We acknowledge and respect the Traditional Owners of lands across Australia, their Elders, Ancestors, cultures and heritage, and recognise the continuing sovereignties of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nations.

We respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, who are the Traditional Owners of the land on which the ACTF is based and pay our respect to their Elders past and present.

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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Education Outreach: Screenwriting Studies at RMIT

What can young children learn from kids’ television? And how do teachers use screen content in the classroom? The ACTF Education team explored these questions and more in a visit to Melbourne’s RMIT University.

ACTF Curriculum Officer Janine Kelly recently conducted a workshop on the educational value of preschool content for students in RMIT’s ‘Writing for Children’s Television’ course. This course runs as an elective subject in the university’s Advanced Diploma of Professional Screenwriting.

Quality content for this age group models social and emotional skills that young children need to thrive, such as taking turns, communication, compassion and problem-solving. Short-form clips featuring relatable characters and events are one great way to scaffold this learning in early years classrooms.

Students discussed and viewed ACTF-supported preschool projects that promote pro-social behaviours, including Little J and Big Cuz and Lah-Lah’s Adventures: Music for Everyone. In an interactive task, the class then watched a Bluey episode and identified links with the national curriculum’s General Capabilities.

Students in the ‘Writing for Children’s Television’ course will create a series ‘bible’ as their final assessment. Understanding the value of quality children’s screen stories – for both children and educators – will help to inform their work.

ACTF Education has the capacity to run virtual workshops for tertiary institutions across the country. Please get in touch at education@actf.com.au if you would like to learn more.