My Great Big Adventure

4:30pm – Saturday, October 27 on ABC3

Hosted by ABC3′s Kayne Tremills, My Great Big Adventure tackles some of the most pressing issues kids face today, such as bullying, family conflict and everyday stress. By sharing real stories from kids and celebrities, the series sends a message that, no matter how difficult the challenge, with the right tools there’s always a way to make your own big adventure better.

My Great Big Adventure is a compilation of 10 x 20 minute episodes which has been screening monthly in 2012.

Episode ten: Happiness – Saturday, October 27 at 4.30pm The last episode of the My Great Big Adventure series tackles happiness. Research shows that Australian children have become increasingly unhappier over time. More and more kids are now experiencing higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress due to extra pressure and worry in their lives. During this episode, we show kids how to grow, create and develop strategies to identify what happiness means to them, and how to apply it to their lives by creating happiness for themselves and others.

Real kids talk about the things in their lives that make them feel happy – from old movies to Christmas lights, these guys pinpoint exactly what makes them tick! Kayne takes a look at the smiling people in advertising that surrounds us every day and asks advertising expert Dee Madigan the question ‘will buying their products make us happier?’ We hang out with Scott Tweedie from ABC3′s Prank Patrol. Scott tells us about the pitfalls of choosing a career for all the wrong reasons and how work becomes fun if you do something that makes you happy.

In our last feature story for the series, acclaimed musician John Butler joins the My Great Big Adventure team. Kayne asks him the question, ‘Does fame make you happier?’ With number one albums and a worldwide following, John tell us of the little things that make him smile and what he knows now that he wishes he knew back then.

Plus in this ‘Happiness’ instalment of the Booth of Truth we feature some very special guests – our regular team is joined by a select group of grandparents. They’ve got bucket-loads of wisdom, and the lifeexperience to back it all up!

2:40pm – Saturday, September 22 on ABC3

Hosted by ABC3′s Kayne Tremills, My Great Big Adventure tackles some of the most pressing issues such as bullying, family conflict and everyday stress that kids face today. By sharing real stories from kids and celebrities, the series sends a message that, no matter how difficult the challenge, with the right tools there’s always a way to make your own big adventure better.

My Great Big Adventure is a compilation of 10 x 20 minute episodes which screens monthly in 2012.

Episode nine: Identity – Saturday, September 22 at 2.40pm In a world where fitting in is paramount it’s often hard for kids to find themselves and express their individuality in a safe space. During this episode, issues of cultural identity, sexual identity, cliques, and belonging are tackled, to help kids look for the clues that might lead them to discover who they are, and who they really want to be.

In the animated monologue real kids share their tales of juggling the opposing forces of trying to be an individual whilst trying to fit in and belong. We learn that trying to achieve these two goals in direct opposition to one other can be a very difficult task.

Human rights activist and Lebanese-Australian, Samah Hadid, tells Kayne that being a teenager can be a time of high anxiety especially when forced to adhere to a traditional cultural background while living in a modern Australian world. She shares her personal story of being torn between two worlds and gives tips on how to bring both parts together to ultimately celebrate a cross-cultural identity.

Kayne then chats to Triple J radio host and comedian, Tom Ballard, who shares his story of becoming aware of his sexuality as a teenager. He discusses the apprehension of showing his real self and his fear of rejection. He also has some great advice about what he wishes he knew back then, and what’s really important when it comes to being true to yourself.

Plus we hear some brilliant tips from our resident Booth of Truthers on expressing our identity, what they think defines us and how to always be true to ourselves.

11:20am – Saturday, August 4 on ABC3

We are constantly being bombarded with images and subliminal messages about how we should look and how ‘perfect’ our bodies should be. Our individual genetic plans mean that much of our body shape is out of our control, but what we can control is how we take care of our bodies, how we respect ourselves and how we celebrate the uniqueness of our individuality. During this episode we help kids separate fact from fiction when it comes to the fantasy of physical perfection.

The animated monologue brings to life kids’ personal stories of their body image concerns, and how it makes them feel when they experience pressure from themselves, their friends and society.

We meet athlete David Pocock, a Wallaby and Western Force rugby star, who tells us how he has endured a decade-long battle with an eating disorder, all while climbing the ranks as one of the best players in the world.

Mia Freedman fills us in on the inside world of magazines, media and image manipulation. She outlines how the media greatly influences what we value as normal or beautiful, and reveals that very little of what is portrayed as ‘ideal or perfect’ actually exists at all. Kayne tests the theory and watches as a graphic artist transforms Kayne’s image into a musclier, taller and less blemished version of himself.

Kayne also chats to Jessica Smith, an inspirational Paralympian and motivational speaker who tells us how being comfortable with her appearance is a constant issue, and how as a teenager trying to achieve her idea of a ‘perfect body’ pushed her to the edge.

Lastly we hear more wise words from students in the Booth of Truth, and hear the top 5 ways to be healthier about our body image.

11:00am – Saturday, May 26 on ABC3

Hosted by ABC3′s Kayne Tremills, My Great Big Adventure tackles some of the most pressing issues kids face today, such as bullying, family conflict and everyday stress. By sharing real stories from kids and celebrities, the series sends a message that, no matter how difficult the challenge, with the right tools there’s always a way to make your own big adventure better.

My Great Big Adventure is a compilation of 10 x 20 minute episodes which will screen monthly in 2012.

Episode Five: Stress – Saturday, May 26 at 11.00am No longer the sole domain of adults, stress is infiltrating the existence of kids everywhere. A master of disguise, stress camouflages itself in the major parts of their lives – academic expectations, social friendships, family issues and extra-curricular activities. During this episode of My Great Big Adventure, we discover what stress actually is, how to recognise the difference between positive and negative stress and how to manage it in order to lighten an already hefty load.

