David Ransom reports on a course designed to turn car thieves into mechanics. Compass interviews Melbourne University's Professor of Philosophy. Compass mini-biography of Olympian long-distance runner Steve Moneghetti.
David Ransom accompanies Noel Buchanan on his Christian Mission into the world of Graffiti artists. Christina Koutsoukos talks to the newly appointed Principal of St John's Anglican Theological College. Compass goes to this renowned Religious Art Award.
The story of a man who survived a lynching in the American town of Marion back in 1930.
Compass talks to people who have had their lives affected by what they claim were alien abductions. David Ransom interviews Jose Chipenda during his recent visit to Australia. A profile of the sculptor and her work.
A portrait of Rev John Polkinghorne, President of Queen's College Cambridge.
Good Friday David Ransom reports on the effects organ donation can have on those around us. Compass interviews Fr Paul Chu Van Chi about his new life in Australia. Profile of musician and composer Tony Backhouse and his Gospel Choir.
A five part series examining the medieval mind through stories from the Middle Ages. Lighting Chartres cathedral as never before, its intimate secrets are explored, telling the story of the new vision of the universe which was behind its creation. The program reveals how and why it was built, the toil of those who worked on it and the strange stories of some who worshipped in it.
A five part series examining the medieval mind through stories from the Middle Ages. This program assesses the impact of Church dissidents in the Middle Ages and the heavy-handed papal reaction. It travels to Assisi to tell the story of the Franciscans and Carcassonne to relate the tragic tale of the Cathars. The trial of heretics is reconstructed as is the horrific punishment meted out to those found guilty.
A five part series examining the medieval mind through stories from the Middle Ages. The fierce battle between rational theologist Peter Abelard and St. Bernard of Clairvaux is documented in this look at the council of Sens of 1140AD. The public disputation between these two men is augmented further by the story of Peter Abelard’s tragic romance with the learned Heloise which not only made him more enemies but eventually led to his painful castration.
A five part series examining the medieval mind through stories from the Middle Ages. Exploring the Medieval world as it was ruled by the Church, Kings and Emporers. We enter the reign of Freidrich the Second, fighter, scholar and the last of the Holy Roman Empire; a man made and then broken by the power of the Pope.
A five part series examining the medieval mind through stories from the Middle Ages. Dante’s Divine Comedy is the most celebrated of Middle Ages poetry. In this fifth and final Episode of the Strange Landscape series, the Divine Comedy is brought to life from across the whole universe, the depths of Hell, the mountains of Purgatory and into Paradise itself. Interspersed with the poem is a look at Dante’s own life; unrequited love, politics, exile. An evocation of Middle Ages religious and scientific beliefs seen through the artists’ eyes.
A board game where the winner attains honorary papacy. Sister Angela Solling and the semi-contemplative community of St. Clare at Stroud NSW. Britain's top weatherman for nine years speaks to Christina Koutsoukos about Global Warming and God.
With narration by Debra Winger, this program explores the myth, meaning and allure of Angels, from the historical to the modern.
A modern miracle occurs in a tiny village in Ireland...
A 21 year-old American comes to terms with a most unexpected spiritual destiny.
A glimpse at one of England's most famous spiritualist mediums.
Investigates tolerance of 'new' Religions in Australia.
Young artists explore their faith through Art. An American organisation showing Australian men how to practise Christian family values. Christina Koutsoukos interviews the author of Pythagoras' Trousers.
A close look at some of the rituals of death, from the work of today's mortuary technicians to ancient ceremonies.
Profile of Sister Helen Prejean, spiritual adviser to criminals on Death Row in the US, recently depicted in the Hollywood film Dead Man Walking.
Examines incidents of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.
Compass reporter Christina Koutsoukos 'surfs the net' for Religious topics. The effects of ritual abuse, implied or otherwise, can be profound. Reporter David Ransom looks into a subject surrounded by mystery.
Explores the work of an all-female team of psychologists in a maximum security prison in the UK.
David Ransom reports on how SIP brings people together in a pub to discuss issues not broadly dealt with in the Catholic Church. Interview with the author of Sex, Marriage and the Church. Artist & Story-teller Chardi Christian shows us the healing benefits of making a doll representative of and emanating from one's soul.
In the USA, the True Love Waits movement encourages teenagers to keep their virginity until marriage.
In the USA, the True Love Waits movement encourages teenagers to keep their virginity until marriage.
Examines the roots of violence in Latin America and asks what, if anything, the Church is doing to resolve the social and political problems there.
Compass half-hour documentary investigating the current state of the priesthood in Australia.
British Catholics discuss how they feel about their Church.
The search for the new Panchen Lama: China's choice or Tibet's?
Investigates the recent rise in the popularity of Healing Ministries.
Compass profiles our Federal Human Rights Commissioner. The Community Support Network of volunteers caring for those who are HIV positive. Profile of the Brigham Young University Singers on their recent visit to Sydney.
The BBC looks at Japan's controversial Soka Gakkai sect.
In the age of economic rationalism, the Brotherhood questions Government policies. Compass interviews the Co-ordinator for the National Church Life Survey. Former Bio-chemist and one of Australia's leading Astrologers Bernadette Brady talks about her 'conversion' to Astrology, in an age of scepticism.
A scientific but whimsical look at one of the world's great unsolved mysteries: The Turin Shroud.
The origins of Lutheranism and its establishment in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. The debate continues in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. Ian Ferguson hopes to incorporate his experience as a professional ballet dancer into his imminent role as a Uniting Church Minister.
Salisbury Cathedral and its 900 year old choral tradition.
Compass talks to Australians who have turned to Tibetan Buddhism.
A close look at the life of Father Bede Griffiths, priest and sadhu.
This program explores the renewed search for meaning among many of Canada's indigenous American Indian communities.
