Australian Survivor 2024: meet the cast

On Monday Australian Survivor returns to Samoa with 24 all new players divided into Titans v Rebels tribes.

While the Titans are described as masters of their craft – the head honchos, the over-achievers, the Rebels are the mavericks, the ones who don’t play by the rules (although Survivor challenges do have very clear rules….).

Across 47 day they will take part in Reward Challenges, Immunity Challenges, and Tribal Council in their pursuit of a cool $500,000 prize.

Jonathan LaPaglia hosts the series produced by Endemol Shine Australia for Network 10.

 

Titans

Caroline (pictured top)
Midwife
No nonsense and organised, Caroline is a midwife from the North Coast of NSW who knows all about performing under pressure. A mum of three, she’s aware how quickly things can change and to expect the unexpected. She says, “I know people think a midwife is a heroic job and it is amazing – we’re bringing life into the world, we’re looking after new life and it’s the dearest thing to my heart but it’s also tougher than that. You are under extreme duress and many many times, you get no breaks but you have to stick with what you’re doing and get the job done. And that’s what I’ll do out here!” Preparing for the island, Caroline upped her fitness, practiced her fire making skills, learnt how to weave and to fish. Citing Hayley Leake as her favourite Survivor player, she’s also aware being one of the eldest in the game could mean she’s underestimated by her younger tribemates. Caroline says, “I think I’m going in with some advantages and some disadvantages. I’ve got a lot of life experience that’s made me who I am today. If I’d done this as a younger person, I don’t know if I’d be as strong. I think Survivor is going to test me in different ways and it’s going to completely push me outside my comfort zone and I can’t wait for it.”

Charles
Litigation Lawyer
A Survivor superfan who watches it regularly with his wife, Charles thinks the key strategy to playing smart is to play a strong social game. He says building networks to gather information to farm out to other tribemates will be his best asset to get an advantage over others. A litigation lawyer who specialises in large scale disputes, Charles is leaving his wife and 18-month-old daughter behind to play the game but he’s ready to take on the Titan title. “I’m a Titan because I’ve done a lot of cool things in my work. I’ve worked at some of the biggest firms and the best firms across the world. I’ve represented clients from around the world, including the UK, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and Australia. I now represent the little guy taking it to the big guy. My day job is to outwit my opponents and that’s exactly what I’m gonna do on Survivor.” While he says he’s willing to do anything to stay in the game, Charles stops short on swearing on his daughter’s life, but he also knows what his first steps will be – building a watertight shelter. Charles jokes, “A lot of people don’t like lawyers until a lawyer saves their ass and then that lawyer is their favourite person in the whole wide world and that person will be me out here.”

Eden
Cinema Area Manager
A pop culture Titan, Eden is the area manager for multiple cinemas across Victoria, managing thousands of staff members, which he says will be a great asset to play the game. He’s used to negotiating with different age groups, demographics and opinions and knows how to communicate with them, so everyone gets what they want. Admitting he might not look like a cliched Titan, Eden says being underestimated is never a bad thing and thinks his fellow tribemates will be surprised at how much he’ll be ready to do. He says, “Do I look like a Titan? I’m not that person but it’s about stamping my authority on this game and knowing I can do anything that’s put in front of me. I also have a background of pushing myself to the extreme – I did two weeks in the Alaskan wilderness with just a backpack, a week in the Amazon jungle, and the Grand Canyon rim to river walk. I thrive when I push myself.” Chomping at the bit to get into the game, Eden loves Survivor and has grand plans to tick off his bucket list.

Frankie
Salon Owner
Bondi hair salon owner, Frankie, is the epitome of a Titan – she works hard, she’s determined and knows what she needs to do to get to the end. Frankie’s boss and managerial skills will help her find her place in the tribe saying, “What I’ve learned from running a business is you’ve gotta let people have their place and some people’s strengths are other people’s weakness, so you need to let everyone come forward. Everyone needs a voice and if you push them down, they’re going to come for you. People fight from the bottom.” Admitting she has come to Survivor to get out of her comfort zone, Frankie is not looking forward to the reality of camp – mainly the bugs and wild weather and jokes her idea of camping is travelling in a van to the beach. But her competitive nature won’t let that get in her way. Frankie knows her social game is going to be important and says, “Survivor plays a little bit like high school and you can start to see the little cliques being formed. People are sizing each other up and there’s the popular group and the quieter ones. But people have seen this movie, the popular kids get killed first. So, you just have to be really careful where you align yourself.”

