Five episodes of the popular children’s animation Bluey have been translated into Yolŋu Matha and will be shown on the big screen at this year’s Garma Festival in the Northern Territory, the ABC has confirmed. The screenings form part of the national broadcaster’s coverage of the four-day event, which runs from 31 July to 3 August.
Children’s television in an Indigenous language
The translated episodes first appeared on ABC iview on 5 July, and have been prepared to reflect themes of Country and family that the ABC said made them appropriate choices for translation into a First Nations language. Attendees at Garma — one of Australia’s leading Indigenous cultural gatherings — will now have the opportunity to watch the episodes together and see beloved characters speaking Yolŋu Matha.
The five episodes chosen for translation are drawn from the series’ catalogue for their relevance to local cultural values and relationships to place. Voice roles in the Yolŋu Matha versions were performed by Dimathaya Burrawanga, Rosie Mununggurr and Andrew Guduwiwi, among others.
Partnership and public reach
The ABC is again acting as the festival’s official media partner. It has long provided multi-platform coverage of Garma and will deliver content across television, radio, digital and social media during the festival. Denise Bowden, chief executive of the Yothu Yindi Foundation which organises Garma, welcomed the inclusion of the translated episodes.
“The comprehensive coverage they deliver each year ensures Australians across the nation can share in the Garma experience,”
She described the presence of Bluey in Yolŋu Matha at Garma as elevating the experience for local communities excited to see the characters speak their language and to meet Bluey in person.
Why this matters
The move is notable for several reasons. Bluey is an internationally successful series already available in more than 20 languages and distributed to over 140 countries. Translating episodes into an Indigenous Australian language highlights efforts to support and promote First Nations languages on mainstream platforms, and presents characters familiar to many children in a culturally resonant form.
Showing the episodes at a major cultural festival also emphasises community-centred engagement rather than purely online distribution. Festival audiences will be able to experience the translations collectively, which organisers say supports both celebration and language visibility.
- Episodes translated: Five, selected for themes of Country and family.
- Platform: Initially released on ABC iview on 5 July; to be screened at Garma Festival.
- Festival dates: 31 July–3 August; ABC to cover across TV, radio and digital channels.
| Episode (sample) | Reason for selection |
|---|---|
| The Beach | Cultural connections to Country and family |
| The Creek | Community and outdoor exploration |
| Sleepytime | Family relationships |
| Grandad | Intergenerational ties |
| Rug Island | Imagination and place |
While the ABC’s announcement relates specifically to performance and festival screening, the wider implications touch on broadcasting responsibility and cultural recognition. Making children’s content available in Indigenous languages may contribute to language maintenance and offers families a new way to connect with familiar characters.
The Garma Festival is described by organisers as a signature cultural event that brings together Yolŋu people and visitors for discussion, ceremony and celebration. The ABC’s decade-long role as media partner has included sustained coverage designed to enable Australians nationwide to access the festival’s program and activities.
At Garma, audiences will not only see the episodes; festival organisers say the local community is also looking forward to meeting a live incarnation of the character Bluey. The initiative underscores a growing interest among broadcasters and cultural institutions in presenting content that reflects the linguistic diversity of Australia’s First Nations peoples.
Coverage from the ABC during the festival will continue across its platforms, offering national audiences a chance to engage with Garma’s events and the Yolŋu Matha translations of a much-loved children’s programme.
