Janine Kelly

My Place tells the story of an Australian community from the perspectives of children who lived there over time. Both the picture book and TV series have become embedded texts in Australian classrooms.

Adolescence is an important time for all young people to explore and establish their personal and social identities. In authentic portrayals of teens on screen, young people see characters navigating relatable issues. Co-viewing this content opens opportunities for dialogue among families, enabling teens to consolidate their understandings, share their ideas and ask questions.

How can we best support the education, wellbeing and development of Australia’s children? The ACTF recently joined representatives from a broad range of organisations to consider this question and provide recommendations which will inform the Australian Government’s forthcoming Early Years Strategy.

Both the picture book and the My Place television series have become embedded texts in Australian classrooms, capturing the imaginations of students and teachers alike. ACTF National Curriculum Manager Janine Kelly explores the educational legacy of the My Place story.  

Jointly presented by the Australian Association for the Teaching of English and the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association, the ‘Hearts, Minds, Stories: Landscapes of Learning’ conference was held in Darwin earlier this month. Here, the ACTF Learning team reflects on the event from the perspectives of sponsor, exhibitor and presenter.

International Day of People with Disability is held annually on 3 December to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability, and to celebrate their achievements and contributions. The following children’s content and resources will support teachers in guiding classroom conversations on disability, inclusion and accessibility.

Presented by the ABC Education and the ACTF, the 2021 My Place Competition asked Year 3-6 students to reflect on and write about how people of diverse backgrounds helped to shape their communities.

A record number of students attended our recent ACMI Education x ACTF webinar with My Place author Nadia Wheatley.

By focussing on children from our past, living history series Are You Tougher Than Your Ancestors? develops young people’s knowledge of Australian history, their national identity, and an understanding of their own capabilities.

In a recent virtual learning event, schools went behind the scenes with the cast and creator of The Unlisted. Students learnt about the making of this thrilling drama series, from ideation to production to broadcast.

For school starters and their families, there is a range of quality Australian programming which explores the environment, routines and expectations of primary school.

With young people having unprecedented access to inappropriate content, children’s television is well-placed to contribute to the sex ed conversation.

Our virtual learning experiences highlight the ACTF’s role in media, culture and education.

Local content has the power to shape children’s personal identities, their collective national identity, and their relationships with others.

Quality local content provides vicarious experiences that build children’s intercultural understanding, explains ACTF Curriculum Officer Janine Kelly.

ACTF Education's live webinars enable teachers and students Australia-wide to connect with industry professionals and expertise, regardless of their school’s location. In our most recent video conference, students from around the country met First Day writer / director Julie Kalceff, and lead actress Evie MacDonald. Here's what was discussed in this compelling Q&A. 

Why is it that Australian preschoolers spend their hot December days watching snowy fields and frosty snowmen on TV, when we’re really spending our holidays around barbecues, at the beach, or playing cricket in the backyard? This festive season, we’re wishing for more local experiences of Christmas represented on screen.

Ludo Studio’s delightful animated preschool series Bluey premiered on ABC Kids this month, and my four-year old daughter is its second biggest fan. Following me. Parents of Australia, here are five reasons why you will genuinely enjoy Bluey as much as your children will.