Browse all webcasts
Here you will find a listing all webcasts in alphabetical order. You can also browse webcasts by theme - food and culture, literature and languages, art and design, performing arts, country, politics and government, libraries, science and technology. and ABC Fora.tv.
A world without booksAs part of Indigenous Literacy Day, the State Library of Queensland hosted some of the State’s Australia's finest Indigenous poets, authors and songwriters as they discussed the importance of books and reading in their lives. Join them as they share stories that moved them, taught them about the world, or simply inspired them.
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Amy Van Allen - Inclusive Museums and Outreach ProgramsAmy Van Allen, Outreach Manager in Community and Constituent Services at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), gives an insight into the programs, policies and philosophy that drives the NMAI as one of the world’s most innovative and inclusive museums. The NMAI continues to challenge traditional museum ideologies by being a Native place, both physically and spiritually, with an emphasis on community curators in exhibitions and the use of traditional care methods for collections as advised by tribal representatives. The second podcast in an ongoing professional development series delivered through Public and Indigenous Library Services, State Library of Queensland.
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Christine ManfieldGastronomic traveler, presenter, teacher and international ambassador, Christine Manfield is one of Australia's most celebrated chefs. A perfectionist inspired by strong flavours, a creative spirit whose generosity and skills have inspired young chefs, and a writer whose successful books have spiced up the lives of keen cooks. Listen as Christine shares stories of her travels through the Middle East in search of the perfect hummus, across steamy and sensual Singapore slurping bowls of Nonya laksa, and through the tiny villages of Italy collecting recipes for the creamiest risotto. Speakers: Christine Manfield and Lizzie LoelDuration: 1:02:20 minutes Date: 9 October 2008 Streamed Audio: Windows Media Player Streamed Audio: Real Player Download audio: mp3 [57MB] |
Cities on the edgeBy 2026 Brisbane may be home to 4.5 million residents and overtake Melbourne as the nation’s second largest metropolis. Hear Brendan Gleeson, one of Australia’s most outstanding urban planners, as he talks about the impact of rapid growth on our cities and suggests solutions to make them better places to live and work. Cities on the Edge sets the big picture agenda for a new generation of thinking about urban planning. This webcast was presented in partnership with the Griffith Review.
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Classical QueenslandRecipient of the 2007 John Oxley Library Fellowship, music writer and researcher Dr. Martin Buzacott joins Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s first home-grown Chief Conductor Patrick Thomas and international pianist Pamela Page to share a wealth of stories, anecdotes and personal insights into Queensland’s classical music history.
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David MaloufQueensland author David Malouf in conversation with Ashley Hay. This talk was part of the John Oxley Library 75th Anniversary celebration on Sunday 5 April 2009. David, who also celebrates his 75th year in 2009 discusses his use of libraries and archives, including the John Oxley Library, for his writing. He also speaks of his new novel 'Ransom'.
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Deepen the conversation - Arthur ChaskalsonThe Griffith University - Tony Fitzgerald Inaugural Lecture with Arthur Chaskalson The Fitzgerald Report marks a watershed in Queensland and Australia's political history. Speaking at the Inaugural Tony Fitzgerald Lecture was the Honourable Arthur Chaskalson, former President of the Constitutional Court and Chief Justice of South Africa until 2005. As a member of former President Nelson Mandela's defence team, he was a formidable opponent of the apartheid government.
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Deepen the Conversation - Cheryl KernotThe world is on the cusp of extraordinary economic, environmental and social change. Join Cheryl Kernot in conversation with Mick O'Regan as she explores how new technologies and virtual interactivity are impacting, in positive and unexpected ways, on social and political participation. Cheryl Kernot is the former leader of the Australian Democrats. She is currently the Director of Teaching and Learning at the Centre for Social Impact at UNSW. Mick O'Regan is a broadcaster on ABC Radio National. In 1992 he won the United Nations Association Media Prize for "Background Briefing", a documentary on the El Salvador peace accords.
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Desert Queen Daisy BatesIn this webcast Susanna de Vries speaks about her latest biography, Desert Queen: the many lives and loves of Daisy Bates. In the 1890s, Irish-born orphan Daisy Bates reinvented herself from governess to heiress to anthropologist, and put Aboriginal culture on the map with her study of language and kinship ties. Susanna is an international author and her 14 books have won her literary awards in Ireland and Britain, an Order of Australia for services to literature and a Winston Churchill Fellowship.
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Digital strategies for libraries in the 21st centuryJoin New Zealand based commentator and thinker, Paul Reynolds as he discusses information access, cultural and technological change in the 21st century, and the challenges for libraries and library professionals.
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Diversity writesJournalist and ABC612 presenter Madonna King leads this lively panel discussion as three award winning authors discuss their journeys as writers and reflect on how living and working within a culturally diverse Australian society has inspired and influenced their work.
