The Assembly Season 2 Returns

In an all-new, six-part season of The Assembly, Australia’s most renowned interviewer, Leigh

Sales, returns to mentor a new and bigger group of Autistic journalism students.

A bold, empathetic series giving autistic journalism students a national platform, season 2

brings unfiltered interviews with well-known figures, showcasing talent, insight, and the

power of different perspectives.

They are set to learn their craft and interview A-listers including award winning actor Richard

Roxburgh, one of Australia’s most successful musicians Guy Sebastian, legendary journalist

and five-time Gold Logie winner Ray Martin, Aussie comedy royalty Julia Morris, world

renowned cricketer and former Australian of the Year Steve Waugh, and beloved cook,

author and presenter Maggie Beer.

In each episode, students from across the country — including regional areas — are guided

by Leigh as they research a featured famous face and develop their interview questions. The

episode builds toward a compelling interview that is fresh, disarming, and often surprising.

These conversations create space for voices often excluded from national dialogue, offering

new perspectives that both resonate with the audience and catch the interviewee off guard.

For season 2, the course is delivered in an intensive block at Macquarie University, offering

students a truly immersive learning experience. As part of the program, the ABC provides

exclusive behind-the-scenes access, including guided tours and curated masterclasses with

industry professionals.

Produced by HELIUM, The Assembly is made with comprehensive support for the student

journalists, through a partnership with Aspect (Australia’s largest service provider for people

on the autism spectrum), Macquarie University (delivering tailored journalism training), and

Bus Stop Films (Australia’s leading inclusive filmmaking organisation). Together, these

partners help create a production environment that is inclusive and empowers storytelling.

Always free and Always entertaining, discover a range of bingeworthy factual series

exploring real people, real lives and extraordinary stories on ABC iview now.

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and

Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.

Production Credit: The Assembly is produced by Helium Pictures for ABC and financed with

the assistance of Screen NSW and skills development financing from Screen Australia. The

Assembly is an inclusive production proudly supported by Aspect (Austism Spectrum

Australia), Bus Stop Films and Macquarie University. Executive produced and directed by

showrunner Melissa Maclean, executive produced by Therese Hegarty, HELIUM’s Mark

Fennessy and ABC Commissioning Editor, Factual Julie Hanna. ABC Head of Documentary &

Specialist, Susie Jones. HELIUM has developed The Assembly for an Australian audience from

a format created by Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, originally produced by KIOSCO.TV &

QUAD+TEN, and distributed by CAN’T STOP Media.