ACTF News

After an incredible 36 years as Chair and 39 as a Board member, Janet Holmes á Court has stepped down from the Board of the Australian Children’s Television Foundation.

Janet’s contribution to the ACTF and Australian children’s television more broadly has been extraordinary. She has been one of the fiercest and most dedicated advocates for the Australian child audience, campaigning for their right to high quality content from a grassroots level to the upper echelons of the Australian parliament.

Janet leaves behind a proud legacy of 61 Australian-made programs which have broken new ground in format, representation and diversity, won dozens of awards including four international Emmys, and have been aired in more than 150 countries around the world, showcasing Australia and its culture across six continents.

Of her time at the ACTF, Janet said: “When I walked through the door for my first Board meeting in December 1983, I didn’t imagine that I would still be here all these years later! The ACTF turned out to be one of the great joys of my life. Being part of the ACTF has always been a source of great pride.

“There is immense public value in creating film and television for children that reflects their lives, their country, their voices and experiences back to them. The value in supporting our film and television industry to provide these programs for children is an investment in our culture, a statement about the type of country we want our children to grow up in and a means to inspire children to dream Australian dreams.

“After all these years I still enjoy walking through that door at the ACTF, where the enthusiasm, creativity and energy of the whole team is infectious. Stepping down does not mean good-bye.”

Andrea Denholm has been on the Board of the ACTF for 10 years, five as Janet’s Deputy Chair. She said: “The ACTF is unique in the entire world.  It has, as its sole purpose, the making and distribution of the highest quality screen content for children, and it draws on a small and multi-talented team to deliver, again and again, the best content in the world for the children’s audience.

“That hasn’t happened by accident. It has happened because Janet was at the helm. She is the foundation of the Foundation. Janet’s belief in the transformative power of quality screen content for children, and her genuine delight in the ACTF’s content is infectious.

“When I joined the Board, I knew Janet only by her esteemed and somewhat formidable reputation. Getting to know her has been an absolute highlight of my professional life. From all Board members, past, present and future, thank you for what you have done for the ACTF and for the screen industry. And on behalf of all the children who have been fortunate enough to watch ACTF content, thank you for standing up for their right to see stories that are about them and for them.”

ACTF CEO Jenny Buckland said: “Janet’s smiling face has been a feature of the ACTF’s Board table since soon after the ACTF was established. It’s not possible to adequately sum up her time here, to appropriately thank her for everything she’s meant to the organisation and every one of its staff and Board members over the years. The impact Janet has had on the ACTF, and in turn Australian children’s television, is beyond measure, and beyond words.

“Janet’s passionate advocacy for the ACTF and kids’ TV comes from a real and genuine love for the content Australia produces for young people. We could not have asked for a more amazing champion and advocate than Janet. She has been such a unique and special friend over the years, and while she may be stepping down from her role on our Board, she will always have a home at the ACTF.”

We are immensely grateful to Janet for her amazing contribution to Australian children’s television. She will be missed!