Larissa Behrendt is the Distinguished Professor at the University of Technology Sydney and at the Director of Research and Academic Programs Jumbunna Institute of Indigenous Education and Research. She is the host of Speaking Out on ABC Radio
She has published numerous textbooks on Indigenous legal issues. She is a member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences and a founding member of the Australian Academy of Law. Her most recent book is Finding Eliza: Colonial Power and Storytelling. Larissa wrote and directed the feature films, After the Apology and Innocence Betrayed and has written and produced several short films. She won the 2018 Australian Directors Guild Award for Best Direction in a Feature Documentary.
Larissa won the 2002 David Uniapon Award and a 2005 Commonwealth Writer’s Prize for her novel Home. Her second novel, Legacy, won a Victorian Premiers Literary Award. Larissa is on the board of Sydney Festival and a board member of the Australia Council’s Major Performing Arts Panel.
She was awarded the 2009 NAIDOC Person of the Year award and 2011 NSW Australian of the Year.
For more on Larissa’s film work: www.lavarchproductions.com
Books
- Finding Eliza: Power and Colonial Storytelling UQP: 2016 (non-fiction)
- Indigenous Australia for Dummies. Wiley: 2012 (non-fiction)
- Australian Screen Classics: Rabbit Proof Fence. Currency Press: 2012 (non-fiction)
- Legacy. St Lucia: UQP. 2008 (fiction)
- Home. St Lucia: UQP. 2004. (fiction)
- Achieving Social Justice. Annandale: Federation Press, 2002. (non-fiction)
Short Stories
- “Under Skin, In Blood”. Overland Literary Magazine, Vol. 203, Winter 2011.
- “The Space Between Us”. 10 Short Stories you must read in 2011. Australia Council: Surry Hills, 2011.
Awards
- ADG Best Direction in a Feature Documentary – 2018
- AW Myer Indigenous Award – AFTRS – 2012
- NSW Australian of the Year – 2011
- NAIDOC Person of the Year – 2009
- Victorian Literary Award – Indigenous Writing – 2009
- Commonwealth Writers Prize – Best first novel Asia/Pacific – 2005
- Queensland Literary Award – David Uniapon Award – 2002
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Law/Bachelor of Jurisprudence (UNSW) 1992
- Master of Laws (Harvard Law School) 1994
- Doctorate of Laws (Harvard Law School) 1998
- Graduate Diploma in Screenwriting (AFTRS) 2012
- Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors 2013
- Graduate Diploma in Documentary (AFTRS) 2013
Professional Achievements and Associations
- Fellow, Australian Social Sciences Academy
- Foundation Fellow, Australian Academy of Law
- Member, Australian Writers Guild
- Member, Australian Directors Guild
- Member and Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors
Arts Boards
- Sydney Festival: Board Member 2015-
- Australia Council Major Performing Arts Panel: Member 2015-
- Bangarra Dance Theatre: Board Member 2008; Chair 2010-2014
- Australian Major Performing Arts Group (AMPAG): Board member: 2013-2014
- Museums and Galleries NSW: Board Member 2012-present
- Judge, Premiers Literary Awards, Non Fiction – 2013-2014
- Museum of Contemporary Art Australia: Board member, 2007-2012
- National Indigenous Television (NITV): Inaugural Chair, 2006-2009
Screen Credits
Director / Writer:
- Maralinga (60 minutes). Blackfella Films. ABC. In production. For broadcast in May 2020.
- After the Apology (80 minutes). Purskey Productions, Premier Adelaide Film Festival, 9 October 2017
- Rosemary Valadon – A Sensual World (30 minutes). With Pursekey Productions, ABC, 2017.
- Under Skin, In Blood. (13 minutes). Brown Cabs, Premier Sydney Film Festival, 10 June, 2015.
- Djon Mundine – In the Spirit of Bungaree (13 minutes). Brown Cabs; NITV. 2015.
- Fred Maynard – Aboriginal Patriot. (30 minutes) Pursekey Productions. NITV. 2015.
- ACCC. TVC (2 x 2 minutes) CAAMA. 11 October 2014. Scams; Direct Debits.
- Innocence Betrayed. (54 minutes) Lavarch Productions, NITV, 6 August 2014.
- Who’s Afraid of Jason Wing? (13 minutes). Brown Cabs; NITV. 22 December, 2014.
- Recognise. TVC (2 minutes) Lawrence Creative, July 2014. Tony Albert.
- The Syron’s Call. (14 minutes) AFTRS. 2014; NITV, 2015
- The Night Sky. (8 minutes) AFTRS. 2013
- Clan. (7 minutes) AFTRS. 2013
Writer:
- Total Control. Season 2. In Development
- The Heights. Episode 22 (28 Minutes) ABC; Matchbox. 2019.
- ArtsLaw. TVC. CAAMA. In Post-Production, 2018.
- Who We Are 3: Brave New Clan. (54 minutes) CAAMA/Foxtel; directed by Leah Purcell. Biography Channel, 10 July 2014.
Producer:
- In My Blood It Runs. Director: Maya Newell. In production 2018. Nominated for AACTA for Best Documentary 2019.
- Protecting Manuwangku. (26 minutes). Directed by Jason de Santolo. NITV. July 2014.
Indigenous Consultant:
- Come Fly with Me. Wild Bear Entertainment. SBS. In production.
- Who do You Think You Are? Warner Brothers. 2018-2019.
- Changing Lives. ABC, Compass. September 15, 2018
- Unchartered with Sam Neil. Essential Media and Entertainment. Foxtel. August 27, 2018.
- There Goes Our Neighbourhood. Wild Bear Entertainment. ABC, 2017.
- Keeping Australia Safe. ITV. ABC, 2017
- Australia – the Story of Us. Essential Media and Entertainment. Channel 7. 2015.
- Gourmet Farmer Afloat. Season 4. Essential Media and Entertainment. SBS, 2015.
Education/Literacy Projects
- Ambassador, Guwara Aboriginal Campus, St. Andrew’s Cathedral School
- Founder and Board Member, Sydney Story Factory
