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Redfern Now

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Redfern Now, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 20258 sources
Blackfella Films
Company typePrivate
IndustryFilm and television production
Founded1992
FounderRachel Perkins, Michael Riley
Headquarters
Sydney
,
Australia
Key people
Darren Dale (Managing Director)
ProductsFilm and television productions, including Redfern Now

Redfern Now is an Australian drama television series portraying the experiences of Aboriginal Australian families residing in Redfern, Sydney. It first aired on ABC1 in 2012 and spanned two seasons, concluding with a feature-length telemovie titled Redfern Now: Promise Me released in April 2015. The show generated considerable public debate regarding Indigenous visibility in Australian media and garnered numerous award nominations and accolades.

Synopsis

Set in the inner Sydney suburb of Redfern, the series follows six families, shedding light on modern-day issues confronting Aboriginal Australians, including unemployment and mental health struggles. These challenges are depicted as outcomes linked to the colonisation of Australia and the historical Stolen Generations, which involved the forced removal of Indigenous children from their families. Created by Blackfella Films in collaboration with ABC's Indigenous Department, this production marks the first television series to be commissioned, scripted, performed, and produced entirely by Indigenous Australians.

Cast

Guests

Series overview

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Series 1

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Series 2

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Telemovie

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Background and production

Established in 2010 under the leadership of Aboriginal filmmaker Sally Riley, the ABC's Indigenous Department was created to enhance Indigenous representation and involvement within media industries.[1] Among its early achievements were productions like First Australians and Mabo. The development of Redfern Now spanned two years and resulted in the creation of over 250 employment opportunities for Indigenous creatives.[1]

Riley brought on British writer Jimmy McGovern, recognized for his unflinching portrayals of social realities, to contribute to the series. Despite his limited familiarity with Aboriginal culture, McGovern's background included working closely with marginalized populations.[2] Initially, the ABC considered producing an Aboriginal-focused spin-off of McGovern's The Street, but due to high licensing fees, they opted instead to develop Redfern Now.[2]

The scriptwriting phase extended over nine months, during which McGovern collaborated intensively with five Indigenous writers to foster authentic narratives through a collective approach.[3] For key contributors such as producer and writer Leah Purcell, McGovern’s candid critiques were instrumental in honing their writing abilities.[4]

Direction of Redfern Now was entrusted to esteemed Indigenous filmmakers including Rachel Perkins, Catriona McKenzie, Leah Purcell, and Wayne Blair, who gained acclaim for the film The Sapphires.[5] The production was managed by Blackfella Films, a company founded in 1992 by Perkins and Michael Riley that emphasizes collaborative storytelling from the ground up. Darren Dale holds the position of managing director.[6]

Setting

The inner-city suburb of Redfern was selected as the backdrop for this ABC series due to its profound cultural importance within the Aboriginal community.[7] Since the 1960s, Redfern has served as a focal point for Aboriginal activism and political engagement. It is notably where then Prime Minister Paul Keating delivered his landmark 1992 Redfern Park Speech, which marked Australia's initial official acknowledgment of Aboriginal dispossession and the imperative for reconciliation.[8] Its closeness to Sydney’s earliest European settlement further highlights Redfern’s relevance in conversations about colonial history.[8]

"The Block," a collection of residences owned by the Aboriginal Housing Company, is integral to Redfern’s identity and was the scene of the 2004 youth-led riots advocating for Indigenous rights.[7] This location features prominently throughout Redfern Now. Despite its complex past, producer Sally Riley characterizes contemporary Redfern as a dynamic community enriched by a strong Aboriginal cultural presence, visible through widespread Indigenous artwork across the suburb.[8] The enduring connection between Redfern and its Indigenous inhabitants establishes it as a meaningful place of belonging for many Aboriginal people.[8]

Theme song

The opening of each episode features the track "Lonely Child," performed by Indigenous artist Kira Puru alongside The Bruise. The lyrics, which include the lines 'reach out and touch me, take my hand, and walk me home,' encapsulate themes of decolonisation and encourage a connection between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians as part of the healing journey.

