Barbara Biggins

I'm motivated by this: the stories we tell our children help them understand the world they live in. So stories need to be carefully chosen by someone who cares and has responsibility for each child. Too many stories these days are delivered by mass media outlets and advertisers who have no such connection or responsibility.

I’ve advocated for nearly 50 years for children’s access to quality content that enhances their lives, for children’s rights as media consumers and for regulatory limits on content that harms children’s development.

In the next 12 months, I want to expand the influence and recognition of Children and Media Australia (my organisation) as a reliable research-based information agency and advocate for children’s rights as media consumers; and get a good conclusion to our ongoing campaign for an evidence-and child-development- based classification system for films/games. I'll need all my knowledge and experience.

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In 2022, Barbara was a recipient of round one of the Trust's Impact Funding program — an initiative to enhance outcomes of Churchill Fellowships across all industries and sectors. Barbara's Impact Funding project was to conduct a review and redesign of small screen — Children and Media Australia's monthly news review. Small screen, which was first published in 1986, is a unique and valuable publication on developments in children's media, research, law and regulation, and opportunities for public participation. More about small screen and subscribe About Impact Funding