Following the premise of other versions of the Survivor format, the show features a group of contestants, referred to as "castaways" as they are marooned in an isolated location.

The series first aired in 2002 on the Nine Network, who as of 2023[update], also hold the first-run Australian broadcast rights to the American edition of Survivor.

The series was renewed for a 12th season titled Brains V Brawn II set in Samoa in winter 2024, to be aired in early 2025.

[14] In late 2024, the show was renewed for a shorter second edition for 2025, and the 13th season overall, titled Australia V The World also set in Samoa.

The program was a contractual obligation if the network were to be allowed to continue to broadcast American Survivor.

[15] The program was criticised for poor casting and lower production value than the popular American edition and it was not renewed due to low ratings.

[21] Following Network Ten's acquisition by CBS (the American broadcaster of the format) in 2017, starting in December 2018, CBS made the complete American Survivor series available on their paid Australian streaming platform, Paramount+ (previously known as 10 All Access until August 2021).

[22] Originally, a select few seasons are also uploaded to Network Ten's free streaming site, 10 Play.

[26][27] In late 2023, Survivor UK was included on 10Play, with same day streaming as the series aired on BBC One in the United Kingdom.

[44][45] Introduced in the All Stars season, Talking Tribal is an aftershow that unpacks all of the castaway's strategies from the main show.

The first season was hosted by former contestant Luke Toki and television presenter James Mathison, who were joined by Rob Has a Podcast podcaster Shannon Guss as a regular panelist, with the trio being joined by a guest panelists each week.

[49] Mathison and Guss were joined by the winner and the runner-up of Brains V Brawn, Hayley Leake and George Mladenov, in the third season of Talking Tribal during Blood V Water.