“We’re covering stories not many other outlets are covering …giving a voice to the voiceless.”

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In 2001, having hosted ICAM, the first Indigenous affairs program on SBS for 6 years, host Karla Grant was asked by network management to come up with a new program.

She created Living Black, an interview / investigative series which hears from First Nations peoples and issues that affect them – they have included Adam Goodes, Cathy Freeman, Uncle Jack Charles and Archie Roach, plus former Prime Ministers and sitting politicians, and even the Dalai Lama.

20 years and 30 seasons later, it is now Australia’s longest running Indigenous current affairs television program.

“It’s a huge achievement for any program to have survived that long, so I’m really excited about this year and blessed that I’m able to still keep on doing this job that I love,” she tells TV Tonight.

“The program has evolved over the last 20 years. When we first started out we were trying to be everything to everyone, covering sports, arts, culture, one on one interviews, feature stories, and news wrap. It was everything in a half hour show.

“Over the years, we changed to a documentary style of storytelling, speaking to people and getting a personal perspective, or talking about the issues through a personal lens.”

In the season premiere, Grant’s role as host and Executive Producer is praised through video messages from some of the most recognised names in the country.

“It was wonderful to get a message from Peter Garrett. I interviewed him a few years ago…. Leah Purcell, Christine Anu, and it was wonderful to get a message from Kevin Rudd as well. It was nice that people took the time to acknowledge our 20 years on air,” she notes.

Living Black is highly regarded amongst indigenous viewers for offering debate and canvassing a wide variety of topics.

“It’s really just sitting down having a good yarn with people, and getting them to open up to you. Sometimes there’s laughter and sometimes there’s tears, and I’m just fortunate enough that people open up to me and allow me into their lives and their homes and their communities,” Grant continues.

“They know that this program is trusted and respected, so I’m able to get those interviews with people because they already trust me, they know what I’m like as an interviewer and reporter, and that I allow people to speak and to have their say.”

Grant also travels around the country to meet interview subjects face to face, a tall order given the footprint of the Indigenous audience. But it all leads to positive feedback and the show’s longevity.

“When I’m in shopping centres, or walking down the street, I always get a lot of feedback from people. A lot of people approach me and say how much they really love what we’re doing. They really respect that we delve into the issues, especially with our investigations. We’re covering stories not many other outlets are covering, and we’re really giving a voice to the voiceless.”

In the season premiere, Grant hosts a forum on the Voice to Parliament referendum with Senators Lidia Thorpe and Jacqui Lambie, former Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt, Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine, NRL great Dean Widders, actor / producer Aaron Fa’Aoso and lawyer, academic and land rights activist Noel Pearson.

It’s a topic that draws divison amongst those on the panel.

“We’re here to present all points of view, rather than just pedalling one point of view, obviously. First Nations people are diverse in their views. Not everyone agrees, and that’s what this program was about: bringing all those different opinions to the table. Then we let our audience decide for themselves,” she insists.

But Grant is reluctant to outline her own thoughts on the referendum question.

“I’m a journalist, I’m not allowed to have an opinion!” she laughs. “I’m there to ask the questions. Obviously, there’s a lot of people that are for the Voice, there are a lot of people that are against it, and those who are sitting on the fence not going to make up their mind until closer to the time, because they want to hear more detail.”

Also coming up this season are Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney (pictured above), human rights and health advocate Pat Anderson AO, Play School presenter & actor Luke Carroll and many more.

“I really love doing the conversations because I love to find out what makes people tick. Through their lives we find out more about issues that First Nations people face,” she explains.

“I’m not sure if I’ll be here in 20 years but hopefully I’ll pass the baton onto someone when the time comes, and the program will still keep going. That’ll be my legacy.”

Living Black 8:30pm Monday on NITV / 10:30pm Tuesday on SBS.