By Natasha Fujimoto
NIC Healey has built a reputation as one of the Goulburn Valley’s most trusted and genuine voices. For the past two years, as the host of ABC Shepparton Breakfast, he connected with his audience by discussing local issues and fostering meaningful conversations. Now, as the host of Victorian Statewide Mornings, Nic’s impact extends beyond the Goulburn Valley, raising the volume on important topics across regional Victoria. He continues to offer a diverse mix of engaging content, insightful discussions, and a genuine passion for the communities he serves.
Nic’s love for journalism began while working on the University of Wollongong student newspaper. His career has taken him across various fields, from earning a degree in psychology to editing magazines that covered motoring, music and technology. However, it was his regular tech news segment on Radio Australia that ignited his passion for broadcasting.
Starting with a volunteer role in community radio, Nic gradually worked his way to breakfast time slots in Sydney, Karratha and Shepparton. His approach has remained consistent, creating meaningful, two-way conversations that matter, and making guests feel at ease so that listeners hear not just the news, but the real, human stories behind it.
“I think the most important thing to remember when having conversations is that it’s just me talking to someone, and there’s someone listening who’s really interested in what they have to say,” Nic said. “You’re telling them what they need to know.”
As the host of ABC Shepparton Breakfast, Nic addressed some of the region’s most pressing issues, many of which remain ongoing. One major topic has been the growing difficulty people face in putting food on the table, a problem that continues to worsen. “People can’t put food on the table comfortably, and that’s getting worse, not better,” he said in December.
Housing insecurity is another key concern. “People are really worried about secure housing, having a place to rent and an affordable place to buy. For people to be priced out of the town they’ve lived in all their lives, to me, is a genuine tragedy. These are really important issues.”
Other significant stories have included the alarming prevalence of gendered violence across regional Victoria and the ongoing poor state of local roads. “We’ve discussed the state of the roads throughout my time here in Shepparton, and we’ll no doubt continue to talk about it for some time to come,” Nic said, having just replaced all four wheels on his car due to a pothole incident.
Despite these heavy topics, Nic also highlighted some of the more memorable moments from his time behind the mic—some profound, some bright, and some downright quirky. He describes the privilege of hearing First Nations people share their stories on Sorry Day and the joy of learning about the achievements of local artists as among the most rewarding experiences. Nic also recalls a ‘very entertaining conversation’ with a farmer from Swampy Marsh about the possibility of human composting as an alternative to burial.
Now, with a larger statewide audience, Nic believes a quality breakfast show, no matter the reach, should always reflect the community and amplify its stories and voices. “An ideal breakfast show, whether it’s in Shepparton or anywhere else, is one that reflects, informs, and sometimes challenges the audience,” he said.
“You can’t just tell people things they already know. You’ve got to have conversations about solutions. Sometimes, you need to give people information they were unaware of or didn’t want to hear. So, I like to think that we’re reflecting the big issues that are being spoken about at home, at the workplace, and in the car. We’re reflecting the passion for it.”