Compass presents an Australian Christmas Feast of Lessons and Carols.
Priest, writer and broadcaster Paul Collins explores the integral link between the degradation of the global environment and the increasing collapse of our underlying meaning structures.
Looks at 'Spiritual Getaways' for the holiday season.
A documentary which follows the style of Britain's first working-class Archbishop of Canterbury - George Carey.
Explores the religious edicts and rituals surrounding the slaughter of livestock in Australia.
In this ABC NEWS 24/Compass special, Geraldine Doogue hosts a panel discussion on Pope Benedict's eight years in office and asks what kind of church will emerge under a new Pope?
The life and legacy of outgoing Pope Benedict XVI who surprised the world by resigning after less than eight years at the helm of the Catholic Church.
As the world waits for Benedict XVI's successor Australian Catholics are considering what they'd like from their new Pope.
St Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland, is also one of the world's most popular saints, but does his life live up to his legend?
A bold new approach is harnessing the power of the bystander to put an end to cyberbullying.
Horses and humans traumatised by the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria are finding comfort in each other, thanks to an innovative therapy program.
From the Vatican in Rome, Geraldine Doogue tells the story of Pope Francis's election, and looks ahead to the challenges he now faces as leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Survival and success, the stories of Jewish families who lost everything in WW2 and rebuilt their lives from scratch here in Australia.
Is donating one of your kidneys an inspirational act of kindness or a naïve and irrational gesture?
Compass tells the story of six bells rescued from Wales about to be installed in a Sydney church in time for its centenary celebrations... St. Leonard’s Catholic Church in Naremburn turns 100 this year and, for the first time in its busy history, bells will be ringing in the mass.
The story of two unlikely friendships that might never have formed if not for a groundbreaking scheme... Called “Best Buddies”, the program matches up disabled and non-disabled students and has had growing success in NSW public high schools.
Six different faiths, six young Australians- What will happen when they switch lives for two weeks?
Six different faiths, six young Australians. What will happen when they switch lives for two weeks?
On his 60th birthday Australian clown and mime Jean-Paul Bell leads a travelling circus troupe to Nepal to perform for school children in remote villages, only to find he’s taken on more than he bargained.
The extraordinary story of one of Britain's fastest-growing religious groups, and its eccentric creator.
Compass sets off deep into the Australian desert to join a camel trek for Muslims.
When it comes to offering a helping hand to those in need Australians are among the most generous in the world, but why are our wealthy are among the most reluctant when it comes to giving money?
A new breed of fashion designers is turning heads on the Australian catwalk catering to Muslim women eager for cutting edge designs better suited to our lifestyle and climate ... For women in particular; dress is an integral part of Muslim life: it embodies a moral and behavioural code dating back to Islam’s earliest days. Dress-codes vary from country to culture, but modesty remains the cornerstone. Now Australian Muslim designers, weary of black synthetic imports, are reinterpreting modest fashion with their own stylish, versatile and distinctive garments specifically tailored for Australia’s lifestyle and climate. As the countdown to Ramadan begins, Compass follows several upcoming designers preparing for the busiest time on the Muslim calendar.
Geraldine Doogue talks to Australian singer-songwriter Archie Roach about his journey of survival and transformation. One of the Stolen Generations, Archie Roach survived a turbulent upbringing to develop into a powerful voice for Indigenous Australians. More recently he’s experienced the death of his soul-mate Ruby Hunter, and two life-threatening illnesses. All have hit him hard. But he’s transcended these crises emerging with a renewed spirit, love and joy for life, and a new album featuring Gospel music for the first time. To mark the start of NAIDOC Week 7 – 14 July (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Compass charts Archie Roach’s story.
In this series Compass revisits radical religious and social movements in Australia’s recent past, exploring their impact and legacy. Episode 1 - The Hare Krishna movement arrived in the West in the 1960s, at the height of the youth revolution. Temples and farming communities soon sprang up around the world. Chandra and Dhara were raised communally on Australia’s biggest Hare Krishna farm in northern NSW, where – contrary to popular myth - devotees lead a highly disciplined life as strict vegetarians, abstaining from drugs, alcohol, gambling and illicit sex, while worshipping Krishna, their supreme God, through prolonged chanting. So, who joined the Hares and why? And, where are they now?
In this series Compass revisits radical religious and social movements in Australia’s recent past, exploring their impact and legacy. Episode 2 - Charismatics believe through God they can heal the sick, receive signs and speak directly to God in a special language ... 40 years ago a radical new religious movement erupted in Australia and one of its flag-bearers was Harry Westcott, a Methodist preacher from Canberra, who had an experience of God so powerful, it transformed him and his style of ministry. Charismatic renewal attracted tens of thousands of Christians, giving them a new and deeper sense of God, and transformed parts of the Anglican, Catholic and Protestant churches. But within 20 years it was over... So what was the Charismatic Movement? Why did it burst onto our scene when it did? And, whatever happened to Harry Westcott?
In this series Compass revisits radical religious and social movements in Australia’s recent past, exploring their impact and legacy. Episode 3 - The first Kibbutz was founded in Israel just over 100 years ago. A radical socialist experiment, it combined communal living and Zionist philosophy with the aim of “making the desert bloom”. Soon there were dozens, and training farms were set up in countries like Australia, to prepare young people for the physical hardship of kibbutz life where - in exchange for outdoor manual labour – volunteers were provided with food, shelter, education and medical care. In the late 60s and 70s many young Australians, Jewish and non-Jewish, went to Israel to join a Kibbutz. Why did they go? How has the experience shaped their lives? And, do Kibbutzim still operate? Compass finds out.