Themes, storyline, and character

Every episode introduces distinct characters while delving into social and political challenges faced by Aboriginal families residing in urban Australia. Each installment stands alone, allowing viewers to engage independently. Although the series addresses disparities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, Redfern Now remains a fictional narrative centered on personal stories rather than documentary-style exposition.

Recurring throughout the series is Aaron Davis, a police officer portrayed by Wayne Blair, who symbolizes the complex position Indigenous individuals occupy—straddling their community’s expectations and dominant white cultural norms—often described as having "one foot in Redfern and one foot in the outside world." The show also highlights identity debates within urban Aboriginal circles, exemplified by Julie (played by Shari Sebbens), whose appearance challenges conventional perceptions of Aboriginality despite her heritage.

While confronting serious issues, the series incorporates humor drawn from Aboriginal cultural traditions of finding levity amid hardship—a narrative element screenwriter McGovern identifies as vital for maintaining audience engagement.

Aboriginal representation in film and television

Redfern Now is widely regarded as pioneering for redefining Aboriginal identity portrayals on Australian television.

Historically, Indigenous Australians have been depicted through narrow, stereotypical lenses on TV, largely because production roles were held predominantly by non-Indigenous people. This created a disconnect between storytellers and the subjects portrayed.

Aboriginality is understood as an evolving identity shaped by intercultural exchange. Scholar Marcia Langton emphasizes that television serves as the primary medium through which non-Indigenous Australians encounter Aboriginal people, underscoring the importance of authentic representation to avoid reinforcing colonial stereotypes.

Since the 1991 National Inquiry into Racist Violence, there has been greater inclusion of Indigenous talent in media production. Currently, Aboriginal Australians make up about 5% of television drama casts, exceeding their 3% share of the national population. Institutions such as Screen Australia and the ABC’s Indigenous Department have championed initiatives to enhance diversity.

Departing from earlier portrayals where Aboriginal characters were relegated to minor parts, Redfern Now places an Indigenous community at its core with Indigenous creators—directors, producers, and writers—crafting narratives from their own perspectives rather than having roles imposed upon them. Scholar Felicity Collins argues that this authenticity fosters openness and cross-cultural dialogue.

Building upon Redfern Now's achievements, the ABC’s Indigenous division subsequently developed similar dramas and comedies including The Gods of Wheat Street (2014), Black Comedy (2014), 8MMM (2015), and Cleverman (2016).

Broadcast

The initial season premiered on ABC1 in 2012. Following its success, a second season was commissioned later that year, with production commencing in May 2013; it debuted on 31 October 2013. The series concluded with a telemovie titled Redfern Now: Promise Me, directed by Rachel Perkins, which aired on 9 April 2015.

Internationally, the series was acquired by Netflix for select territories and sold to France Televisions, broadening its global audience.

Reception

Redfern Now garnered widespread critical praise. Melinda Houston from The Age hailed it as "an important cultural contribution" and "a fabulous piece of drama." Bob Ellis commended its "honesty, eloquence and hope," suggesting it could become a classic. The Canberra Times described the storytelling as "mature and clever," noting its unique moral complexity.

Although some conservative commentators challenged the depiction of urban Aboriginal identity as distinct from rural representations, overall reception remained highly favorable. The Sydney Morning Herald recognized its premiere as a "landmark moment" in Australian television history. Metro Magazine highlighted how the show avoided tokenistic portrayals by concentrating on nuanced character development instead of stereotypes, skillfully balancing serious themes with rich cultural expression. The narrative prioritized intimate domestic scenes over overt political discourse.

Luke Buckmaster of The Guardian awarded the telemovie four out of five stars, praising its "superb cast" and a strong finale befitting the series’ peak quality. Actor-writer Graham Blundell, initially anticipating a somber tone, found it "stylised and quite beautiful," lauding cinematographers Mark Wareham and Jules O'Loughlin for rendering Redfern as a lively and multifaceted locale through varied settings such as schools, homes, streetscapes, alleys, and cafes.

