Australian Story
Series 2026
202634 episodes
In 2026, Logie-award-winning documentary program Australian Story celebrates 30 years sharing compelling stories about real people that illuminate, entertain and inspire. The power of the personal.
Episode 1
Sink or Swim - Michael Klim
Feb 2, 202630m
Six years ago, Olympic champion Michael Klim almost lost the ability to walk. Then he received a devastating diagnosis. In this moving episode, Klim reveals how he hit rock bottom but ultimately emerged stronger.
Episode 2
Finding Alby Mangels
Feb 9, 202631m
The reclusive adventure filmmaker and '80s icon Alby Mangels looks back on an extraordinary career and explains why he turned his back on fame.
Episode 3
Out in the Open - Sophie Hyde
Feb 16, 202631m
Sophie Hyde is one of Australia's most successful directors, working with some of Hollywood's finest. But in her latest film she turns the spotlight on her own family.
Episode 4
Nabbed - Ian Williams
Feb 23, 2026
When pensioner Ian Williams lost $1,300 in a banking scam, he expected a quick refund and apology. The bank's response so incensed the "stubborn bugger", he sued it for $379,000,000.
Episode 5
Raising Richard - Deirdre Croft
Mar 9, 202631m
Who cares for our children when we're gone if they can't care for themselves? As Deirdre Croft faces the end of her life, she's on a mission to ensure her son is looked after when she's gone.
Episode 6
Morning Star - Witiyana Marika
Mar 16, 202631m
From Arnhem Land to rock stardom, Yothu Yindi's Witiyana Marika was destined to take centre stage. Now, at a crucial time for his community, he's shed his dreadlocks and emerged as a leader of his people.
Episode 7
What Doesn't Kill You - Ghanim Al Shnen
Mar 23, 202631m
Many would have despaired after losing both their arms but Ghanim Al Shnen embraced the possibilities of bionic medicine and focused on a dream - to be reunited with his family after 12 years apart.
Episode 8
The Leyland Brother - Mal Leyland
Mar 30, 202630m
In the 1960s and 70s, Mal Leyland was one of the best-known people on TV, as one half of the Leyland Brothers. Now at age 81, the pioneer of outback documentaries is suffering dementia - but still planning one last trip.
Episode 9
The Westall UFO Mystery
Apr 6, 202631m
In 1966, a Melbourne high school was thrown into chaos when strange objects appeared in the sky. Sixty years on from Australia's biggest UFO sighting, witnesses are still looking for answers about what they saw at Westall.
Episode 10
Lost - Celine Cremer (Part 1)
Apr 13, 202631m
Belgian backpacker Celine Cremer was on the trip of a lifetime but on a hike in Tasmania she took a wrong turn and was never seen again. More than two years later a group of friends and volunteers set out looking for answers.
Episode 11
Lost - Celine Cremer (Part 2)
Apr 20, 202633m
Two and half years after Belgian backpacker Celine Cremer went missing on a short hike, friends and local volunteers scour the forest and finally find the answers they're looking for.
Episode 12
A Year of Living Gratefully - James Valentine
May 4, 202635m
Broadcaster James Valentine was offered two different treatments for his cancer so he chose the one that let him keep doing what he loved. When it returned a year later, he faced the end with courage, purpose and humour.
Episode 13
The Hustler - John Polson
May 11, 202630m
John Polson was a troubled teen when a sliding doors moment led him into the world of acting. He went on to create Tropfest, one of the world's biggest short film festivals, changing his life and the Australian industry.
Episode 14
An Accidental Leader - Rob Armstrong
May 18, 202631m
Sheep farmer Rob Armstrong never expected to be the face of political resistance. But when his state government proposed a levy that would hit volunteer country firefighters, a childhood trauma propelled him into action.
Episode 15
Regeneration - Rachel Ward
May 25, 202631m
When Instagram trolls accused actor and director Rachel Ward of 'letting herself go', she used the attention to talk about her passion, regenerative farming, which has given her a renewed sense of purpose.
Episode 16
A Seat At The Table - Mohamed Semra
Jun 1, 202631m
At 15, Mohamed Semra made headlines when he was kicked out of a Melbourne Apple Store by staff who were worried he might steal something. At 27, he's making history as the first Australian mayor from sub-Saharan Africa.
Episode 17
Down to the Wire - Saul Griffith
Jun 8, 202631m
When Australian Story first met inventor Saul Griffith in 2023 he was on a mission to electrify the world. Although political changes in the US have tested his optimism, back home his own community is forging ahead.