In this series Compass revisits radical religious and social movements in Australia’s recent past, exploring their impact and legacy. Episode 4 - The Girl Guides began in Britain 100 years ago when a band of girls gate-crashed a Boy Scouts Rally in London demanding a group of their own. The movement spread worldwide and in its Australian heyday boasted 80 000 members helping shape a whole generation of girls, now women. Today Girl Guides still go camping and learn outdoor skills, but they are also focused on climate change, poverty, body image and preventing bullying. And, among its newer members are young Muslim girls. So, what values lie at the heart of this 100 year old girls-own group? In a time of gender equality, where anything’s possible for a modern Australian girl, what is its enduring appeal?
In this series Compass revisits radical religious and social movements in Australia’s recent past, exploring their impact and legacy. Episode 5 - In the ‘70s and ‘80s followers of “sex-guru” Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh stood out in Australia with their bright orange clothes and unusual names. Combining eastern mysticism and western capitalism, the Bhagwan urged devotees to explore sex as a path to enlightenment, and many devotees gave up everything to join his ashram in India, then later in America. But when the controversial movement imploded in a cloud of corruption and murder allegations, almost overnight the Orange people seemed to disappear Who were the ‘Orange People’? What persuaded people to join? And, are they still around? Compass finds out.
In this series Compass revisits radical religious and social movements in Australia’s recent past, exploring their impact and legacy. Episode 6 - Freemasons arrived in Australia with the First Fleet and up until quite recently were shrouded in secrecy and tightly maintained traditions. Freemasonry is not a religion, but members must believe in a supreme being, and in its heyday most were either Protestants or Jews. Catholics were forbidden by their church from joining. Now, faced with declining membership, the Freemasons have had to relax some of their rules and reinvent themselves. So, what does this silent band of brothers actually do? Are they viable anymore? If so, who belongs and why?
Compass explores resilience through two remarkable stories of survival. Chance and Ann were both struck down in their 30’s by freak accidents. Ann was horribly burnt in the Ash Wednesday bush fires 30 years ago. Chance has just broken his neck and is facing life as a quadriplegic. How have they coped with severe pain and adversity? What has helped get them through? And, is religious belief an asset or a liability? Through their journeys, Compass examines the human capacity to survive. To find out more about Chance Burns’ journey to recovery you can visit his website http://chanceburns.com.au/
As demand for Foster Carers in Australia increases, Compass meets several foster families to learn about the challenges and rewards fostering can bring. Almost 40-thousand Australian children live in ‘out-of-home-care’, but already there aren’t enough foster homes to go around. Now, foster care providers in NSW are reaching out to previously untapped families; gay couples and single parents among them. So what does it take to be a foster parent? Who currently welcomes foster kids - many of whom have suffered abuse or neglect - into their homes and lives? Why do they do it, and what are the rewards? At the start of “Foster Care Week” Compass finds out. For further information about Foster Care in your state…. www.benevolent.org.au www.anglicare.org.au NSW: Fostering NSW www.fosteringnsw.com.au or enquiry line: 1800 236 783 VIC: Foster Care Hotline: 1800 013 088 www.fosterabrighterfuture.com.au QLD: Foster Care Recruitment: 1300 550 877 TAS: Recruitment Line: 1800 732 522 WA: Foster Recruitment: 1800 182 178 www.childprotection.wa.gov.au SA: Foster Recruitment: http://www.sa.gov.au/subject/Community+support/Carers/Foster+care ACT: Centralised Intake Service: 1300 556 729 NT: Foster Care: 1800 814 599 Supplied by Association of Children's Welfare Agencies www.acwa.asn.au
In this series Geraldine Doogue invites Muslims, Jews and Christians to dinner to explore what they believe and why? 50 years ago in Australia God knew best, and religion was part of everyday life. Today religious institutions are under scrutiny and belief is considered by some to be irrelevant. So, what’s in it for those who remain true to their faith? In Episode 1, Assad Karem, Maha Sukkar, Mohammed El-Ieissy, Noha Sayed and Susan Carland talk about what being a Muslim means to them, how their faith informs their lives and the challenges they face in a post 9/11 world.
In this series Geraldine Doogue invites Muslims, Jews and Christians to dinner to explore what they believe and why? 50 years ago in Australia God knew best, and religion was part of everyday life. Today religious institutions are under scrutiny and belief is considered by some to be irrelevant. So, what’s in it for those who remain true to their faith? In Episode 2, Bram Presser, Timmy Rubin, Mark Baker and Ronni Kahn talk about how their faith has informed their values, what makes ‘a good Jew’, the role of women in Judaism, and the contentious Israeli-Palestinian divide.
In this series Geraldine Doogue invites Muslims, Jews and Christians to dinner to explore what they believe and why? 50 years ago in Australia God knew best, and religion was part of everyday life. Today religious institutions are under scrutiny and belief is considered by some to be irrelevant. So, what’s in it for those who remain true to their faith? In Episode 3, Kristina Keneally, Christopher Geraghty, Thomas Wilson and Mary-Clare Meney - talk about what God means to them, how their faith informs their lives, what makes ‘a good Catholic’, and how they reconcile their Catholic identity with the shame of the sexual abuse crisis that has engulfed their church.world.
When disaster strikes, what determines who lives and who dies? Does luck, chance, Karma or God decide our fate? And, do those who survive owe any debt for their lives? Compass explores how survivors of two very different disasters have made sense of what happened to them. Hanabeth Luke was 22 when she survived the Bali Bombing, but the love of her life - who was just metres away from her on the dance floor of the Sari Club – did not. Josh & Gabby Magnus and their sons, Eli and Zac, were in Thailand on Boxing Day 2004 when the tsunami hit their holiday resort. They survived, but more than 230,000 in the region did not. How has their survival impacted on their lives? And, have their religious beliefs played a role in their extraordinary experiences?
