Australian Story profiles Dr Kris Rallah-Baker, Australia’s first Indigenous eye surgeon, when Eyes on the Prize airs on ABC on Monday 21 September.
Rallah-Baker reflects on the zigzag path that led him into medicine, the stereotypes and expectations he has challenged, and his decision to speak publicly after receiving a racist email from a fellow doctor.
His work also reaches beyond his Noosa private practice: he regularly travels to remote communities, where the episode explores his commitment to treating the higher rates of eye disease experienced by First Nations people and inspiring future Indigenous doctors.
Kris Rallah-Baker on Australian Story
For Kris Rallah-Baker, the ambition to work in ophthalmology began as a dream that often felt out of reach. The programme follows the determination that took him through medical training and into a career where he has become a significant figure for patients and colleagues alike.
His mother, Raelene Rallah-Baker, describes him as the embodiment of grit and determination. Dr Chris Perry, meanwhile, calls him a leading light in Australian medicine. Their accounts sit alongside Rallah-Baker’s own reflections on the moments that tested his resolve.
Australian Story also traces the practical impact of his career. Alongside treating patients in Noosa, Kris Rallah-Baker returns regularly to remote communities where eye disease affects First Nations people at higher rates. His work makes the episode both a personal portrait and a look at the importance of accessible specialist care.
By speaking openly about the barriers he faced, Rallah-Baker hopes other Indigenous Australians considering medicine can see a path for themselves. The episode follows a doctor whose work is focused on helping people see more clearly, while also widening who feels represented in the profession.
Watch Australian Story on ABC
Australian Story – Eyes on the Prize
Monday 21 September, 8:00pm
ABC and ABC iview
Find more ABC TV news and current affairs coverage at TV Central.
