Lily Pavlovic

This International Day of the Girl (and all the days in between), it’s important to encourage diverse voices in our media, and celebrate all young people who can make a difference in our world.

Seeing new and diverse sporting stories, both in real life and on screen, can play an important role in encouraging young Aussies to follow their sporting dreams.

In a world of ‘fake news’ and ‘alternative facts’, The Inbestigators models curiosity and critical thinking for kids.

In 2019, kids’ TV creators are turning their attention to representation and diversity. With a greater focus on inclusion, the consensus on what constitutes a “traditional” Australian TV accent is changing. Hardball is one of the many OzKidsTV series leading the charge.

Bananas in pyjamas, faceless dolls and whirling willies - some of the wildest and most imaginative ideas have originated from Australian children’s TV. Here are just a few of the ways in which Australian children’s television enables creativity.

Upcoming live-action, fish-out-of-water comedy, Hardball, begins this April on the ABC. With it comes a father-son relationship with a lot of heart. Sydneysiders will be able to spot a range of familiar locations in Hardball. The series is filmed and set in Sydney's western suburbs and features its diverse local communities.

You could be forgiven for thinking Australia’s biggest export is iron ore, wheat or meat – and in dollar terms, you’d be right. But how do you put a price cultural exports? Particularly, our nation’s stunning wealth of local talent. Children’s TV is just the beginning for many of our leading lights.

You’ll be surprised how much movie magic you can find in your own backyard.

Past the brick classrooms of Moorabbin Primary School, across the grounds and beside a wire fence, there is a pathway. Down the pathway, footprints lead to the teacher’s carpark. On the carpark is a giant shed. A thick lighting cable sneaks under the shed door - a clue to the movie-magic that awaits inside.

Last week’s Q&A high school special on ABC TV featured a panel of students from all across Australia, who tackled the issues of today with poise, thoughtfulness and grace. What the ACTF's Lily Pavlovic took away from this week’s Q&A was that teens want to be heard, and Australians want to hear what they have to say.

Beloved kids’ news program, Behind the News has hit a milestone as one of the longest running youth programs on Australian television. Although it’s reached almost 50 years of programming, tight budgets have seen the party cut short.

Esben Storm was an actor, screenwriter, television and film director. He left an extraordinary legacy and a meaningful impact on Australian television and its audience, particularly for children.

Beloved Australian children’s author, Morris Gleitzman, began telling stories for children via television, before he moved to books. Whether for screen or print, he has always written stories from the heart. Now, he’s sharing his love for storytelling, and encouraging young Australians to do the same.

Commercial broadcasters claim that kids are making the switch from children’s programming to adult lifestyle and entertainment TV. Does this mean it’s time for a reality check on advertising content during prime time?

The Review of Australian and Children’s Content has only just got underway, but the key players are already making their arguments to a concurrent Inquiry into the Sustainability of the Film and Television Industry, being conducted by a House of Representatives Committee. The Committee is holding hearings around the country.

Glenda Wilson had been working with the ACTF’s founding director, Dr Patricia Edgar, at La Trobe University, when the ACTF was established in 1982. When Patricia asked Glenda to come and work with her at the ACTF, Glenda had no idea that she would stay for 35 years.

Plushies. VHSs. Albums. Coffee Mugs. Toys, games and DVDs. At just 17 years of age, Sydney’s Joseph Marshall has an accumulation of children’s television memorabilia that could rival the most seasoned of collectors.