The story of an unlikely friendship between a young Afghan asylum seeker and a 71 year old Australian pensioner. Mary is a Christian who lives in a poor rural municipality outside Hobart in Tasmania. When the government opens a new detention centre nearby Mary is bitterly opposed to the arrival of its mostly Muslim detainees. But when her local knitting club is asked to make winter beanies for the asylum seekers, she embarks on a journey of friendship that finds her questioning long-held beliefs and prejudices.
Joanna Lumley sets off on an epic journey over three continents to find the truth and origins of Noah’s Ark.
Three Australian families go on a pilgrimage to the oldest and largest religious festival on Earth, India’s Maha Kumbh Mela, to take a holy dip in the sacred Ganges...
A group of elderly European Jews reunite to tell their story of how their lives were transformed by living in an Irish castle for a year after the horrors of WW2...
The extraordinary 100 year old story of the relationship between the Catholic Church and Tiwi Islanders ...
Melvyn Bragg uncovers the real story behind one of the Bible's most enigmatic and controversial figures: Mary Magdalene...
Geraldine Doogue debates the hot-button moral, ethical and religious controversies of our time with a stable of guest panellists in the premiere of this smart and entertaining new Compass series.
God in the Lodge examines the religious beliefs of Australia’s Prime Ministers from Federation to now ...
God in the Lodge examines the religious beliefs of Australia’s Prime Ministers from Federation to now ... In recent years our Prime Ministers’ religious beliefs have become more public but in our increasingly secular age, it’s an aspect of political life rarely explored.
A deeply moving story that shows how music can rekindle emotions and re-awaken memories for elderly people lost to dementia ...
My Big Fat Bar Mitzvah steps inside the world of Bar and Bat Mitzvah parties, uncovering a spectacular new aspect of contemporary Australian Jewish life...
The history of the Muslim Cameleers who helped open up Australia from the 1860’s through to the introduction of the motor car. These men brought their culture and religion and many settled here going on to marry and have families. Despite the racism they often encountered they stayed, choosing to living in remote areas and continuing their unique contribution to navigating Australia’s interior. Each year descendants celebrate their legacy at a picnic race meeting where the Camel Cup echoes the mastery these Australian pioneers maintained over their much loved animals.
Rather than saving souls for the hereafter, the organisation Urban Neighbours of Hope (UNOH) strives to make life better for those struggling in the here and now.
Jarrod McKenna and Teresa Lee are Christian activists. They are amongst a growing number of Christians turning to civil disobedience to try to effect change.
Since 1971 the Adamstown Uniting Church in Newcastle has been making Christmas puddings to support a range of welfare and community programs in Newcastle, Australia and overseas.
After another wonderful year, Compass has concluded for 2014. Geraldine and the team wish you all the very best for Christmas and the New Year and we look forward to your company when we return to ABC in 2016 on Sunday February 28 at 6.30pm.
The Moral Compass Special - A Spotlight on Church Leadership: This Moral Compass special examines the broader implications of Cardinal Pell at the Royal Commission.
Melany's Remedy (The Shroud): Melany was only 12 when her father died by suicide. As a young adult she realised she could no longer shut out the past.
The Assyrians: Father Narsai is a young Assyrian priest who is an inspiration to his growing congregation of young Assyrians in Sydney and Melbourne.
Iceberg: An ultra marathon runner is determined to raise awareness of domestic violence in rural communities by undertaking an 860 km run through NSW.
The Moral Compass - Sanctuary: Should Australian churches be offering sanctuary to asylum seekers
A Town Called Brzostek: A small town in Poland becomes the centre of an initiative to improve vexed relations between Poles and Jews by reconsecrating an abandoned Jewish cemetery.
The bitter conscription debates that raged through the First World War divided Australia. The struggle was embodied by two men, Prime Minister Billy Hughes and Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne Daniel Mannix.
In this Compass special, Geraldine Doogue explores the indigenous spiritual elements underpinning the groundbreaking ABC drama Cleverman with the cast and crew involved in the creation of the series.
An inspiring story of conservation, education and community featuring Alexandra Seddon who has dedicated her life to making a home for displaced people and animals in rural NSW. #ABCcompass
An inter-generational story about how the turban is making a comeback in Australia's Sikh community. Hip hop artist L-Fresh the Lion, activist Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa & cricketer Gurinder Sandhu are all embracing their culture.
Julie McCrossin charts the rise of Australia's LGBTQI rights movement. From the first Mardi Gras to legislative & social changes we hear from those who put everything on the line in the fight for equality.
Shebah, the taxi service for women, offers a fascinating perspective on women of different faiths and cultures as they drive and ride in a supportive, safe environment.
The traditional story of the birth of Christianity is dominated by men, but were female disciples crucial to Jesus’ mission? And why has the role those women played disappeared from history? Bible experts find out.
In part 2, historians Helen Bond and Joan Taylor make a startling discovery that confirms their theory.
Geraldine Doogue seeks powerful connection with prominent Australians through an investigation of their sacred space and what it means to them. Here Li Cunxin, dancer and artistic director of the Queensland Ballet, invites the audience to share his inner world.
Having left politics behind them, ex-politicians reflect on what life was like in the Canberra bubble and what they learned from it.
At Christian Brothers College in WA, boys are guided by mentors and teachers through a year-long program of ritual, self-reflection and challenge to shape and define the type of man they want to be.
A heart-warming, inspirational story about a bunch of young blokes who live for the game but have never been allowed to play and start a physical disability rugby league competition in regional Australia.
Rebecca Gibney presents the raw and revealing story of Kylie who has suffered with anorexia and binge eating disorder since she was 15. This is an intimate insight into one of the world's deadliest mental illnesses.