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Dr. Karen FisherDr. Karen E. Fisher is an associate professor at the University of Washington Information School and chair of its Masters of Library and Information Science program. Join Dr. Fisher as she shares her current research which strives to equip libraries to answer the question, "How are we making a difference in people’s lives—to users, families, neighborhoods, and communities—especially in ways that speak to policy-makers?"
Speaker: Karen Fisher Speaker: Karen Fisher |
Food pioneersAt a time when celebrity chefs abound, hear from some of the very special Queenslanders who have changed the way we eat. In 1988 World Expo brought more to Brisbane than exhibits, fireworks, and concerts. It introduced locals to a lifestyle that embraced outdoor dining and new cuisines. Expo triggered an urban renewal that changed the face of Brisbane from a ‘large country town’ to a thriving metropolis, led largely by locals hungry to explore new fare.
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Freestyle Books symposiumArtists, curators, writers and art lovers joined together for an afternoon celebration of the rich world of artist' books. The Freestyle Books symposium coincided with the major exhibition of artists' books at the State Library of Queensland.
Speaker: Opening address - Dr Alex Selenitsch Speakers: Unfolding stories - Jonathon Tse, Dr Anna Poletti and Dianne Fogwell Speakers: Social change - Professor Ian Howard, Peter Lyssiotis and Judy Watson Speakers: Collaboration - Noreen Graham, Leah King- Smith, Duncan King-Smith, Anne Kirker, Normana Wright and Ron McBurnie |
Gay BilsonGay Bilson’s name is synonymous with the revolution in Australian cooking and restaurant life. Her cooking is legendary, as are her informed and passionate observations about food and culture. Gay has owned and cooked at Berowra Waters, one of Australia’s most influential and acclaimed restaurants; collaborated on meals at public venues, incorporating ideas of theatre and performance and community; and her book Plenty, has won many awards including The Age Book of the Year 2005.
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Helen GarnerJoin Helen Garner, one of Australia's most respected authors and essayists in conversation with Ashley Hay, former literary editor of The Bulletin, discussing The Spare Room, her first novel in 15 years, at her only Brisbane appearance.
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Hidden QueenslandOver the past two decades Queensland has undergone a remarkable transformation to become the new centre of politics and thriving social and cultural home to an ever-expanding population. Contributors to Griffith REVIEW21:Hidden Queensland discuss the dynamics of the Sunshine turned Smart State and what it means to be a Queenslander today.
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Introducing... geneticsEmma Whitelaw introduces the world of the gene and demystifies the science behind controversial issues like stem cell research, designer babies and the human genome.
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Introducing... Paul GrabowskyPaul Grabowsky performs in front of and behind the piano, sharing tales of his stellar career and his experience as Artistic Director of the Queensland Music Festival.
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Introducing... social exclusionDavid Burchell looks at patterns of marginalisation and the idea of "the other" shaped by history, policy and personal incapacity.
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Introducing... the futureFuturist Tony Stevenson discusses our complex relationship with the future and how even just thinking about it can bring about change and a different world for our children and future generations.
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Introducing... the politics of spinSharon Beder looks at the politics of public relations spin and how it is influencing the way we think.
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Introducing...extreme weatherIan Townsend introduces the social and political side of extreme weather phenomenon through the context of one of Australia's deadliest natural disasters.
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Introducing...HIV/AIDSBill Bowtell revisits Australia's successes in containing HIV/AIDS and introduces the idea of a renewed threat on our doorstep which could destabilise the Asia-Pacific region.
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John BellListen as Australia’s leading exponent of Shakespeare John Bell privileges you with his personal insights and stories in an intriguing conversation with Queensland Theatre Company Artistic Director Michael Gow. These stalwarts of the stage discuss John’s remarkable impact on Australian theatre and their latest collaboration on Heiner Müller’s Shakespeare Commentary Anatomy Titus Fall of Rome. This conversation was presented in partnership the Queensland Theatre Company.
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John McDonald: a critic's take on Australian contemporary artJoin John McDonald, one of Australia’s best-known art critics, in a lively conversation about contemporary Australian art with art curator Timothy Morrell. John and Timothy discuss art studios, art markets, the National Gallery of Australia, the Archibald Prize, and much more.
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Kate JenningsMeet Kate Jennings, a fiercely intelligent writer, astute observer of people and her surroundings, recent widow not ready to face her grief, and irascible Australian with no time for indulgent New Yorkers and their pampered pets. Get to know the real Kate Jennings in conversation with Kris Olsson as she muses over her autobiographical book, Stanley and Sophie.
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Let's Get Naughty with Banned BooksListen to David Iliffe's interview with State Library Senior Librarian, Joan Bruce on Capricornia: Drive "You don't often hear of books being banned from publication these days, but it might happen more often than you think. We went back in time this afternoon with Joan Bruce from the State Library of Queensland. She's spent some time flicking through books that were on the censors list in the past, which even includes a piece of Queensland Hansard..."