Jaden
Strongman
With the build and the look of a classic Titan, Jaden is a unit in every sense of the word. But under that hulk exterior, is a big softie. Jaden says, “I’m a tough, tatted up dude, but that’s not really the case. I like to think I’m a bit of a gentle giant. I get angry and aggressive at the gym trying to lift weights but if you see me outside the gym, I’m always laughing and smiling.” A strongman, Jaden has pulled trucks and cars at weights over 16 tonnes. He also creates social media videos, is a traffic controller and security guard but comes from a sporting background and has played international rugby for the Chilean national team and multiple college teams while he was in the USA. Playing in Samoa, Jaden is coming back to his roots as his grandfather is Samoan Fijian and he says, “I’ve been to Fiji before and this is pretty similar but there’s definitely a little something inside of me that’s like ‘this is home, man.’ I’m from Australia, born and raised in Australia, but I’m playing in Samoa and it makes me proud and I want to prove myself.”

Jessica
Professional Academic
Jessica laughs she has a resting bitch face which might throw off her competitors but says she’s all smiles when you get to know her. A senior lecturer, Jessica teaches the next generation of nutritionists and has won many accolades including the Australian University Award for Teaching Excellence, meaning she’s one of the best university teachers in Australia. She says, “My life experiences have really finessed my ability to play the ‘outwit’ side of this game. I also have resilience so can outplay. So all I really need to do is outlast.” Claiming she’ll be a social player, she jokes her empathy for the tribe could be her undoing saying, “Am I a person with empathy? Um, no haha. I don’t think I’ve got a huge amount of empathy but I can definitely be sympathetic and will do the right things to comfort them if they need it.”

Kitty
Business Owner
A self-confessed ‘bogan from the Gold Coast,’ Kitty is also the owner of two businesses and passionate about helping women. Kitty says, “I have a coaching business to help women pretty much break free from dumbass diets and improve their health. I want women to win at life and live their best life. In Kitty’s world, everyone would be winning, everyone would be happy and doing what they love.” Saying she has had a wild life, Kitty turned it around 10 years ago when she met both her business partner and now husband in quick succession. Building her businesses, has given Kitty resilience which she hopes to bring with her into the game. She says, “I’m really strong, I’m gritty and I want to win. We built our gym on connections with people and I think that’s one of my strengths. I’m going to go in there and just have the best time. I want to survive in Samoa, eat coconuts, build shelters and experience it all.”

Mark
Former Diplomat
Knowing what to say, when to say and how to say it is a key skill in the game of Survivor and there might not be anyone with more experience in that than Former Diplomat, Mark. A diplomat for over ten years, Mark has been posted overseas in places ranging from Afghanistan to Fiji to Thailand. It was his work in Bangkok that got him the most recognition, when he helped release the Australian Bahraini football player Hakeem al-Araibi. Mark says, “Diplomacy is absolutely about working behind closed doors and influencing others which is exactly what I’ll be trying to do on Survivor. I think I might be pretty good at it.” Admitting that leaving his wife at home will be the hardest part of coming into the game, Mark also says, “I don’t think this will be a walk in the park for me. I think Survivor is one of the greatest challenges, but I feel I have a good arsenal of tools at my disposal to make me a strong player.”

Nathan
AFL Agent
As a former AFL player, Nathan was originally drafted to Collingwood before being traded to St Kilda. He found his career was a bit of a roller coaster, saying there were more downs than ups. But not one to let it get the best of him, Nathan found a new route as an AFL agent and feels his ability to adapt to the changes life throws at you, will help him in Survivor. He says, “In this game, you have to stay ahead of that bullet that’s flying around. You need to analyse what everyone says, you have to tell a few fibs but you also have to be loyal. But then loyalty can get you whacked at some point so you need to keep your options open and never commit one way or another.” Nathan says getting hangry might be his weak point but is looking forward to living off the island – chopping coconuts, eating papaya and embracing all that Samoa can throw at him. His mum is a huge Survivor fan and got the whole family obsessed with the series. Coming into the game is not only a dream for Nathan but also a chance to show who he really is. He says, “I don’t think it’s redemption for what I’ve done in my career but it’s being able to show people I’ve got what it takes. But who knows if it’ll go that way haha, ask me again in 47 days.