With help from Rebecca Gibney and eating disorder experts around the world, Kylie starts to find some answers as she provides an intimate insight into one of the worlds deadliest mental illnesses.
This filmmaker and playwright also studied electrical engineering. His great passion is bringing people to Christ. As a child he fled the Congo, then had eight years in a camp before being accepted as a refugee to Australia.
Compass explores the religious complexities of Sri Lanka through the experience of an Australian Sri Lankan family the De Silvas, and people from other faiths who live in the island nation.
Deborah Cheetham, proud Yorta Yorta woman, opera singer, composer and entrepreneur talks to Geraldine Doogue about her deep connection to her country in regional Victoria.
Strong connections are forged when girls from a Sydney high school travel to Brewarrina to play netball with a team of young indigenous people. They meet elders and hear stories of past injustices and dreams for the future.
Photographer Hoda Afshar's experience of migration to Australia has re-defined her relationship with Iran, Islam and her art. Her portrait of author/refugee Behrouz Boochani won last year's Bowness Photography Prize.
At Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital, clinical and theatrical expertise are brought together to provide ground-breaking opportunities for people living with the devastating effects of a stroke.
Baptist Minister Karina Kreminski is well known in the neighbourhood for her blog 'Surry Hills and Valleys'. Compass explores Karina's theology, life story and her views about the life and times of Surry Hills locals.
Driven by a deep Christian belief to help others less fortunate three Polish missionaries devote their lives to caring for people, providing basic health care and education to people in remote parts of PNG.
Robots are increasingly used with children on the autism spectrum. So what are the ethical and moral implications of using robots to teach children social life skills?
Perth based burns surgeon Fiona Wood talks to Geraldine Doogue about the power of the place she nominates as her sacred space - the operating theatre.
Catholic high school graduates spend their gap year in Thailand teaching English to children of a Karen community and begin to question what they are doing there: voluntourism or ethical use of charitable resources?
A remarkable love story about a married couple who transcended gender roles, and a community that came together to support a transgender woman in pursuit of her dream.
Street performer Paul Cooper has an unlikely ally in his ongoing battle with anxiety and depression - his robot, Tubby. A poignant exploration of family, mental illness and the transformative power of creativity.
Reverend Jide Macaulay, an openly gay Church of England minister wants to marry his boyfriend despite the Church not recognising same-sex marriage.
Aileen Harrison, a retired farmer living on the rich plains of the Darling Downs in Southern Queensland, finds new meaning in life as she fights to stop a coalmine that threatens the future of the farms in her region.
It's crunch time for the Catholic Church in Australia. Reform won't be easy and requires the involvement of Catholic men and women at all levels of the church. Geraldine Doogue examines the tensions and struggles for change.
Driven by a desire to understand the loss of his friend Alice to suicide, filmmaker Darius Devas goes on a journey around Australia exploring positive personal stories of diverse young Australians suffering from mental ill health in regional Australia.
Before women had the vote in Australia, Anglican Deaconess Ministries was working to empower women to provide practical, educational and financial assistance in the community and 127 years later they are still going strong.
The remarkable story of Genna Radnan who went to Kenya in her Gap Year, and based on the need she saw there, began a charity for Kenyan women that has profoundly affected the lives of hundreds of women and children.
On the 102nd anniversary of the Battle of Beersheba Compass showcases participants in the Light Horse Re-enactment and the 'Ride like an Anzac' commemorative bike ride.
Compass takes a look inside Physical Culture, more commonly known as 'Physie'. Like a secret dance club that you might not have heard of, but chances are someone you know is doing it.
When Diana Fisk's infant son was diagnosed with a condition that she was told would see him "abused, bullied and embarrassed" she went in search of someone who could teach him anything is possible.
Geraldine Doogue seeks powerful connection with prominent Australians through an investigation of their sacred space. Filmmaker James Ricketson talks about his connection to his home in the northern beaches of Sydney.
Increasing numbers of older people are living alone, while students and low income earners are finding it hard to find places to live as rents soar. Compass follows people taking first steps to match and hopefully hit it off.
As more people of faith become climate change activists, three Australian Christians reveal what leads them to take non-violent action in support of the climate emergency.
Dr Meredith Lake award-winning author of "The Bible in Australia" links the Easter story of renewal and the ANZAC story of sacrifice from a uniquely Australian perspective.
A group of people with mental health challenges have their photographic portraits displayed publicly at the Emmaus Community in Perth. Founder Al Archer - an L.A. musician - reveals his motivation for starting the centre.
Hindu's regard Varanasi as the spiritual capital of India and believe that if they die here they will reach Nirvana. 'Death Hotels' and a whole industry of death revolves around the disposal of bodies in the holy city.
The Red Cross, St Vincent de Paul and The Salvation Army are collaborating on a project called Moving the Needle. Hoping to change behaviour in every part of the fashion circle by involving government, industry and consumers.
Rob Galea is a priest whose conversion to Catholicism followed a tumultuous adolescence in Malta. Now an accomplished singer working from a parish in Bendigo he works to engage young people through song.
As coronavirus threatens delivery of services to the disadvantaged, Compass follows Bill Crews, his staff and volunteers as they fight to keep the Exodus Foundation's doors open for their guests in-the-midst of the pandemic.
This story follows Jo Inkpin, Australia's only openly transgender priest, and Rhett Pearson a transgender man, as they embark on their own individual quests to reconcile their true identities and their faith.
Once upon a time, every Australian town had a branch of the 'Cranky Women's Association'. Today there are fewer halls but the mission remains the same 'to improve life for women and children living in rural and remote areas'.
The Hare Krishna movement arrived in the West in the 1960s at the height of the youth revolution. Temples and farming communities soon sprang up around the world. But it didn't necessarily turn out the way everyone had hoped.
