Life Matters
| Company type | Radio program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting, Radio |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Geraldine Doogue, Norman Swan, Joanne Upham |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Owner | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Website | www |
Life Matters is a radio show with a magazine format that has been broadcast on Radio National by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation since 1992. Originally hosted by Geraldine Doogue, the program currently airs Monday through Thursday with Tegan Taylor (who succeeded Hilary Harper) as presenter, and Beverley Wang hosting on Fridays. The show focuses on social and personal topics, airing weekdays at 9 a.m., followed by a repeat broadcast at 7 p.m.
History
The inception of Life Matters dates back to 1992 when it was developed as "a program charting social change" through the collaboration of Doogue, then Radio National general manager Norman Swan, and producer Joanne Upham. Prior to this, Doogue had joined Radio National in 1991 to host Offspring, a forerunner to Life Matters, after she transitioned away from hard news in the wake of her involvement with the controversial launch of The National evening news.
Presenters
- Geraldine Doogue was the original host, leading the program for its first eleven years.
- From 2002 to 2005, Julie McCrossin served as presenter.
- Richard Aedy took over hosting duties from 2006 until 2011.
- The program was presented by Natasha Mitchell between 2012 and 2016.
- From 2017 to 2018, Amanda Smith was the host.
- Beginning in 2019, Hilary Harper and Michael Mackenzie co-hosted until Mackenzie's retirement in May 2022.
- , Hilary Harper presented Monday through Thursday with Beverley Wang handling Fridays.
- , Tegan Taylor replaced Harper from Monday to Thursday, while Beverley Wang continued on Fridays.
Format and description
Life Matters explores issues related to personal relationships, health, finances, work-life balance, and wider societal topics. The program features interviews with experts and actively involves listeners through phone calls and text messages. It frequently presents special series and segments such as Dated: Love Online After 50, a five-part exploration by Hillary Harper examining romance later in life via dating apps following her own marriage dissolution after two decades. Another regular segment is Ask Aunty, aired every Friday, where guests—including comedians, authors, and relationship specialists—provide guidance on unusual or challenging social situations.
Since its debut, the show has been broadcast on weekdays at 9 a.m. As of February 2024, episodes are also repeated at 7 p.m., with previous broadcasts available for streaming on the ABC Listen app.