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Library services to Aboriginal people and Torres Strait IslandersIn this webcast, Indigenous Knowledge Centre co-ordinators and State Library staff describe the services offered by State Library and local councils and community members talk about their experiences in using these services, including their local Indigenous Knowledge Centre. The webcast is filmed on location in Indigenous Knowledge Centres, public libraries and at the State Library.
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Lisa ForrestListen to Lisa Forrest, author, former Olympian and media personality, as she discusses her latest book Boycott. At the age of sixteen, Lisa found herself at the centre of one of Australia’s most significant sporting and political moments, the controversial boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Lisa tells her story for the first time, taking us from her early strokes in the local pool of a Sydney beachside suburb, to death threats and public denunciation by both politicians and the media. Through interviews with everyone from the Prime Minister of the day, Malcolm Fraser, to members of the AOC, sports administrators, journalists and the athletes themselves, she takes us behind the scenes of an extraordinary and far-reaching chapter in Australian sporting history. Boycott is the story of the athletes who defied the inducements and pressure coming from the highest levels, maintaining that the Olympics was about peace, not politics and chose to follow their dream. This webcast was presented in partnership the Courier Mail, The big Book Club / The Little Big Book Club.
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Maggie BeerJoin Brisbane News editor Kylie Lang in conversation with celebrated cook, Maggie Beer, for a look behind the pages of her latest book Maggie's Harvest.
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Marcia LangtonProfessor Marcia Langton was appointed Foundation Professor of Australian Indigenous Studies at University of Melbourne in 2000. She has many years experience working as an anthropologist in Indigenous affairs with Land Councils, the Queensland government and the university sector. Professor Langton always contributes provocative and constructive views to our national Indigenous affairs debate.In this webcast she draws on her recently published essay “Trapped in the Aboriginal Reality Show” from the latest Griffith Review "Re-Imagining Australia”. Speaker: Marcia LangtonDuration: 1:05:54 minutes Date: 5 March 2008 Windows media (audio): dialup or broadband RealPlayer (audio): dialup or broadband Download audio: mp3 [60.3 MB] |
Michael GowJoin Carol Burns in conversation with Michael Gow, Artistic Director of Queensland Theatre Company as he shares tales of his stellar career as a writer and director, his personal inspirations and influences as an artist, and some compelling insights into the world of creating stories through theatre.
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Mo Johnson - writing hints and tipsMo is the author of the young adult fiction book Boofheads, a story of three teenagers inseparable since pre-school, and Something More from the Girlfriends Series. Her soon to be released picture book Noah’s Garden has been sold to the US and she is currently working on a biography of Olympic and Commonwealth marathon runner, Kerryn McCann. Hear Mo’s insightful hints and tips on how to become a professional writer and navigate the publishing industry.
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Multicultural summitKeynote speaker Jason Yat-Sen Li at the 2007 Multicultural Summit discusses multiculturalism in Australia. The summit was presented by Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland in cooperation with Multicultural Development Association, Brisbane City Council and MultiLink Community Services and sponsored by Multicultural Affairs Queensland, State Library of Queensland and Active Migration.
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Olivia Robinson - The Energy of Engagement: a Smithsonian experienceMeaningful engagement with Indigenous people can be powerful, exciting, challenging, and inspiring for libraries, museums, and galleries. Olivia Robinson, Senior Research Officer in Heritage Collections at the State Library of Queensland, will take you on an international exploration to identify some of the most innovative and effective Indigenous engagement strategies being used in Australia and the United States. The first podcast in an ongoing professional development series delivered through Public and Indigenous Library Services, State Library of Queensland. Speaker: Olivia Robinson, introduction by Lea Giles-PetersDuration: 1 hr 19:38 minutes Date: 10 June 2009 Streamed audio: Windows media player Streamed audio: RealPlayer Download audio: mp3 [95.7 MB]
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Pietro Demaio - preserving the Italian wayPietro Demaio shares rich and varied Italian recipes, memories and anecodotes of childhood and travel, drawn from his book Preserving the Italian Way. Pietro is obsessed with preserving traditional Italian foods. He is also committed to preserving a tradition of eating, friendship and culture that’s fast disappearing – Slow Foods. Pietro’s thesis is that good food, family and friends all go in one big pot to help lubricate companionship, friendship, happiness and long life.
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Portrait of a friendshipJoin editor Bryony Cosgrove in conversation with Barbara Blackman, as they discuss Portrait of a Friendship: The Letters of Barbara Blackman and Judith Wright 1950-2000, a very intimate glimpse into the personal lives of two key figures in Australian cultural life.
