
The Mission
Exploring the issues that impact the lives of Aboriginal people and those at the wrong end of social justice.
RRR - Triple R
Show overview
The Mission has been publishing since 2019, and across the 6 years since has built a catalogue of 179 episodes. That works out to roughly 110 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 33 min and 41 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. It is catalogued as a EN-AU-language Society & Culture show.
The catalogue appears to be on hiatus or wound down — the most recent episode landed 1.3 years ago, with no new episodes in over a year. The busiest year was 2020, with 42 episodes published. Published by RRR - Triple R.
From the publisher
Exploring the issues that impact the lives of Aboriginal people and those at the wrong end of social justice. The intro and outro theme is Soft Illusion and was generously provided by Andras. https://andras.bandcamp.com/track/soft-illusion
Latest Episodes
View all 179 episodes
S1 Ep 224That's A Wrap!
Although the podcast format of The Mission has now wrapped, this show continues to be broadcast on Triple R. You can now listen to new episodes on Triple R’s FM On Demand service at rrr.org.au/explore/programs/the-mission.Thanks for listening!

S1 Ep 223Talks with Stacie Piper on truth telling and treaty and Kankawa Nagarra's debut album Wirlmarni
On this episode we are joined by Stacie Piper who is the organizer of the State Library exhibition “Treaty”, which shines a light on truth telling and treaty. Then we are joined by Kankawa Nagarra who recently won the 2024 Australian Music prize & xmas show for their debut album ‘Wirlmani’.

S1 Ep 222Jacqui Wandin on the 100th anniversary of the Coranderrk Station closure
Daniel is joined by Wurundjeri Elder Jacqui Wandin, who sheds light on the historical significance of Coranderrk Station. She highlights the leadership of Uncle William Barak and Uncle Simon Wonga in fostering the Aboriginal community of Coranderrk . Together, they reflect on Coranderrk’s legacy as a sanctuary, its cultural importance, its lasting impact on Kulin Nation heritage and resilience amid colonisation.

S1 Ep 221Jill Gallagher, CEO of VACCHO, introduces the new ACCO model and dives into its history and significance.
On this week’s episode of The Mission, Daniel sits down with Jill Gallagher, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO). They explore the VACCHO’s innovative yet historic health model, recently announced at the Victorian Parliament. Jill shares insights into the model’s origins and highlights its effectiveness, particularly through the challenges of the pandemic.

S1 Ep 220Soul music with The Deans & Professor Tamar Hopkins on VicPol's Racial Profiling
Daniel James yarns with members of The Deans, a local soul band, then speaks to the Racial Profiling Data Monitoring Project's Professor Tamar Hopkins about ongoing racial profiling by Victoria Police.

S1 Ep 219The Bark Petitions with Clare Wright
A year on since the failed Voice to Parliament Referendum, Daniel James yarns with historian Clare Wright on the history of First Nations involvement in democracy and her new book Näku Dhäruk The Bark Petitions: How the People of Yirrkala Changed the Course of Australian Democracy.

S1 Ep 218The Mission Live: Aboriginal Deaths in Custody & Police Brutality
Live from the RRR performance space discussing When Cops are Criminals, a new book (out now with Scrie) about the criminal behaviour of police officers, and a call for institutional reform. Host Daniel James is joined by the anthology's editor Aunty Veronica Gorrie, as well as police historian Amander Porter, and police misconduct lawyer Jeremy King, who both contributed to the book.

S1 Ep 217Black and Blue with Veronica Gorrie
On this episode of The Mission, host Daniel James revists his interview with Veronica Gorrie from 2021, in the lead-up to RRR in Conversation with Veronica Gorrie, Amanda Porter, and Jeremy King.

S1 Ep 216Blak & Bright, Australia's First Aboriginal Literature Festival
Daniel yarns with Bebe Oliver, the newly appointed Artistic Director of Blak & Bright, about First Nations art and literature.

