknown Australians from all walks of life and won numerous awards including Logies, Walkleys, Golden Tripods, and Ellies. New episodes air every Monday on free-to-air television as well as ABC iview and YouTube.

Season 30 Episode Guide

37 Episodes 2025

Episode 1

Unfiltered - Celeste Barber

30 mins

Celeste Barber went from unemployed actor to social media sensation for her celebrity parodies. But behind the hilarity is a story of struggle and self-doubt. (Return)

Episode 1

Sink or Swim - Michael Klim

29 mins

Six years ago, Olympic champion Michael Klim almost lost the ability to walk. Then he received a devastating diagnosis. In this moving episode, Klim reveals how he hit rock bottom but ultimately emerged stronger. (Return)

Episode 2

Outspoken - Jacinta Nampijinpa Price

32 mins

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is a rising political star who helped defeat the Voice referendum. The former singer and TV host reveals the private pain that shaped her polarising views and why she's unapologetic.

Australian Story Season 30 Outspoken - Jacinta Nampijinpa Price
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Episode 3

Heartfelt - Colin Clausen and Laura Aisbett

30 mins

When Col and Laura met, they were both grieving the sudden death of a cherished spouse. They soon had to confront a thorny question - when is an appropriate time is to find love after loss?

Australian Story Season 30 Heartfelt - Colin Clausen and Laura Aisbett

Episode 4

Second Innings - Bharat Sundaresan

30 mins

On the brink of death in India, Bharat Sundaresan turned to cricket, gathering millions of followers. But it's now in Australia that the colourful commentator has found true acceptance.

Australian Story Season 30 Second Innings - Bharat Sundaresan

Episode 5

Home Truths - Vincent Fantauzzo

29 mins

When celebrated artist Vincent Fantauzzo first appeared on Australian Story, he held something back about his past. Now he's ready to reveal all.

Australian Story Season 30 Home Truths - Vincent Fantauzzo

Episode 6

Hooked - Dave Hughes

20 mins

Comedian Dave Hughes thought his struggle with addiction was over when he gave up alcohol in his 20s, but his obsession with work and fame has been harder to navigate.

Australian Story Season 30 Hooked - Dave Hughes

Episode 7

Episode #30.7

30 mins

Episode 8

Born to Run - Cliff Young

29 mins

The enduring legend of Cliff Young, the 61-year-old potato farmer who became an accidental hero when he shuffled his way to victory in the 1983 Sydney to Melbourne ultramarathon.

Episode 9

The Shoot Out - Race Around The World

30 mins

Untold stories from behind the scenes of Race Around the World, the show that launched John Safran and become one of the '90s unlikeliest TV hits.

Australian Story Season 30 The Shoot Out - Race Around The World

Episode 10

Class Wars - Murat Dizdar

29 mins

Murat Dizdar is a proud working-class man who's made it his mission to win back private school students to the public education system.

Australian Story Season 30 Class Wars - Murat Dizdar

Episode 11

Herding Katter - Bob Katter

31 mins

A portrait of maverick MP Bob Katter, the eccentric 79-year-old TikTok star who could soon even hold the balance of power.

Australian Story Season 30 Herding Katter - Bob Katter

Episode 12

Nick Cave with Leigh Sales

29 mins

In an encore screening, rock legend Nick Cave talks candidly about grief, addiction, religion and why he's still making challenging music in his 60s.

Episode 13

Duped - Donna Nelson

30 mins

How an online love scam landed West Australian grandmother Donna Nelson in solitary confinement in Japan, leaving her five daughters fighting for her freedom.

Australian Story Season 30 Duped - Donna Nelson

Episode 15

Birds of a Feather - The Twinnies

30 mins

Quirky identical twins Paula and Bridgette Powers were in the process of sharing some exciting news with Australian Story when the 'Twinnies' suddenly became a global sensation.

Australian Story Season 30 Birds of a Feather - The Twinnies

Episode 16

Better Angels - Samuel Johnson

30 mins

Actor Samuel Johnson has led a rollercoaster life, dealing with successive tragedies and a self-destructive streak. But a cause close to his heart helped him overcome his demons.

Episode 17

Missing Pieces - Sue-Yen Luiten

29 mins

Adopted by an Australian couple 50 years ago, Sue-Yen Luiten is cycling through Vietnam with DNA kits in a last-ditch effort to find family.

Episode 18

Game Of His Life - Ange Postecoglou

32 mins

At the peak of his career, legendary Australian football manager Ange Postecoglou speaks exclusively to Australian Story about Tottenham Hotspur's stunning Europa League victory and says he's still dreaming big.

Episode 19

Forget Me Not - Jim Rogers

29 mins

Jim Rogers has always been a big personality so when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at 55, he wasn't going to keep quiet. Now he's become 'the poster boy for dementia', determined to speak out while he can.