Girl Guides began in Britain over 100 years ago. Having spread worldwide Guides still go camping and learn outdoor skills. Among its newer members are young Muslim girls. What values lie at the heart of this girls-own group?
The first Kibbutz was founded in Israel over 100 years ago. It combined communal living & Zionist philosophy with the aim of making the desert bloom. A group of young Aussies travel to Israel for a life-changing adventure.
Sunday School began in 18th century England to teach factory children how to read and write. When introduced to Australia it quickly became a fixture for many Christian families. So why was it so popular? And where is it now?
An Indigenous women's organisation in Nowra challenges the landscape of continued colonisation through straight talking cultural workshops that confront white privilege head-on and leave participants deeply changed.
In Armadale one of Perth's most disadvantaged suburbs, many boys are raised in fractured families, facing suicide, crime & mental illness. 'The Fathering Project' combats these intergenerational problems one father at a time.
Derek Ho and his brother Jeremiah, both gay men, grew up in Singapore where homosexuality is criminalised. Derek outed his older brother Jeremiah to the family, while leading a closeted life and converting to Christianity.
Australian painter Justin O'Brien (1917-1996) is one of few painters in the Vatican collection. This powerful exploration of the man & his work provides insights into an artist whose faith governed his approach to making art.
Nine ordinary Australians trek into Tibet to make the pilgrimage around Kailash Mountain for Saga Dawa, the holiest day of the Buddhist calendar.
Diagnosed with a rare cancer at 36, Jeremy Spinak wanted to leave a legacy for his children, family and community so they could understand something of the man he was.
Geraldine Doogue seeks powerful connection with prominent Australians. Prolific author/playwright/essayist Tom Keneally reveals his relationship with people long dead and the place they are buried at Sydney's North Head.
A journey to explore the nature of virtuosity with Australian recorder virtuoso Genevieve Lacey. Where does it come from and how do you continue to access the divine spark once you have seen it and know what to do with it?
The first lesbian couple to come out on national television almost fifty years ago are still together. Today Francesca Curtis and Phyllis Papps open up about love, loss and political change.
In a small village in the UK, a community has turned its back on the modern world to live a life free of money, crime and homelessness. But one young resident is questioning her future.
This Brisbane-based sculptor spent the last five decades creating memorable stone carvings throughout Queensland. Now in her eighties, her most recent commission was to make carvings for St John's Cathedral in Brisbane.
As a Jesuit priest, Michael Kelly rocked the foundations of the Catholic Church in Australia. Now grappling with life-changing health challenges, Geraldine Doogue examines the legacy of a man who has achieved a great deal.
A unique project which draws high school students in Timor and Australia into a cultural exchange through photographing their daily lives in their country and writing about what the photo means to them.
From an Amish family in Tasmania to a Chinese Australian widow in Darwin, piano tuner Martin Tucker encounters people across Australia. Through his craft, we are introduced to a network of community, connection and listening.
The uplifting story of how homeless woman Jai Jaru finds permanent accommodation through the support of the system and her own tenacity and conviction.
Compass explores the interface between religion and life as experienced by individuals and communities - including ordinary Australians, public leaders, religious thinkers and philosophers.
In the age of the global climate crisis many young Australians are struggling with the idea of having kids. Inconceivable explores these anxieties and how they are playing out in the lives of five Australians.
Peter Macleod-Miller is the rector of St. Matthews Anglican Church in Albury. He has now built a church community that welcomes everyone. Compass explores what makes this eccentric and fiercely opinionated minister tick.
Kumi Taguchi explores the world of Byron Bay influencers, including Ella Noah Bancroft a Bundjalung storyteller, mentor and activist. Plus micro influencers and parenting gurus Jayde Couldwell and Sophie Pearce.
A story of hope and an exploration of identity, love, and relationships on caregivers for those who suffer trauma induced PTSD incurred from working in the fire, ambulance, and police services.
Geraldine Doogue seeks powerful connection with prominent Australians through an investigation of their sacred space and what it means to them. Here historian Grace Karskens introduces her special place.
A devastating accident sees talented medical student Dinesh sustain injuries that mean he now uses a wheelchair. As he can no longer continue his studies because of his disabilities, Dinesh takes on the medical establishment.
Follows the celebrations and rituals of Australians creatively reinventing Wiccan, Druid and other Pagan traditions in the Southern hemisphere.
Lismore is one of the most socially and religiously diverse parts of Australia. From traditional owners, to Buddhists, Catholics - to Knitting-Nanna activists, care for their environment is at the heart of what they do.
Janet Oobagooma, and her old friend Gudu travel from their remote Aboriginal community home in Mowanjum in the West Kimberley to visit the place they grew up - the abandoned Presbyterian mission of Kunmunya.
Soccer legend and human rights activist Craig Foster takes Geraldine Doogue on an intriguing journey into his past to reconnect with his Sacred Space.
Three young Muslim women from southwest Sydney navigate their connections to family, faith and community, framed around their shared pursuit of competitive boxing.
Minimalist and author Sarah Wilson explores what our over-consumption is doing to our hearts and souls, investigating why is it so hard for people to resist new things even when we know we already have too much.
28 year old British Muslim women Mehreen Baig explore the experiences of women in different Muslim communities.
We join Christian activists whose faith underpins their commitment to protesting for world peace. In Pine Gap in the N.T, protesters were arrested and threatened with seven years' imprisonment.
Disability advocate Nicole Lee is a breath of fresh air introducing a range of dynamic women who reveal what it's like for people with disabilities to deal with the able bodied world's misconceptions.
A successful photographer is thrown into a confronting journey of self-discovery when he learns he may have a neurological disorder.
Having featured in the 2010 Compass special The 100 Club, who would have thought Dexter from Roma would still be fighting fit and writing his family history.
