SBS has announced its new Commissioning Inclusion Guidelines for 2025–2028, reinforcing the public broadcaster’s long-standing commitment to diversity and authentic representation in Australian media.
The guidelines outline multi-year inclusion targets across both on-screen and off-screen roles in SBS-commissioned programs, including internal productions but excluding News, Sport, and NITV programming.
Who the guidelines aim to support
The guidelines focus on five key under-represented groups: First Nations peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, LGBTQ+ people, people with disability, and women.
“At SBS, inclusion is central to who we are as an organisation, and underpins how we commission and create content,” said Kathryn Fink, SBS Director of Television. “(Our new guidelines) continue to support our ambition and SBS’s unique purpose as a network.”
The updated benchmarks build on the broadcaster’s previous 2021–2024 Commissioning Equity & Inclusion Guidelines, all targets of which were successfully achieved. In the new framework, SBS introduces a sub-target for non-European CALD communities and strengthens targets for people with disability, areas identified as requiring further improvement through sector analysis and community consultation.
“We believe that an industry without barriers to having your voice heard is essential to fuelling the ongoing success of Australian storytelling – both at home, and globally,” Fink added. “Our goal is to drive meaningful, long-term industry change by investing in the depth and breadth of Australian talent, on and off screen.”
Accountability through annual reporting
The new guidelines apply across SBS’s Scripted and Unscripted content, with show-by-show targets for inclusion and career progression. SBS will also publish annual reports tracking progress, as part of its transparency and accountability commitment.
In addition to setting targets, SBS continues to invest in career pathways and industry development initiatives for under-represented groups, aiming to build capacity and enhance representation across the entire production pipeline.
More information, including the full guidelines and support opportunities, is available on the SBS Commissioning Inclusion webpage.
Top image: Kathryn Fink