News Australia‘s true crime podcast Dear Rachelle won three awards at the 2026 New York Festivals Radio Awards, including the National Press Club Award. That award is given to the highest-scoring news program across the Best Coverage of Breaking News Story, Best Coverage of Ongoing News Story, Best Nonfiction Series and News Podcast categories.
Dear Rachelle also took home the Gold Tower award in the Investigative Journalism Podcast category, up against heavyweights including Bloomberg, CBS, RNZ and Wondery, and the Silver Tower award in the Narrative and Documentary Podcast category.
Dear Rachelle investigates the murder of Rachelle Childs, a 23-year-old woman from Bargo, south-west of Sydney, who disappeared after work in June 2001. Her body was found dumped by the side of a remote highway, 100km from where she was last seen, and set on fire.
Host Ashlea Hansen said:
“For our team, and for Rachelle’s family, to be recognised in this way on a global stage is deeply humbling. We’re proud our podcast demonstrates the power of journalism and podcasting. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support and trust of Rachelle’s family. We are enormously grateful to them and all of our loyal listeners.”
There was also success for A Current Affair, 60 Minutes & Tapt Media (formerly 9Podcasts). The Saints and Alva Beach: Death At The Door, were awarded Bronze and Silver statues respectively in the ‘narrative/documentary podcast’ category. Alva Beach: Death At The Door was also awarded Bronze in the ‘serialised podcast’ category.
Presented by 60 Minutes journalist Adam Hegarty, with producer Jess Lodge and sound design & editing by Matty White, Alva Beach: Death At The Door pulls back the curtain on the fatal events of a single night in the quiet North Queensland town Alva Beach.
Through exclusive interviews and extensive evidence, Hegarty delves into the stabbing deaths of two men: 37-year-old father of three Corey Christensen and 27-year-old Tom Davy.
Adam Hegarty said:
“This is a story that’s stuck with me for a very long time, so I could not be prouder of the work Jess, Matty and I have done, and am incredibly grateful for the recognition.
My thoughts and admiration are also with the Davy and Christensen families. It takes serious courage to share your heartbreak, and your important grievances, when you know doing so will be met with criticism.
I hope – at the very least – people finally feel heard.”
Presented by A Current Affair’s Pippa Bradshaw (main image), again with producer Jess Lodge and sound design & editing by Hannah Sterling, The Saints exposes one of Australia’s most shocking cases of religious extremism which resulted in the tragic death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs in Toowoomba, Queensland.
Pippa Bradshaw said:
“I’m deeply honoured to have The Saints and Elizabeth’s story recognised on a global stage, one that highlights the real dangers of extreme belief, and the importance of accountability.”
Other winners at the Awards include, for the ABC, Gold Towers for Unravel: Huntsman in Serialized Podcasts and for Expanse: Nowhere Man for Narrative / Documentary podcast plus a Silver Tower in History for the latter.
Marc Fennell was awarded a Gold Tower as Program Host for the Audible made Corked. Hold The Moment was awarded Silver for Health / Medical podcast. Impact Studios won Silver for Hey History in the Education podcast category and the SBS were awarded a Silver Tower for How Human’s Talk in the Culture & the Arts podcast category.
At the upcoming Radioinfo, Radio Today and Mumbrella 2026 Australian Audio Awards which will be held next Thursday May 28 at Carriageworks Sydney the above podcasts are also shortlisted:
Best New Podcast – Major
Dear Rachelle
Best Podcast Host – Major
Ashlea Hansen for Dear Rachelle
Erin Parke for Expanse: Nowhere Man
Best Podcast Producer – Major
Matty White and Alva Beach
Rhys Gunter for Dear Rachelle
Best Podcast Producer – Independent
Liam Riordan for Hold the Moment with Deadset Studios
Best Branded Podcast
Hold the Moment – Dementia Australia with Deadset Studios
Best Crime Podcast – Major
Dear Rachelle
The Saints
Unravel: Huntsman
Best Health and Wellness podcast
Hold the Moment with Deadset Studios and Dementia Australia
Best Investigative Podcast – Major
Dear Rachelle
Expanse: Nowhere Man
Best Society and Culture podcast – Major
Corked – Marc Fennell and Audible
And they will also be in the running for the People’s Vote.
Tickets are still available for the inaugural Australian Audio Awards here.
The full New York Festivals Award winners are here.
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