Geraldine Doogue meets media man extraordinaire Marc Fennell. Geraldine discovers another side to Marc as he reveals his sacred space is the kitchen, where life, food and family connect past to present.
A graphic novelist, death metal musician and Islamic Studies academic, Safdar's artistic work is driven by social advocacy and the Refugee Art Project. He uses art as a form of therapy to help himself and others.
The federal government's contentious Religious Discrimination Bill is now suspended indefinitely, but the problem of competing freedoms remains. Compass reveals the personal stories of those still affected.
In Sydney's west a new mosque has just opened after more than twenty years in the making. Its Greek Orthodox architect claims his religious background has helped shape its unusual appearance.
Explores the life of three people living with disabilities, their back stories, and the barriers they have faced in their employment journeys, as well as issues of intersectionality - cultural and LGBTIQ+ identity.
At 87 activist nun Sister Brigid Arthur works closely with refugees and is acting as litigation guardian for eight teenagers seeking to block a coal mine expansion. We unpack Sister Brigid's long activism and her motivation.
Artist Wendy Sharpe has finished a 40-metre mural in the Sydney Jewish Museum. Soon after the mural's completion, major building works commenced and the exhibition space was painted over, smashed and the mural destroyed.
Youth advocate and influencer Yasmin Poole, presents this election episode with a focus on the rise of female independents and a return to ethics and community values in politics.
Beneath the skies of a remote mining town, a composer and an architect created a musical chamber for marvelling at the universe.
A group of passionate volunteers support terminally ill patients by collaborating with them to write their life stories, with surprising benefits to both patient and volunteer.
Bekti Andari is the 'rice winner' for her family in Indonesia, she is involved in an experimental dengue reduction programme. Her job is to be a communicator between the scientist and the community.
Geraldine Doogue meets Ngemba man Prof Jack Beetson - one of the first Aboriginal Australians to complete a university degree in adult education. Jack has served as a vanguard for education initiatives throughout Australia.
A raw, emotional and intimate journey as an Orthodox Jewish couple go through IVF fertility treatment, with all the added richness and complexity their faith brings to the process.
Explores patient experiences following major heart surgery, how to understand them and how to live with them. A story of existential crisis, told by ex-patients including the filmmaker himself.
Annette and Stuart Baker lost their teenage daughter to suicide. Finding little to no support for survivors of suicide, they became founders of a unique healing event, the Winter Solstice.
Author and parenting guru Maggie Dent introduces her sacred place, an ocean pool on the south coast of NSW.
Kamilaroi elder Bob Weatherall has spent a lifetime working tirelessly to bring home sacred Indigenous ancestral remains that are stored in museums and universities all over the world.
Julie Peters is a legend in the trans community in Australia and was the first person to transition at the ABC. Over the years she's collected one of the most comprehensive trans archives in the country.
Charismatic comedian and community activist Mandy Nolan ran a hugely popular campaign as Greens candidate in the Federal seat of Richmond. She may not have won the seat, but she won over many hearts and minds.
Aboriginal and settler descendants come together to confront legacies of violence from Australia's pastoral frontier. Can the scars of past atrocities be reconciled and healed through the act of truth telling?
Filmmaker Peter Hegedus embarks on the challenging journey to make Sorella's Story, based on a photo taken in Latvia in 1941, where thousands of Jewish Women and children perished at the hands of Nazi collaborators.
When broadcaster Indira Naidoo's sister suicided, Indira sought solace in her daily walks. Through nature's cycle of renewal - and with the help of some key people, she found her own ways to keep living.
Imagine being born profoundly deaf into an Italian migrant family without any means to communicate with them. Barry Priori takes us on a journey into the Deaf world from the 1950s to the present day.
Born in a refugee camp in Bangladesh, as a teen Kabir was inspired by the movie 'Rocky'. He risked everything to come to Australia and is now an internet sensation in the bodybuilding world and hero to his own people.
Pentecostalism is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. What's the appeal and why are young people drawn to it? Compass visits the Life House Church in Murray Bridge, South Australia to find answers.
Introducing new Compass host, Indira Naidoo. The story of former socialite and high-flyer Glen-Marie Frost who suddenly became homeless in her sixties, joining the swelling ranks of women over fifty with nowhere to live.
Jeremy Fernandez joins former Mormon missionary Brad Harker and other members of the flamboyant Peacock Mormons as they prepare to march in the World Pride Mardi Gras parade.
Gail and Lisette are a transgender lesbian couple in their sixties. Having lived their lives as men and fathers up until now, their marriage is a bold, uncompromising love story they proudly wish to share with the world.
Activist and comedian Julie McCrossin takes Geraldine Doogue through her life journey. She talks coming out in the '70s, surviving cancer, and finding strength in her friend Sophie and her parents' holocaust survival story.
Michael Mohammed Ahmad is one of Australia's most exciting emerging writers. Founder of the Sweatshop writers' collective in Western Sydney, he's proof that when it comes to transforming society, the pen is mightier than the sword.
Journalist Jason Om and his Muslim half-sister set out to understand the late mother they never really knew. They uncover harsh truths and break silences about their beloved mother, the complex and charming Patsy.
The decision to donate organs from a loved one presents families with one of life's most difficult moments. Compass meets the recipients, donor families, nurses and doctors as they confront these complex questions.
When beloved Australian poet Robert Adamson was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Compass was invited into his home to share his final weeks of creating a "good death" with family and lifelong friends.
Tony Hoang was once a teenage heroin dealer and gangster in Cabramatta. But after several stints in jail, he cried out to God and found a new, controversial brotherhood with very different rules.
Freeing the Song follows the origins of the gospel choir movement in Australia. It features the voices of those touched by choirmaster Tony Backhouse's music including Sam Neill and Jenny Morris.