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Redefining how success is measured in aboriginal learningIn this webcast representatives from the Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) and its Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre (ABLKC) discuss how they are working in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis to redefine how we measure success in Aboriginal learning. One key outcome of this work is to develop appropriate tools needed to identify the many aspects of lifelong learning that contribute to success for First Nations, Inuit and Métis — Holistic Lifelong Learning Models. Speakers: Jarrett Laughlin, Rose Bouvier & Genevieve FoxDuration: 1:09:42 minutes Date: 15 December 2008 Windows media (video): dialup or broadband RealPlayer (video): dialup or broadband |
Reforming womenA century of reforming women offers inspiration to contemporary women who work to change the way we regard social and cultural issues. Join our panel of successful Queensland women from the fields of law, politics, social welfare, medicine and the arts as they discuss how issues have evolved since the days of the suffragettes and subsequent waves of feminists, and the real priorities for reforming women in the 21st century.
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Robert ForsterTalented songwriters and consummate musicians Grant McLennan and Robert Forster have been compared to Lennon and McCartney and recognised as one of Queensland’s great cultural exports. Through the iconic Australian band The Go-Betweens and successful solo careers, McLennan and Forster’s music has shared a uniquely Queensland spirit with a global audience. Listen to Robert Forster in conversation with Andrew Stafford (author of ‘Pig City’) as he ponders the man, the stories and the legacy of the late Grant McLennan.
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Sam Cutler‘As the rotors created an ungodly racket above, I sat there crammed into the helicopter with the Stones, their management and various hangers-on. What the hell had happened? The free concert at Altamont was meant to be a peak in the career of the Rolling Stones. It was intended to be a celebration of not just the music, but the thriving peace and love counter-culture of the sixties. Rather it had descended into a bloody chaotic mess of violence, death and despair. And we were on the run.’
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Spice notes and travelVenture into the ancient world of herbs and spices with acclaimed author and modern-day spice merchant Ian Hemphill. Ian shares his 30 years of accumulated spice and herb knowledge, revealing the mysteries and history of spices and hints and tips for their use, interspersed with travel tales and personal anecdotes from his career and as proprietor of Sydney spice house, Herbie’s Spices. Presented by the State Library of Queensland and Slow Food Brisbane.
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The Henson caseThe Australian Prime Minister called them ‘absolutely revolting’. Their removal from a Sydney art gallery was hailed by the Daily Telegraph as a ‘Victory for Decency’. Cate Blanchett and members of the arts community claimed charges laid over them would affect Australia’s cultural reputation. In this webcast David Marr discusses his recent book The Henson case, which examines the pornography/art debate with exclusive interviews with Bill Henson, members of the NSW police force, child abuse campaigners and important figures in the Australian arts scene.
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The hyper-linked libraryIn this two part webcast Michael Stephens, Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Dominican University, Illinois explores new technology and Web 2.0 trends and provides a roadmap toward becoming the hyperlinked library.
Speaker: Michael Stephens Speaker: Michael Stephens |
The importance of being OscarSusannah Fullerton discusses Oscar Wilde's extraordinary life story, his fall from fame and the creation of his greatest works of literature.
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Last updated: 2nd November 2009
Creatively linking Queenslanders to information, knowledge and each other


Speaker: Amy Van Allen, introduction by Mary Teague
Speakers: Christine Manfield and Lizzie Loel
Speaker: Brendan Gleeson
Speaker: David Malouf and Ashley Hay
Speaker: Arthur Chaskalson
Speaker: Cheryl Kernot with Mick O'Regan on ABC's
Speaker: Susanna de Vries
Speakers: Thomas Keneally, Alice Pung and Nike Bourke and Madonna King
Speakers: Kylie Lang, Brenda Fawdon (Mondo Organics); Babak Hadi (Black Pearl Epicure); Jan Power (Farmer’s Markets); Lien Yeomans (founder of The Green Papaya)
Speakers: Gay Bilson and Candy Baker
Speaker: Emma Whitelaw
Speaker: Paul Grabowsky
Speaker: David Burchell
Speaker: Tony Stevenson
Speaker: Sharon Beder
Speaker: Bill Bowtell
Speaker: John McDonald and Timothy Morrell
Speaker: Kate Jennings and Kris Olsson
Speaker: Joan Bruce with David Iliffe on Capricornia: Drive
Speaker: various
Speakers: Maggie Beer in conversation with Kylie Lang
Speaker: Marcia Langton
Speakers: Michael Gow
Speaker: Mo Johnson
Speaker: Jason Yat-Sen Li
Speaker: Olivia Robinson, introduction by Lea Giles-Peters
Speakers: Robert MacLennan and Pietro Demaio
Speakers: Jarrett Laughlin, Rose Bouvier & Genevieve Fox
Speakers: Robert Forster and Andrew Stafford
Speakers: Sam Cutler and Noel Mengel
Speaker: Ian Hemphill
Speakers: David Marr
Speaker: Susannah Fullerton