Valeria
Entertainment Business Owner
Self-sufficient, strong and proof not to judge a book by its cover, Valeria runs a dance entertainment company in Sydney and is no stranger to surviving. Moving on her own at 17 from her family and home in Russia to Australia, Valeria knew no one and barely spoke English. After settling in Sydney, she started off doing a Political Science degree, majoring in Government and International Relations but she realised she could turn her love of dance into her profession instead. Admitting she’s a lone wolf after spending so much of her adult life alone trying to make friends in a new country, Valeria also knows she’ll need to dig deep to be a team player but mostly looks forward to the individual wins. And she’s not afraid to fight. Valeria says, “I feel like when you look at me, I might look cute for day one but by day two, the sleeping bear inside of me is ready to fight. I won’t be afraid to play the cliché girl who seems worried about her hair and makeup, I can play that for a while but that’s when I’ll blindside them.”

Viola
Powerlifter
A Titan by nature, Viola is a tough cookie both physically and mentally. A clear physical threat, she will also use her charm to get ahead. A powerlift and strength and conditioning coach, Viola isn’t sure how much she’ll tell her tribe about what she does or that she’s only 22. She can bench press 95 kilos, squat 155 times and has broken five national records. From a family of thirteen, Viola says, “I’m from South Sudan and when I was two, my mum passed away. We moved to Australia and we are a happy family, minus one and that changed my entire life. I had to learn to be an adult before I was ready to be one. I had to grow up a lot quicker than most.” But she jokes that living with so many people has got her ready to make alliances and fight for her place at camp. She says, “The thing with a big family is there are always sides. Everyone’s going to fight over food, over the TV, so you have to be strategic and I can deal with different personalities.”

Winna
Competitive Eater
A Tik Toker with over 800,000 followers and a competitive eater ranked eighth in Australia, Winna has the charm and the skill to go all the way and a few tricks to make it more comfortable for him as well. “If I win any Reward challenges, I’ll just stock up my stomach and eat enough to last the whole two months! If you look the wrong way, I’m gonna eat all your food haha.” Winna says while most people laugh at him for his competitive eating, he thinks it will help in the jungle as it has given him a strong pain tolerance saying there are lots of obstacles to physically overcome in pro eating and he has the mental ability to push through that. An ex-engineer and now in engineer recruitment, Winna got into competitive eating after seeing a competition in a Japanese restaurant to win a trip to Japan. He says, “I got to around 50 plates, looked around and everyone stopped eating but I kept going and won the ticket. I went to Japan and realised something was very wrong with me haha.” Admitting Survivor is basically a sales pitch he would do every day, Winna says, “Life is sales no matter what it is – a job interview, a girlfriend. If you can show you’re valuable, then people will want you around. And I’m going to do that on this island.”

Rebels

Aileen
Waitress
Raised in Nepal as a small child, Aileen recalls going camping without her parents at four years old and trekking in the mountains for her sixth birthday, so sleeping on the beach doesn’t worry her at all. Aileen is a sales coordinator for an investment fund through the week and a waitress on the weekend. As the first sibling of three, she says she was the black sheep of the family, “I went through everything first and experimented with everything first. My parents were really strict with me and I really rebelled against that. But that’s also where I got my assertiveness and discipline which I think will help me here.” She says her fellow tribemates might just see her as a quiet girl in the corner, but Aileen knows she can be the leader and will be a key part of making moves. She also hopes her love of bouldering and rock climbing will help with some of the crazier challenges. As a superfan of the show, she’s seen enough players make mistakes and hopes not to do the same. Aileen says, “I’m definitely gonna struggle with not being in control a lot of the time. But in the game of Survivor, I’m just gonna have to adapt and let the big personalities have a go at it. I have seen enough to know when to sit back.”

Alex
Maths Teacher
Alex is a teacher who wants to buck the system. A true Rebel at heart, he’s got big dreams and big plans saying, “I’m a rebel teacher and I want to change the education system because it’s currently just creating robots. We’re creating people for corporate jobs and I want a community where people can find their passion and figure out how they contribute to the world and live a more purposeful life. As a rebel teacher, I fight Titans every single day. It’s called the education system.” Calling himself a spiritual man, Alex loves adventure and has climbed to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro sleeping in tents in negative 10 degrees, lived on a tropical island in Mexico under the stars and isn’t afraid of putting his body on the line. Alex says while the adventure and social game of playing Survivor will be the highlights, it’ll be leaving his family behind that will be the hardest. He says, “I’m here for my mum. She had breast cancer about eight years ago and she showed me she’s the real survivor here. I have a tattoo on my heart which says mum in pink ribbon, the symbol of breast cancer and it also says survivor underneath. So it feels like I’m meant to be here and doing this for her.”

