The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) has raised the bar on its acclaimed refugee program, Go Back to Where You Came From for 2018, covering the global refugee crisis in real time.
Director of Television and Online Content at SBS, Marshall Heald said the refugee crisis continued to be the world’s greatest humanitarian disaster with 68.5 million displaced people worldwide.
“In 2018, Australia’s policies around refugees continue to polarise and the refugee and asylum seeker debate is still one of the most complex and divisive,” Mr Heald said.
“Over three nights from 2 to 4 October, Australian audiences will follow events live from conflict hotspots and frontlines across multiple continents, witnessing the complexity of mass human migration and its ripple effects in 2018.”
He said that veteran journalist, Ray Martin and SBS World News presenter, Janice Petersen would be in the studio in Sydney as the stories unfolded through a mix of documentary elements and live crosses to participants on the ground around the world.
“The participants, each with pre-conceived ideas about refugees, will glimpse the reality of life in disputed territories, at border crossings and inside refugee camps,” Mr Heald said.
“They will get a first-hand experience of the global refugee crisis beyond the headlines, protests and policies, and opinions from all sides of the debate will be challenged.”
He said the participants would be a mix of high profile and everyday Australians, each with strong views on how Australia responds to the refugee crisis.
Included in the program this year will be comedian, Meshel Laurie; former Australian footballer, Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt; media personality, Gretel Killeen; and community members, prison youth worker, Steve; theatre student, Gareth and young conservative, Dannii.