Awards and nominations

The debut season earned five nominations at the 2013 AACTA Awards among numerous other accolades received thereafter.

Both seasons were honored with the Equity Award for Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

Year Award Category Recipients and nominees Result
2012 ASSG Awards Best Sound for a Television Drama Series Series 1, Episode 6 'Pretty Boy Blue' – Wes Chew, Sam Gain Emery, Mick Boraso, Luke Mynott, Blair Slater, Andrew Simmons, Duncan McAllister, Dan Johnston, Robert Mackenzie, Paul "Salty" Brincat, Shanti Burn, Ruth Vance Template:Won
2013 AACTA Awards Best Television Drama Series Redfern Now – Darren Dale and Miranda Dear Template:Nom
Best Screenplay in Television Series 1, Episode 6 'Pretty Boy Blue' – Steven McGregor Template:Won
Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama Leah Purcell Template:Won
Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama Luke Carroll Template:Nom
Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama Shareena Clanton Template:Nom
Logie Awards Most Popular Actress Deborah Mailman Template:Nom
Most Outstanding Drama Series Redfern Now Template:Won
Most Outstanding Actress Leah Purcell Template:Nom
Most Outstanding Newcomer Shari Sebbens Template:Won
Deadly Awards 2013 TV show of the Year Redfern Now Template:Won
Male Actor of the Year Luke Carroll Template:Won
Female Actor of the Year Deborah Mailman Template:Won
Australian Directors Guild Awards Best Direction in a TV Drama Series Series 1, Episode 6 'Pretty Boy Blue' – Rachel Perkins Template:Won
Australian Screen Editors Awards Best Editing in Television Drama 'Redfern Now' – Series 1, Episode 1 'Family' – Dany Cooper ASE (Nom), Episode 6 'Pretty Boy Blue' – Nicholas Holmes ASE (Nom)
Australian Cinematographers Society NSW/ACT ACS Awards Redfern Now – Titles – Tom Gleeson | Template:Won
Australian Screen Music Awards Best Music for a Television Series or Serial Template:Won
Best Television Theme Template:Nom
Best Original Song Composed for the Screen Template:Won
2014 Australian Cinematographers Society ACS Awards Redfern Now – Titles – Tom Gleeson | Template:Won
3rd AACTA Awards Template:Won
Template:Nom
Template:Nom
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2015 rowspan="7" |5th AACTA Awards "Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama" Wayne Blair (Nom) "Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama" Deborah Mailman (Nom) "Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama" Rarriwuy Hick (Nom) "Best Cinematography in Television" 'Promise Me' – Mark Wareham ACS (Nom) "Best Editing in Television" 'Promise Me' – Nicholas Holmes ASE (Won) "Best Sound in Television" 'Promise Me' – Rainier Davenport et al. (Nom) "Best Original Music Score in Television" 'Promise Me' – Antony Partos (Nom) Australian Screen Editors ASE Awards "Best Editing in Television Drama" 'Promise Me' – Nicholas Holmes ASE (Nom) Australian Screen Music Awards "Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie" Redfern Now – Antony Partos (Nom) APDG Awards "Production Design on a Television Drama" 'Promise Me' – Felicity Abbott APDG (Nom) ASSG Awards "Best Sound for a Tele Feature" 'Promise Me' team (Nom)
rowspan="2"|2016 Logie Awards of 2015 "Most Outstanding Actress" Deborah Mailman (Won) "Most Outstanding Supporting Actress" Rarriwuy Hick (Nom)

See also

  • Blackstone, a Canadian series exploring comparable themes

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named wollongong
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named storyline56
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named storyline57
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named storyline60
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named nelson2014
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :4
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Collins, Felicity. "Blackfella Films: Decolonising urban Aboriginality in Redfern Now." Studies in Australasian Cinema 7, 2–3 (January 2014): 215–225, doi: 10.1386/sac.7.2-3.215_1
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Dictionary of Sydney

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