Episode 18
A Beautiful Mind - Richard Scolyer
Jun 15, 202632m
When Richard Scolyer was diagnosed with brain cancer three years ago, he volunteered to undergo risky, new treatment, hoping for a medical breakthrough. As we filmed in his final months, he reflects on his life and legacy.
Episode 19
Child's Play - 60 Years of Play School
Jul 6, 202631m
Australia's shared family heirloom Play School is celebrating 60 years on air, but what's the secret to its enduring success? With rare behind-the-scenes access, Australian Story examines its creative process with insights from past and present cast and crew.
Episode 20
His Brilliant Careers - Sam Neill
Jul 13, 202631m
As a tribute to the late Sam Neill, we look back over the actor's dazzling career and recent health struggles.
Episode 21
Sky's The Limit
Jul 20, 202631m
On a cold June night, a group of Jewish friends gathered at Melbourne airport to welcome a Muslim family they'd never met. One year later, they share their story of friendship and hope across religious and cultural divides.
Episode 22
Turning The Page - Luke Bateman
Jul 27, 202631m
Luke Bateman was flying high as an NRL player until a devastating gambling addiction destroyed his career. Saved by his love of books, he's now writing fantasy novels and says he's never been happier.
Episode 23
Blood On The Tracks (Update)
Aug 3, 202631m
When teenager Mark Haines was discovered dead on train tracks near the NSW town of Tamworth, his uncle was convinced it was foul play. Almost four decades later, a new inquest reveals fresh evidence and a cover-up.
Episode 24
Bad Blood - Tristan Stanley
Aug 10, 202634m
The 1980s contaminated blood crisis devastated the lives of thousands of Australians who became infected with Hep C or HIV. Now survivor Tristan Stanley is heading a last-ditch campaign seeking justice for those left behind.
Episode 25
The Final Act
Aug 17, 202631m
When dancer Roz Hervey was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, her daughter, actor Tilda Cobham-Hervey, stepped behind the camera to record her mother's life story. With hours left to live, Roz made a dying wish.
Episode 26
Unleashed - Barnaby Joyce
Aug 24, 202631m
Barnaby Joyce's defection to One Nation struck some as opportunism, others as evidence of an unrivalled political radar. But is the party big enough for him and Pauline Hanson?
Episode 27
Australian Story: Celebrating 30 Years
Aug 31, 20261h 10m
A special 70-minute episode celebrating 30 years of Australian Story. Leigh Sales hosts a live extravaganza at the Sydney Opera House featuring past guests and musical acts.
Episode 28
Time After Time - Cheng Lei
Sep 7, 202631m
Journalist Cheng Lei discovered that the trauma of being separated from her children for three years didn't end with her release from a Chinese prison.
Episode 29
The Girl Next Door - Molly Ticehurst
Sep 14, 202631m
Molly Ticehurst's brutal murder at the hands of her ex-partner sparked outrage. Family and friends from the NSW town of Forbes reveal how the young mother did everything to save herself but the system let her down.
Episode 30
Eyes on the Prize - Kris Rallah-Baker
Sep 21, 202629m
Australia's first Indigenous eye surgeon Kris Rallah-Baker has walked a zigzag path, driven by family struggles and overcoming racism. Now he's on a mission to heal blindness and empower the next generation.
Episode 31
Wild - Chrissy Amphlett (Part 1)
Sep 28, 202631m
Divinyls lead singer Chrissy Amphlett was a rock icon who lived hard and burnt bright until her death at 53. Over two episodes featuring unseen footage, friends, family and bandmates reflect on her wild life and rich legacy.
Episode 32
Wild - Chrissy Amphlett (Part 2)
Oct 5, 202631m
In Part 2 on Divinyls singer Chrissy Amphlett, the band implodes, she falls in love and finds a new musical direction. But before her death, she records three songs with Tim Finn that have only now seen the light of day.
Episode 33
A Second Start - Katie Noonan
Oct 12, 202631m
In 2024, acclaimed singer Katie Noonan's life fell apart when she split with her husband. Her new album reflects the grief of separation but is tempered with lyrics about falling in love, gifted to her by writer Trent Dalton.
Episode 34
The Road Back
Oct 19, 202632m
It was one of Australia's deadliest bus crashes, killing 10 and injuring 25. Three years on from the Hunter Valley crash, survivors speak for the first time about the horror, their recovery and the need for systemic change.