The Maitri Lecture on ABC iview: Dr Rolf Gomes opens new Australia–India series – Cardiologist Dr Rolf Gomes will deliver the inaugural Maitri Lecture, a new annual ABC series celebrating the achievements of Australia’s Indian diaspora. Recorded before a live audience at the ABC’s Ultimo studios, it premieres on ABC Australia and ABC iview at 8.30pm AEDT on Sunday 1 November 2026.
The choice of Gomes gives the first lecture a distinctly Australian story: his Heart of Australia mobile clinics bring specialist healthcare to rural and remote communities. The ABC and the Centre for Australia-India Relations (CAIR) are using the new series to show how Indian Australians have shaped life across the country, beyond the capital cities.
Dr Rolf Gomes and Heart of Australia
Born in Kolkata and raised in Melbourne, Gomes trained as a cardiologist and brought an engineering background to the problem of unequal healthcare access. He built a fleet of trucks equipped to take specialist cardiac services into regional Australia through Heart of Australia, which launched in 2014. He was named Queensland’s Australian of the Year for 2026.
In the lecture, Gomes reflects on his childhood, his work and the communities the clinics have reached. The programme also considers the role of friendship and collaboration between Australia and India. Maitri is a Sanskrit word associated with friendship, kindness and goodwill.
Gomes said the invitation led him to revisit his early life:
It’s a terrific honour to be named the keynote speaker for the Maitri Lecture, it’s so humbling and it’s been quite an interesting and enjoyable lecture to give because it took me back to my childhood.
Dr Rolf Gomes
He also described the programme’s name as fitting because friendships across cultures can create new opportunities. For Gomes, the lecture is a chance to recognise people who have made Australia their home while maintaining the richness of their Indian heritage.
A new annual ABC and CAIR partnership
The ABC developed the series with CAIR, an initiative of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The partners intend to make the Maitri Lecture an annual platform for stories from the Indian Australian community. This inaugural edition focuses on a practical impact that viewers can see in the regional communities served by Heart of Australia.
ABC International general manager Claire M. Gorman said the programme would bring Gomes’ story to audiences across the region:
ABC International is firmly committed to championing the diverse voices of Australia and are proud to share Dr Gomes’ life story with our audiences across the region. The Maitri Lecture is a wonderful expression of our friendship with CAIR and we look forward to collaborating each year to deliver this series, highlighting the profound impact of Australian Indian diaspora.
Claire M. Gorman, General Manager ABC International
CAIR chief executive Ryan Neelam said Gomes’ work embodied the imagination and determination of Indian Australians. He pointed to the difference Gomes has made to Australian lives and the importance of telling positive stories about the community’s contribution.
When and where to watch the Maitri Lecture
The 2026 Maitri Lecture premieres at 8.30pm AEDT on Sunday 1 November on ABC Australia and ABC iview. ABC Australia serves audiences across the Asia-Pacific region, while Australian viewers can watch through ABC iview. The ABC has not announced the speaker for a subsequent lecture.
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