Airdate: Off Country

4 part documentary series Off Country premieres next week on NITV’s NAIDOC Week, following the lives of seven Indigenous students over a year at the prestigious Geelong Grammar School.

Produced by Brown Cabs Productions, Letterbox Films, and Goodthing Productions this sees students grappling with family tragedy, mental health, and identity issues. As students move between boarding life and home life, the series creates a historic record of one of Australia’s key Indigenous education pathways, told entirely in their own words.

Tanya Denning-Orman, a proud Birri and Guugu Yimidhirr woman and Director of Indigenous Content at SBS, said: “NITV is committed to developing First Nation’s stories and presenting premium unscripted content. We are thrilled to bring Off Country to audiences across Australia next week. This important documentary series tackles important questions around identity and belonging, and it’s an honour to share these compelling stories with all Australians. I look forward to the premiere next week on NITV during NAIDOC Week 2022.”

Screen Australia’s Head of Documentary, Alex West, said: “We’re proud to support this compelling documentary from talented filmmakers John Harvey and Rhian Skirving that provides valuable insight into the lives of these students, allowing viewers to hear from them directly as they experience the highs and lows of living across two worlds throughout an undeniably challenging year. This documentary is set to spark conversations of national significance around education, the importance of culture and community and we can’t wait to see it on NITV.”

Directors Rhian Skirving (GoodThing Productions) and John Harvey (Brown Cabs Productions), said: “As filming progressed, it became clear that these young people not only walked proud in the path set out by their Elders, but were also navigating the impacts of colonial policies across generations. Each family story highlighted the impact of one or more government policy, be it stolen generation, forced removal from country, the mission system and intergenerational trauma. The impacts from these policies are present in the childrens’ lives before they enter the school gate, and, as we discovered in the making of the film, for many it ultimately affects their ability to make the most of the education opportunity before them.”

CEO of VicScreen, Caroline Pitcher, said: “Off Country is an emotionally striking series that is set to ignite conversations around the nation. We are always proud to back meaningful and diverse storytelling, and recognise the importance of supporting this piece of history to be recorded.”

Episode One:
As the 2020 school year starts, Indigenous students travel thousands of kilometres interstate, leaving their families and home, to attend the prestigious Geelong Grammar School.

*Off Country will be subtitled in Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean on SBS On Demand. Off Country will also air on SBS later this year.

Thursday, 7 July at 8.00pm on NITV.