S1 Ep 215The Power of Black Journalism with Amy McQuire
Daniel yarns with Amy McQuire on her new book Black Witness: The Power of Indigenous Media and the role of objectivity in Australian journalism.

S1 Ep 214Cultural Heritage Management Plans with Paul Paton
Less than 1% of building permits are delayed by Cultural Heritage Management Plans, so why are the Victorian Liberal Party so keen to dismantle them?Host Daniel speaks to the CEO of Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations Paul Paton, about why Cultural Heritage is not the threat to developers it's made out to be.

S1 Ep 213Yarning with Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Kate Kiss
For the special 250th episode of The Mission, Daniel James speaks with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss on her work overseeing the Federal Government's compliance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

S1 Ep 212The Founding of the Treaty Authority
Daniel James speaks to Jidah Clark, chair of the newly established Treaty Authority, an independant body to oversee treaty negotiations in Victoria.

S1 Ep 211Live Prison Radio Broadcasting with Beyond The Bars
Beyond the Bars is an institution on Melbourne radio. Shiralee Hood and Ty Wallace join host of The Mission Daniel James to talk about the 3CR program's history and what to expect from this year's series as once again presenters go into Victoria's prisons to broadcast live with Indigenous inmates. You can listen & learn more about Beyond The Bars here.

S1 Ep 210Deputy Chair of the Yoorrook Justice Commission Travis Lovett
Daniel James speaks with Traditional Owner & Deputy Chair of the Yoorrook Justice Commission Travis Lovett, regarding land, water, sky hearings and injustice.

S1 Ep 209Luku Ngarra: The Law of the Land
Kiwat Kennell fills in for Daniel James this week and chats to Siman Saban, the Director of Luku Ngarra: The Law of the Land, a documentary filmed over 5 years in Northeat Anhem Land following Yolnu man Rev, Dr Dijiniyini Gondarra.

S1 Ep 208Dr Chelsea Watego on Who Gets to Be Human
Content Warning: our interview this week centres on issues of domestic violence against Indigenous women in Australia. If this topic impacts you, or you require any assistance, you can call 1800 RESPECT to speak to a domestic violence counsellor.For men who are worried that they may be violent toward their partners or family, and would like to seek help and support, you can call 1300 766 491 to reach the Men's Referral Service for counsellling, information, and behaviour change program details. There is also 13YARN, a national crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. 13YARN offers a confidential one-on-one yarning opportunity with a Lifelife-trained Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter who can provide crisis support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Daniel James speaks with Dr Chelsea Watego, proud Munanjahli and South Sea Islander woman and Director of the Institute of Collaborative Race Research, ahead of her appearance at the Melbourne Writer's Festival's panel 'Who Gets to Be Human?' The conversation focuses on the crisis of domestic violence faced by Indigenous women, and the need for better infrastructure nationwide to address the crisis.

S1 Ep 207Koori youth future and environmental laws/consultations with first peoples
Daniel yarns with Yuin man Dr Jack Pascoe, a senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne focusing on environmental laws and consultation with First Peoples. Also via phone, Drew Paten, Marram Nganyin Program Coordinator for the Koori Youth Council.

S1 Ep 206Let's discuss Police Permit Powers with Celeste Liddle
Host, Daniel James is joined by Celeste Liddle regarding police about permit powers. Daniel is later joined by Michael Bell, Indigenous Liason Officer, and also discusses heavy subject matters related to the aboriginal community and children.Note: this episode contains matters relating to self harm. Music has been removed due to copyright.

S1 Ep 205Talking Land Tax and Australia’s secret history of Aboriginal population control in the 1960's
Host, Daniel James is joined by Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Jill Gallagher on Why First Nations People Should Be Exempt from Land Tax and Stamp Duty. Daniel also chats to Laura Rademaker from the Australian Research Council on their article published by The Conversation "too many Aboriginal babies" delving into Australians secret history of population control in the 1960's.