Feras
HR Manager
A larrakin who is ready to spin the game on its head, Feras is from Western Sydney and ready to represent. He says, “I want to be the Sole Survivor because I feel like I can prove that a little old Arab man from Western Sydney can win this thing. I want to prove people wrong and show little seven-year-old Feras that he can do something like this. I want to be the minority who takes over the majority. I’m a Rebel through and through.” An HR manager who specialises in aged care and disability, Feras admits he can be very professional at work but then there’s the cheeky side and he hopes he can work out which one to be at the right time while on the island. Feras says people can often get the wrong idea of him, thinking he’s a tough guy based off his size, but he has one definite soft spot and leaving his wife behind will be the absolute hardest part of the game. He says, “My wife is the one person who I crumble around. If you bring her to this island, I’ll shatter into a million pieces. She’s a tough woman and a quarter of my size so people think I’m wearing the pants but definitely not. She’s my absolute everything.”

Garrick
Loss Prevention Officer
Sniffing out a rat and being one step ahead is what Garrick does everyday. Catching shoplifters and thieves as a Loss Prevention Officer on the Gold Coast, he is on his toes daily and ready for anything. He says, “My day job has definitely prepared me for Survivor. I deal with deceit every day.” Garrick isn’t bothered about being one of the eldest of the tribe, he actually thinks it’ll work to his advantage saying, “I don’t feel like I’m nearly 60. My motto is don’t let the old man in. Think young and have fun. People are going to underestimate my physical ability and think I’m the old fella so I think I might surprise quite a few of them.” A massive part of Garrick’s life is his love for motorbikes and he spends a lot of time riding and enjoying the freedom that brings.

Kelli
Psychologist
Kelli’s entire working career has been preparing her for this game. As a psychologist, her philosophy is ‘no bullshit’ and her goal is to help people live their most authentic life. She says, “I’ve been analysing people for more than half my life. I get to meet beautiful people and see the dynamics between people. Coming into this, is like a psychologist playground – I can watch everyone and assess what’s happening.” With a nickname of ‘Pocket Rocket,’ Kelli is full of life and energy and will bring a definite spark to her tribe. And the Rebels will be the perfect tribe for her. Kelli says, “Thank goodness, I’m on the Rebels tribe. I don’t break the law but I like to push the envelope. I was born a Rebel and I’ll die a Rebel.” She’s joining the game to represent other women her age and make her children proud but she’s also doing it for her mum, who passed away when she was in her 20’s. While she admits it was the toughest time of her life, it’s made Kelli into the person she is today.

Kirby
AFLW Coach
Cheeky and full of pure Rebel nature, Kirby comes from a male dominated world and does not let anyone tell her what to do. A lifelong sports player, Kirby started playing state netball for WA, before moving to AFL and is now a AFLW coach. She jokes all the years of sports has aged her saying, “I had a few knee reconstructions and concussions so that’s probably why I feel so old. Physically. Not in spirit, I’m a kid at heart.” She says her professional sporting background and work in the mining and shipping industries, has given her the confidence to take on anything, she says people can confuse her for rude or arrogant when that’s far from the truth. Coming in with something to prove, Kirby hopes to be an inspiration to women. She says, “I mentor Aboriginal girls and empower them and do that through sport every day. But out here, I want to inspire everyone. My Elders have gone through a huge struggle in our country and we’re always challenged but all the women I admire like my mum, my aunties, they’ve paved the way for me and I want to do the same for others.”

Peta
Bar Manager
Raised in the country riding horses, Peta always felt like a Rebel. She moved to the beaches of the Sunshine Coast and began working in hospitality and says growing up in both the city and the country has given her the ability to make friends in all different circles. She admits life hasn’t always been the easiest and says, “I had my first child at 16 which was a life changing moment obviously. I had a bit of a tough upbringing and had my fair share of obstacles, but you just have to get through those moments and take it one day at a time. I now live in Perth with my kids and never thought that’s where I’d end up.” Joking that having a break from her children to play Survivor will be a holiday, Peta thinks the Rebels will be the ones to watch. Peta says, “I’m a Rebel by nature and I think life is bland if you don’t have a bit of a rebellious streak in you. I don’t want to surround myself with bland people and I think the Rebels are going to have some fun out here.”

