Indira Naidoo returns as the presenter of Compass

Indira Naidoo is one of Australia’s most experienced and respected broadcasters. As a journalist, TV and radio presenter and author, she is most recently the new presenter of compass.

You seem to have a lot of jobs. Are you exhausted?
I think the people around me are exhausted! It needs a bit of tap dancing, I have to admit, at the moment. But I think it will settle down in a week or so. I think we’re in the eye of the storm right now.

It’s nice to be asked, isn’t it?
I think for most of it I kind of raised my hand. Sometimes I think things just happen when you’re interested in things, and sometimes everything happens at the same time. I guess I’m the type to say, alright, let me do it and then figure out how to do it all. It just happens that way sometimes.

Is there something you haven’t done yet that you would like to do?
Well, you know, right now I’m busy applying and running for the position on the ABC board of directors as director of human resources. So that would be a role I would love to have. We’ll see how that plays out. But in relation to my broadcasting work and my journalistic work, there are always interesting things. I’m not someone who plans long term where I want to be or what I want to do. If something catches my interest and I happen to be in the right place for it, then I’m willing to get involved. But sometimes there are things I do that are a little bit left field that even I didn’t think would be an area I would be fascinated with, and then I am.

Such as?
If you had told me as a cadet that I was going to write a book about growing food on a balcony, I would have said, “Really? Really?” Here you go. Sometimes I don’t even know what kind of things I’ll end up doing or what I’ll be interested in. I keep wondering.

They have a long lifespan in the industry, much longer than many others. Does one of the things that has enabled you to survive this attitude include not planning too far ahead so you’re always ready to seize the next opportunity?
I think whatever I’ve done without really realizing I’ve done it, I’ve always relied on my creativity and curiosity. That always comes first. And how I can use that to help other people. I think that’s always been my mix and that guides me where I go. Sometimes it takes me down a traditional path and sometimes it doesn’t. I’m a curious person and I think curiosity is what keeps you excited and engaged and connected and energized to do things.

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Which is a nice introduction to your new role compass. What would you say is the show’s mission statement?
What I think compass It’s always been about, but I think it’s even more important now to help people in their search for meaning. I think that’s something we’re all more aware of, especially after the last few years where the world has stopped and we’ve had to face death and suddenly we’re like, what does it all mean, what should I do , where am I going? I think we came out of this phase with this feeling: I don’t want to keep doing the things I’ve been doing or I want to do more of the things I love. And we’re asking ourselves bigger questions than we’ve been asking in a long, long time. That’s perfect timing for a show like this compassbecause what compass always has, and we’re committed to continuing to do so, helping people find the answers to those questions, giving them all the options, and showing them all the different paths you can follow to get those answers to get your questions. Whatever your answers, that’s up to you: we’re not here to tell you to think or feel that way, or that you need to follow that belief. But it’s very rare to find a TV show where you can just get embarrassed and then decide for yourself. It’s really about how to help people live deep, meaningful, purposeful lives.

Have you found that meaning and purpose in your life?
I definitely found some of them. I have found that my goal is to use my skills and abilities to help others. I know this is my way. How I use these is where I think you’ll find different ways to do this every day. I think when you put yourself in the bigger picture, when you think how can I help, where can I help, it helps me get through the struggles we can get lost in at times: why am I stuck here, why not? If that job didn’t work out, why did that love falter? Some of these questions can make you internalized and stressed out, but what helps me through these things is to rise above yourself and see how you are helping others. And that answers most questions. You don’t get so restless if you don’t think me, me, me, but us.