Australia has lost a towering cultural figure as Rhoda Roberts died at the age of 66 after a seven-month battle with ovarian cancer. Widely credited with bringing modern recognition to the phrase âWelcome to Countryâ, Roberts leaves behind a powerful legacy that reshaped how Australia acknowledges Indigenous culture, land, and identity.
The news of her passing has triggered tributes across the country, with many describing her as a trailblazer, leader, and cultural force who transformed the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in arts, media, and national life.
Who was Rhoda Roberts?
Rhoda Roberts was a Widjabul Wieybal woman of the Bundjalung nation, born in Lismore, New South Wales. Over decades, she built an extraordinary career as a producer, director, writer, broadcaster, performer, and executive, earning multiple awards and national recognition.
Her early career began in journalism with SBS, but she quickly rose to prominence when she made history in 1989 as co-host of âFirst in Lineâ alongside Michael Johnson. This milestone made them the first Indigenous presenters on prime-time Australian television, a breakthrough moment for representation in Australian media.
Her contribution to broadcasting and storytelling continues to be recognised through platforms like SBS, where she later served as the broadcasterâs first elder-in-residence.
How Rhoda Roberts shaped âWelcome to Countryâ
One of Robertsâ most defining contributions came in the 1980s when she introduced and popularised the term âWelcome to Countryâ. While the cultural practice itself had existed for generations within Aboriginal communities, Roberts helped bring it into modern public life and formal events.
She described the moment as a reactivation of long-standing cultural protocols:
âIt was a time to reactivate what we had always done as protocol. Inviting the local custodian at an event to welcome us and honour the ancestors and pay respect to the lands that weâre visiting is really important.â
Today, âWelcome to Countryâ is widely used across Australia â at government events, public ceremonies, performances, and major national gatherings â becoming one of the most visible symbols of cultural respect and acknowledgement.
Key role in Sydney Olympics and national culture
Rhoda Roberts played a major role in shaping Australiaâs global cultural image. She served as creative director of the Indigenous segment of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games opening ceremony, an iconic moment that showcased Aboriginal culture to the world.
Her ability to blend storytelling, performance, and cultural authenticity made her one of the most trusted voices in national creative direction. She later continued this work at the Sydney Opera House, where she became the first head of First Nations programming.
Even in recent years, Roberts remained active in storytelling. She performed a show about her cousin, Frank Roberts, a boxer who became Australiaâs first Indigenous Olympian in 1964, highlighting her deep connection to family history and cultural legacy.
More about the institution she helped shape can be explored at the Sydney Opera House.
Family, activism, and personal strength
Robertsâ life was also deeply rooted in activism and family. A powerful image from 1988 shows her alongside her father, Frank Roberts Jr, during the Long March Indigenous protests on January 26, reflecting her lifelong involvement in advocacy and Indigenous rights.
Her family confirmed her passing with an emotional message, saying she had âreturned to the Dreamingâ, a deeply significant cultural reference in Indigenous spirituality.
They described her as a woman of immense compassion and strength:
âWords fail to capture the true love, depth, intelligence and warmth that was our beloved Rhoda. She dedicated her life to culture, country and people from all walks of life.â
âShe never judged and never discriminated⌠she always wanted to help uplift peopleâs lives and provide love and care.â
The family also highlighted her resilience, noting she had faced trauma throughout her life but âcontinued fighting and never gave up.â
A trailblazer recognised at the highest level
In recognition of her extraordinary contributions, Rhoda Roberts was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2016. The honour acknowledged her distinguished service to the performing arts, leadership, advocacy, and the promotion of contemporary Indigenous culture.
Tributes from across the industry reinforced her impact. SBS described her as a âtrue trailblazerâ who played a transformative role in Indigenous representation. Leaders within First Nations media also emphasised how she reminded people of the importance of continuing cultural work and recognising those who came before.
Rhoda Robertsâ legacy will endure
Rhoda Roberts is survived by her partner Stephen and her three children, but her influence extends far beyond her immediate family. Her work reshaped how Australia engages with Indigenous culture in public life, creating lasting change in ceremony, storytelling, and representation.
Every time a âWelcome to Countryâ is delivered, every time Indigenous voices are given space on national stages, and every time cultural protocols are honoured, her influence continues to be felt.
Rhoda Roberts dies at 66, but her legacy as the cultural force behind âWelcome to Countryâ and Indigenous representation in Australia will live on for generations.
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