Raymond
Retail
A lover of nostalgic pop culture, music connoisseur and all-round creative, Raymond is excited to give his everything to make an impact in the game of Survivor. From the Central Coast in NSW, he says he found his love for the game during Covid and decided to throw his hat in the ring. As someone who admits to being too trusting, Raymond knows to trust his gut and believe in himself. He says, “Growing up, I think I’ve worried too much about how I’ve been perceived by people and that can make you not accomplish the things you want so I’m trying to not get too hung up what people think anymore.” Never boring and with a bucket list of things to achieve in the game, he also wants to make an impact on the game and be remembered. And as a lover of movies, he knows the Rebels are a group to bet on. Ramond says, “In all the movies, the Titans usually have the upper hand but the Rebels always win. The Titans seem to be people who like to be in control and I can’t think of anything worse. I’m going to meet some of the most interesting people on the Rebels team and I can’t wait.”

Rianna
Paramedic
Rianna is a paramedic from Adelaide who knows how to handle pressure. She says, “My job is really tough. I’ve had so many highs like delivering babies and it’s so amazing but then we see some really sad or dangerous things and you need to be strong, so that’s tough.” An adrenaline junkie by trade and for fun, Rianna loves skydiving, bungee jumping and is full of energy. Rianna is hoping her resilience from her work and growing up in the country will help her deal with the elements, saying it feels like it’s all led her to coming on Survivor. “We’ve gotta spend 47 days out here, dealing with rain and other elements. Do I have what it takes? 100%. I go on solo camping trips, I know how to fend for myself, I am excited to be out here for 47 days.” With a plan to play a strong social game and build a stable alliance from the get-go, Rianna says coming out of this as the Sole Survivor would be a dream come true.

Sarah
Firefighter
Sarah might be bubbly and sweet but her exterior doesn’t show her tough interior. As a Firefighter, she must go out to all kinds of rescue situations and says she’s just trying to make people’s worst days a little better. Never one to follow the pack, Sarah got into Fire and Rescue NSW after realising she didn’t want to stick with the norm. She said, “After school, I was just going to go to Uni like everyone else and I got a sign from the universe when someone came forward and asked if I’d ever thought about this career. And it fits me so perfectly. I am proud when I put on my uniform each day.” Growing up in an outdoorsy family, Sarah competed in America twice at the Cheerleading World Championships. Sarah is close to her family and knows when the going gets tough, she’ll use their support together through. Sarah mentioned that in the past, her Mum gave her and her family a piece of wool, saying: “We’re all connected by this piece of string. So I have mine on my necklace out here to remember that I’m still connected to everyone back home.”

 

Scott
Art Director
Scott is a Survivor super fan and playing the game is something he’s dreamt of for a long time. As a free spirit, he works as an Art Director at MONA Museum in Hobart and while he’s very comfortable in the creative world, he thinks his fellow tribemates will be surprised to know “I spend as much time in the gym as I do with my head bowed in fantasy books. “I think with these chicken arms and painter’s limbs, people are just going to categorise me straight away and that will be a big mistake.” Growing up in England until the age of 18, he emigrated to Australia and hasn’t looked back. Positive and bubbly, Scott loves adventure and doing things that push him out of his comfort level. He won’t let people walk all over him in the game and knows how to stand up for what’s right. And while playing his favourite game is the best part, the money won’t go astray either. Scott says, “Winning is super important to me. $500,000 is lifechanging for someone like me, I’ve never seen that sort of money. I could help my family, I could start my own family with my partner. That’s not cheap or easy to do in a queer relationship in Australia right now. So winning is a huge motivator!”

Tobias
Construction Manager
Highly competitive and extreme sport obsessed, Tobias surfs, mountain bikes, skydives and finds it the best way to clear his head. He says, “Some people meditate to calm their minds, I feel when I jump out of an aeroplane and see it leaving behind, there’s nothing else that calms mine.” A builder from Byron, Tobias says he’s a Rebel as he’s bent and broken rules his whole life. He also says his gift of charming people doesn’t hurt either, saying, “I’m good at talking my way out of trouble haha. And I’ll bend those rules till they start to snap.” While he’s not bothered by the lack of food or sleeping on the ground, the creepy crawlies might be the one thing that concerns him. Tobias says, “I’m an arachnophobe. I hate spiders, they make me want to vomit. I’m not bothered by snakes or things like that, but I will squeal if I see a spider haha.”

Australian Survivor begins 7:30pm Monday on 10.
Australian Survivor: Talking Tribal: George Mladenov, Chrissy Zaremba, & podcaster Shannon Guss drops weekly from Wednesday, 31 January on 10 Play or listen to the podcast.