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Olivia Rousset

Biographical Notes from The Walkley Awards website for 2006

Television: Feature, Documentary or Broadcast Special (more than 20 minutes) Winner

Olivia Rousset, Dateline, SBS , “Body of Work – Abu Ghraib”

Olivia Rousset's body of work on the Abu Ghraib scandal took a look beyond the legality and repercussions of the abuse and instead focused on the impact on those involved and the mindset operating in the notorious Iraqi prison.

Working alone, Rousset gained the trust of both the tortured and the torturers and convinced them to share their stories. Also during filming, she obtained hundreds of previously unreleased photos and videos from Abu Ghraib.

Over three episodes, she built a compelling narrative that provided a balanced contribution to understanding of the human consequences of war.

Olivia Rousset has been a freelance journalist and documentary director since she won ABC TV's Race Around the World in 1997. Since then she has worked on documentaries and current affairs programs for the ABC, SBS, the Nine Network and the Discovery Channel in the US. She has been reporting for SBS TV's Dateline for the past six years. This is her second Walkley.

Judges' comments
A brilliant solo effort, this is a world-class piece of video journalism. In presenting both sides of the Abu Ghraib story, Rousset gives a human dimension to this sorry tale. Without sensationalising what was a sensational story, she revealed the impact of the humiliating and brutal behaviour on all involved.

Biographical Notes from The Walkley Awards website for 2005

All Media: Coverage of Asia-Pacific WINNER

Olivia Rousset , Dateline, SBS TV, "Inside Indonesia's Sex Trade"

Olivia Rousset has been a freelance journalist and documentary director since she won ABC TV's Race Around The World in 1997. Since then she has worked on documentaries and current affairs programs for the ABC, Nine Network and the Discovery Channel in the US. Olivia has been reporting for SBS TV's Dateline for the past five years.

Rousset travelled to Batam, an Indonesian island, to expose the tragic reality of the lives of children who are trafficked and forced to work as sex slaves. After four weeks on the ground, she won the trust of social workers who allowed her to accompany them into brothels by posing as one of their counsellors.

She filmed much of the story with a hidden camera to avoid retribution from the local mafia who control the brothels. There she filmed the stories of 'Lina' and 'Diana', two 14-year-old girls forced into prostitution.

Judges' comments

A powerful narrative and brave investigation put together in difficult conditions. It gave a rare window on a closed world.