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We are honoured to have the opportunity to learn from the oldest cultural storytellers in the world and seek to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners to share their rich culture and perspectives with children in Australia and around the world via stories on screen.

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Teachers Discuss the Importance of Quality Australian Children’s Television

The importance of quality Australian children’s television resonates very strongly with teachers around the country. They value how diverse, authentically Australian stories connect with their students in ways that content from elsewhere cannot.

According to findings released in the 2016 report “Screen Content in Australian Education”, Australian teachers use screen content in the classroom in a number of different ways – as “signature content”, “favourite content”, “teachable moment content” and “in-the-moment content”.

For St Kilda Primary teacher Cassandra King, quality children’s media content is a way for students to achieve social cohesion by bonding with shared values, goals and aspirations.

“[Australian children’s content] unites children in the playground. It unites children in the classroom. It brings together families and it brings together communities.

“There are stories that are unique to Australia, and if we don’t see those stories told, they are lost,” she says.

Primary teacher Eric McCann says Australian children’s television is important to him because it ensures that students have the ability to see local settings, characters, locations and storylines on their screens.

“It’s great to see so much richness and diversity in Australia. Particularly Indigenous heritage - It isn’t represented in foreign media,” he says.

Eric’s colleague Sam Cheshire says he values Australian children’s media for its relatability and proximity to home.

“If you’re watching a show that’s made in Australia, you get intrigued, you think - where is it made? Is it close to where I live?” he says.

For all three teachers, it is agreed that there is immense educational value in providing screen content for Australian schools.

If, like these teachers, you feel strongly about the importance of quality Australian children’s stories appearing on our screens we suggest you make your views known to the Commonwealth Government’s ‘Australian and Children’s Content Review’ by simply sending in an email.

Let the Review team know how you use Australian screen content in the classroom and the type of content you value.

To make a submission, visit the Government’s Australian and Children’s Content Review site.

Submissions are open until 5PM on Friday, 20 September.