Ten things we learnt from First Contact First Contact participant Bo-dene had one of the biggest turnarounds on the show. It made for three nights of compelling television and plenty of watercooler conversations. But what, if anything, have we learned from First Contact beyond the fact Blackfella Films makes consistently good programs (Redfern Now, Mabo, The Tall Man) and reality TV can a tough taskmaster (just ask Sandy Clifford). The figure that was the basis for the whole series is truly gobsmacking. According to Reconciliation Australia, some six out of 10 Australians have had little or no contact with the 2.4 per cent of the population who are Aboriginal. It's pretty hard to understand someone if you've never met them. Sandy, left, experiences indigenous art on First Contact but she didn't remain for the whole documentary. Assuming for a moment the six participants and their (original) views are representative in some way of the broader population, the general level of ignorance about indigenous life is huge. And that gap in knowledge is all too easily plugged with myth, stereotypes and downright untruths. It's complicated. Anyone peddling simple solutions is, by definition, wrong. "If it was easy it would have been fixed 200 years ago," says host Ray Martin. But it's really one of the most complex problems. Talkback radio either thinks it's not a problem or that it is something we can easily fix - take the money away from them or stop the welfare programs or put them to work. They are stupid, simple things that don't work. Yet it's also simple. As First Contact appears to have shown, just bringing people together face-to-face is extraordinarily powerful. Even the most calcified prejudice has a hard time surviving when you are sitting down, breaking bread, and talking together. Host Ray Martin felt compelled to be part of the series. "Political correctness" and not feeling able to ask (respectful) questions is unhelpful. One of the strengths of First Contact was that the six participants appeared free to ask what they wanted of their indigenous hosts. For instance, it was a turning point for Jasmine when she questioned an Aboriginal mum about her benefits - and found they both received the same amount. People can and do change. All the participants who stayed appeared to have moved away from their original views by the end of the experience. In Bo-dene and Trent's cases, the change was almost 180 degrees. A little generosity of spirit goes a long way. Getting into the habit of emphasising what we all have in common as humans and as Australians, rather than what divides us, sounds naive but is an essential starting point. Those who adopt strong views about indigenous issues should take time to inform themselves as best they can about the facts from a range of sources. There are plenty of good things happening, such as the inspiring work from the likes of June Oscar in Fitzroy Crossing and Shane Phillips in Redfern. You just have to take time to look. And promoting the positive doesn't mean ignoring all the problems that still exist. There is a mood for change - at least First Contact producer Darren Dale thinks so. The mood and the temperament of the audience feels right. It feels like there is a slow crawl to changing people's views about how we engage with indigenous Australians and the bigger question of how do we try to help. It feels like the country is just getting out of its teenage years and is starting to become more of an adult and that we are ready to grapple with the indigenous questions.