Australia’s cultural landscape is rapidly changing. On November 9, 1961, the Marriage Act 1961 was updated changing the legal age of marriage to 18 and allowing interracial marriages.

Melbourne is one of the world’s most acclaimed multi-cultural cities, making it easy to meet people from all kinds of nationalities and cultural backgrounds and sometimes, to fall in love. However, people from different backgrounds regularly suffer from racism and interracial relationships add another dimension or layer to discrimination. For example, in an SBS survey in 2018, 60 percent of people surveyed said they’d be concerned if one of their relatives were to marry someone of Muslim background. The top 10 ‘Stunning Stats’ within the survey demonstrates the prevalence of racism and fear in Australia.

People in interracial relationships encounter a variety of issues and levels of complexity that people from similar backgrounds do not experience. Differences in culture, faith, language can add challenges, complications and additional levels of stress to their daily lives. Starting a relationship that involves a difference in culture with each other can be difficult because some parents forbid their child to marry someone that has a different background. These rules result in the relationship be done in secret. Objections or resistance from parents, relatives, friends can be common occurrences as can being ostracised and chastised by their cultural communities and the community at large. Further conflict may also occur when asserting their personal or family values when bringing up their children.

Interracial Love is a TV series discussing with couples the complexities of such relationships. Each episode has 3 parts – an introduction, a non-scripted Q and A addressing the issues and a lighter/fun segment.

Channel 31 has agreed to air the series as a community partner; they are the ideal broadcaster because they are a non-profit community channel. Channel 31 is aired in Melbourne & Geelong and seen by a multi-cultural audience of on average 1 million viewers each month.