Australia’s government has allocated about US$9.6 million to the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF) in its 2024-2025 budget, which includes more than US$76 million in funding for eight national arts training orgs. 

The ACTF funds and supports projects through development and is also a leading kids content distributor. Its catalogue includes homegrown live-action series Hardball, First Day and animated series Kangaroo Beach, all of which have attracted international broadcaster interest. The org previously received US$14 million in government funding in 2021 to spend over two years. This US$9.6 million allocations is for four years. 

Screen Producers Australia released a statement welcoming the support: “We are pleased that the ACTF can continue its important work in supporting new screen projects for our much neglected but vital child audiences,” says CEO Matthew Deaner. 

The federal budget also calls for scrapping above-the-line costs for producer offsets, creating a more level playing field where international projects are not subject to the cap. And the government is allocating funds to the Revive Live program to support Australia’s live music sector. 

The new funding is important for the industry because it comes after a decade of cuts, and will help make sure Australian stories are told and artists are supported, says Tony Burke, Australia’s minister for the arts. 

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