Episode 20

Break It Down - The Raygun Phenomenon

31 mins

Rachael "Raygun" Gunn broke the internet with her Olympic routine, sparking countless memes and vitriolic abuse. A year on, Australian Story asks what the hell was that all about?

Episode 21

The River (Part 1) Franklin River Rescue

30 mins

When Lithuanian rafter Valdas Bieliauskas became trapped in rapids on the Franklin River, it set in train a perilous 24-hour rescue mission that presented rescuers with a terrible choice. (Part 1 of 2)

Episode 22

The River (Part 2) Franklin River Rescue

32 mins

The dramatic conclusion to Australian Story's two-part account of the extraordinary 24-hour rescue effort to save Lithuanian rafter Valdas Bieliauskas from rapids on Tasmania's Franklin River.

Australian Story Season 30 The River (Part 2) Franklin River Rescue

Episode 23

Common Ground - Liz Heggaton and Tim Baker

29 mins

Sheep farmer Liz Heggaton and surf writer Tim Baker should never have met, but a shared experience put them on a mission to highlight the potentially deadly side effects of a commonly prescribed cancer treatment.

Australian Story Season 30 Common Ground - Liz Heggaton and Tim Baker

Episode 24

Gut Instinct - Jane Dudley

31 mins

When Jane Dudley used an unapproved and icky treatment to cure her crippling depression, it grabbed the attention of the medical world, paving the way for large-scale clinical trials.

Australian Story Season 30 Gut Instinct - Jane Dudley

Episode 25

Momentum - Mohammed Mustafa

30 mins

Mohammed "Dr Mo" Mustafa might only be a junior doctor from Perth but he's got the ear of leaders from around the world as he tries to turn his dream of a children's hospital in Gaza into reality.

Australian Story Season 30 Momentum - Mohammed Mustafa

Episode 26

To Bilo and Back - The Nadesalingam Family

30 mins

They were once the most famous refugee family in Australia. We check in with the Tamil family from the small town of Biloela who were at the centre of one of the country's biggest people-power movements in recent years.

Episode 27

Dark Star - Alex Lloyd

31 mins

In 2001, Alex Lloyd broke through with his massive hit Amazing, a song that led to the best and then the worst time of his life. Now he's getting his life back on track.

Australian Story Season 30 Dark Star - Alex Lloyd

Episode 28

Small Wonders - Eden Tiny House Project

30 mins

It was the offer of a lifetime. Provide land and around $40,000 and get your own tiny home. The catch is, you have to help build it. Three vulnerable women took up that challenge and transformed their lives.

Australian Story Season 30 Small Wonders - Eden Tiny House Project

Episode 29

Say My Name - Louisa Ioannidis: Part 1

30 mins

When Louisa Ioannidis was found dead in a creek, police found no suspicious circumstances. But Louisa's brother had his doubts and with a private investigator has exposed serious flaws in the police case. (Part 1 of 2)

Episode 30

Say My Name - Louisa Ioannidis: Part 2

31 mins

The gripping conclusion in the mysterious case of Louisa Ioannidis, who was found dead in a creek in 2011. Intrigued by a podcast's revelations, a legal team has discovered new evidence and is pushing to re-open the case.

Australian Story Season 30 Say My Name - Louisa Ioannidis: Part 2

Episode 31

All Consuming - Kate Reid

30 mins

Kate Reid's croissants have been called the world's best. But how did a Formula 1 engineer battling a near-fatal eating disorder end up perfecting pastry?

Episode 32

Only Fifteen - Sarah Kopp

30 mins

When a charismatic sports teacher arrived at Sarah Kopp's school, the talented student's life was upended. When she finally sought justice, she faced a near-impossible choice.

Episode 33

Striking A Chord - Astrid Jorgensen

30 mins

When Astrid Jorgensen started Pub Choir in a small Brisbane bar, she never imagined she would be filling halls across the world eight years later.

Episode 34

Dog Gone - The Hunt for Valerie

30 mins

How the hunt for runaway sausage dog Valerie fired up the Kangaroo Island community and sparked headlines around the world.

Episode 35

Jelena Dokic with Leigh Sales

28 mins

In her first in-depth interview since her father's death, former tennis star Jelena Dokic opens up about the years of abuse she suffered at his hands and how she rebuilt her life.

Episode 36

Ride Of Her Life - Saya Sakakibara

30 mins

BMX golden girl Saya Sakakibara dreamed of sharing Olympic glory with her brother Kai. When a racing accident almost took his life, Saya had to overcome crippling fear and ride for both of them.

Episode 37

Against The Odds - Lauren Huxley

30 mins

Lauren Huxley was given little chance of survival after a brutal attack. Twenty years on, she and her family reflect on her miraculous recovery and the fact her attacker could soon be back on the streets.

Episode 38

It's My Party - Kirsha Kaechele

31 mins

She's flamboyant, provocative and brave. She's also married to David Walsh, founder of the Hobart-based MONA gallery. So why does artist and curator Kirsha Kaechele feel she's not taken seriously? (Final for 2025)

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