A group of professional dancers work with incarcerated youth, resulting in an extraordinary dance work ultimately performed at the Sydney Dance Company. A story of the healing power of dance.
Former PM Julia Gillard in conversation with Compass host Indira Naidoo at the Sydney Town Hall. In partnership with the Sydney Writers Festival.
A diverse group of young people learn to sail a Tall Ship. Taken out of their comfort zone, they discover new qualities and skills. The kids find themselves becoming part of a community where everyone plays a vital role.
Narelda Jacobs is a Whadjuk Noongar woman and TV presenter. With Australia on the cusp of a referendum, Narelda goes on a journey to learn when our nation has come together for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Vincent Long is Australia's first Vietnamese Catholic bishop. A survivor of clerical sex abuse, he is committed to supporting other survivors, refugees and LGBTQI people.
Surfer, artist and Dharug man Billy Bain invites us on an immersive road trip along our majestic coastline which provides an extraordinary glimpse into our colonial past and frontier injustices.
Jewish singles travel to the Victorian Alps in hope of finding a love that will enable the continuation of their faith and culture. Filmmaker Josh Ben-Moshe discusses the struggles involved in holding onto Jewish identity.
Using psychedelics to treat depression and trauma has just become legal in Australia. But it's not without risk. While many report life-changing benefits, others do not, and many scientists fear the move is premature.
From primary school students to young people seeking belonging and talented musicians, music is a vehicle for self-discovery. Music has the power to improve mental health and build strong communities.
Chloe Hayden was diagnosed as autistic at the age of 13 and was selective mute for many years. With a passion for Disney princesses, Chloe found her voice online as a 'princess' and now stars as Quinni in Heartbreak High.
N/A
Brendan Watkins is the son of a priest and nun. It took him 30 years to find out, but he's not the only one. Brendan meets other hidden children and their mothers, who've suffered from the Church's silence and denial.
Is money the root of all evil? Indira Naidoo is joined by a panel for a thought-provoking discussion on why money has such a hold on us. Can you have too much money? Does money make you happy? How much should you give away?
The Uniting Church faces change with the appointment of a new moderator, Reverend Mata Hiliau, the first Tongan woman in this role. But what obstacles does the Rev Mata face from within her own community and the wider church?
Julia Baird faces down the darkness of her cancer diagnosis and joins fellow seekers of wonder. She discovers that awe has shaped our civilisations, driven people to change their lives and ultimately make them happier.
Indira Naidoo and comedian Suraj Kolarkar combine fun with faith in a lively, cheeky special bringing together multi-faith comedians, musical performances from Courtney Act and Jude Perl, and a studio audience.
The Soweto Gospel Choir inspires audiences around the world with a powerful blend of African gospel and freedom songs. Now they join iconic Australian DJ Groove Terminator for a joyous spiritual and musical collaboration.
Meet three Australians helping transform lives in New York city jails, online communities and regional NSW using Vedic meditation. Is this ancient practice an answer to contemporary ills?
The brave Anglican bishop who faced down a paedophile network and its protectors in Newcastle. Presented by Julia Baird.
On Kangaroo Island, known to First Nations as the Island of the Dead, locals are reimagining funerals. As the island's first "death doula" begins her work with the terminally ill, the community foster their own death rituals.
The concept of 'soulmates' has been around for centuries. But does the notion that just one person can meet all of our emotional, sexual and spiritual needs still hold? Siobhan Marin meets people living beyond monogamy.
Three Palestinian families who've fled the war in Gaza take us inside their lives. As they seek protection in Australia, presenter Patrick Abboud is by their side. A deeply personal film, and a side to this war we rarely see.
A new secular religion is sweeping urban Sydney. Bringing together many who feel marginalised or rejected by mainstream religion, Creation is a queer science fiction climate change religion. With guest presenter Benjamin Law.
When Lauren is diagnosed with breast cancer, she faces radical surgery and the loss of both breasts. But despite cultural pressures to undergo reconstruction, she makes the bold decision to stay flat.
Playwright Alana Valentine discovers the revolutionary church community in Kings Cross that offered her mother the chance of a second wedding when she was a divorcee in the 60s - the uniquely Australian Wayside Chapel.
One of Australia's most cherished authors and a convert to Judaism, Geraldine Brooks, goes to the remote Flinders Island to finally and fully grieve the sudden death of her husband.
With the rise of race-based attacks over the war in Gaza, Australia's Jewish and Muslim communities are traumatised and afraid. Benjamin Law discovers how some friendships have fractured, while others are strengthened.
Stan Grant opens up to Indira Naidoo on his deepening faith, Indigenous spirituality, his response to the Voice referendum, and the pivotal relationship with his father, a Wiradjuri elder. Filmed on Wiradjuri country in NSW.
Compass follows Sydney's Yes In My Backyard movement on their quest to change attitudes about housing. With Sydney on track to become a city with no grandchildren, the Yimbys are fighting for the future of their city.
DOBBY is a Filipino-Murrawarri rapper determined to use his voice to send a powerful message around climate, racism and injustice. We follow him to his childhood home and on to Brewarrina for a moving performance.
Geraldine Doogue debates the hot-button moral controversies of our day with a panel of guests: sexual abuse allegations levelled at Woody Allen, the moral rights of inheritance and a call to scrap prayers from parliament. She’s joined by Greg Sheridan from The Australian, ethicist Leslie Cannold, John Dickson from the Centre for Public Christianity and Tim Soutphommasane, The Australian Human Rights Commission’s Race Discrimination Commissioner.
A special focused around the spiritual themes of the ABC’s Cleverman series. Geraldine Doogue interviews guests central to the production of the series about the origin of the idea, how it has drawn on Aboriginal spirituality and mythology and the ways they have been influenced by their experience.