This New SBS Doco Will Make You Confront The Everyday Discrimination People Face In Our Country

Did you know over 51% of Australians agree that elderly people are discriminated against? How about the fact that 48% of Australians believe people differently abled are avoided? Or even that 46% of Aussies who identify as obese have changed their behaviour to avoid unwanted attention?

Pretty shocking, right?

I think we can all agree that equality is good, and discrimination is bad. It’s a simple concept, yet What Does Australia Really Think About… — a new three-part documentary series on SBS — shines an important light on how common discrimination is right here in Australia. And honestly, most of it seems to come from ignorance.

Focusing on the stigma and prejudice around disability, old people and obesity, the show enlisted help from large universities to conduct three different nationwide surveys in order to understand the current attitudes of Australians in these areas. Look, I’ll admit, the results are often very damning, and frankly came as a shock to me.

However, where the show really draws its strength, in my opinion, and makes it such a necessary and powerful watch, is that it then goes on to dispel the myths around these attitudes through social experiments and facts. I would consider myself quite a conscientious person, but I cannot tell you how much I learned in a few short hours.

Each part of the series is hosted by a pretty epic host — Kurt Fearnley, Noni Hazlehurst and Casey Donovan — who share their own experiences, as well as sharing the truths and experiences of other Aussies.

When I tell you I cried, I mean tears of sadness, tears of joy, tears of just being super impressed by the human spirit.

This show is exactly what the modern world needs. It’s not all doom and gloom, or trying to make anyone feel bad. In fact, there are some truly uplifting stats and stories and experiences as well. What it does do, to perfection, is start a conversation and share truths about aspects of our society that the majority of us probably know nothing about. You know what they say, knowledge is power.

You can find out what Australians are really thinking, and what our fellow Aussies may be going through by streaming What Does Australia Really Think About… for free on SBS On Demand right here.

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