The animated monologue brings to life a variety of true stories, with schoolwork and family situations taking centre stage. Australian swimming champion, 16-year-old Yolane Kukla, talks to Kayne about managing school-life, home-life and her constant training schedule. Plus, Olivia Phyland from ABC3′s Studio 3 chats to Kayne about how she dealt with a stressful situation which she had no control over, and the Booth of Truth is back with great advice from kids on how to deal with the stressful situations we might come across in our everyday lives.

11:00am – Saturday, April 21 on ABC3

Hosted by ABC3′s Kayne Tremills, My Great Big Adventure tackles some of the most pressing issues kids face today, such as bullying, family conflict and everyday stress. By sharing real stories from kids and celebrities, the series sends a message that, no matter how difficult the challenge, with the right tools there’s always a way to make your own big adventure better.

My Great Big Adventure is a compilation of 10 x 20 minute episodes which will screen monthly in 2012.

Episode four: Friendship – Saturday, April 21 at 11.00am BFFs, frenemies, besties – whatever you call them, what does it really mean to be a true friend? Kids are spending around 20 hours a week with their mates, and studies show that strong friendships are key for the development of young people’s social and emotional growth. With young people pushing the boundaries, entering new social territories and leaving the safety nets of their parents – friends become their new safety net. This episode shows what a real friend is, what a real friend isn’t and how to be a good friend in return.

The animated monologues feature stories from real kids about some of the ways their friendships have let them down. Kayne meets up with Tom Green (Sammy) and Jordan Rodrigues (Christian) from Dance Academy to talk about their friendship as they’re great mates off-screen too! In the Booth of Truth we hear from students about what it takes to be a good friend, and how they try their best to look after their mates, and Kayne gives us the top 5 tips to be a better friend. Plus another Dance Academy favourite, Dena Kaplan (Abigail) chats about how she grew apart from a group of friends she used to hang out with, and how that experience affected her.

9:30am – Saturday, March 24 on ABC3

Hosted by ABC3′s Kayne Tremills, My Great Big Adventure tackles some of the most pressing issues kids face today, such as bullying, family conflict and everyday stress. By sharing real stories from kids and celebrities, the series sends a message that, no matter how difficult the challenge, with the right tools there’s always a way to make your own big adventure better.

My Great Big Adventure is a compilation of 10 x 20 minute episodes which will screen monthly in 2012.

Episode three: Tech Life – Saturday, March 24 at 9.30am Technology today is unavoidable, highly accessible and potentially addictive. Most 12-to-13 year-olds are spending around 13 hours per week online due to easy access on mobile phones, the internet, social networks and video games. This technology is mostly a great resource for many young people when used in moderation. But for others it creates a serious addiction leading to a lifestyle of aggression, poor school results, bad nutrition and dreadful hygiene.

During this episode My Great Big Adventure aims to help combat this issue by showing kids how a techno-addict behaves and how to break the cycle to re-enter the real world, instead of living a virtual (non)-existence. Kayne chats to Hex and Bajo from ABC3′s Good Game SP to get the low-down on some extreme technology and social media behaviour from around the world. They also talk to Kayne about their own personal experiences with technology, and what they did to make sure they kept balance in their lives.

The animated monologues show real kids talking about their experiences with social media and technology; Kayne meets a gamer who had trouble balancing his gaming and studying priorities at high school; and in the Booth of Truth students give up some great tips about protecting yourself and others from the pitfalls of too much one-on-one time with technology!

2:35pm – Saturday, February 25 on ABC3

Hosted by ABC3′s Kayne Tremills, My Great Big Adventure tackles some of the most pressing issues kids face today, such as bullying, family conflict and everyday stress. By sharing real stories from kids and celebrities, the series sends a message that, no matter how difficult the challenge, with the right tools there’s always a way to make your own big adventure better.

My Great Big Adventure is a compilation of 10 x 20 minute episodes which will screen monthly in 2012.

Episode two: Family friction – Saturday February 25 at 2.35pm Unsurprisingly, family issues are the number one reason for the majority of calls at Kids Helpline – it’s clearly one of the most significant issues affecting children today. With helpful advice for fragile circumstances, this episode aims to help kids understand this friction, where the fault lies, and how to cope in a fractured family situation.

During this episode, we get personal with Kayne when he talks about his own family situation and some of the challenges he and his mum faced as a family unit when he was growing up.

Through an intercut animated montage, kids talk about the family friction they’ve experienced which includes fights with family members, rules and boundaries; and we hear how bad, angry, frustrated and sad these experiences made them feel.

Kayne also looks at the other side of the story, and talks to a group of parents about the challenges they face with a growing family and how they have to adapt as well to keep up with their kids. Then we head to the Booth of Truth for tips on what it takes to get along with your family.

6:00pm – Sunday, January 29 on ABC3

Hosted by ABC3′s Kayne Tremills, My Great Big Adventure tackles some of the most pressing issues kids face today, such as bullying, family conflict and everyday stress. By sharing real stories from kids and celebrities, the series sends a message that, no matter how difficult the challenge, with the right tools there’s always a way to make your own big adventure better.

My Great Big Adventure is a compilation of 10 x 20 minute episodes which will screen monthly in 2012 and delves into the following issues – bullying, family friction, technology, friendship, stress, winning and losing, body image, disability, identity and happiness.* The series aims to help viewers understand each of the topics explored and empower them to deal with each issue, whether it is affecting them now or later on in life.

During each episode kids share their stories which are told through a voice-over animated montage; celebrities reveal their own personal experiences; the ‘Booth of Truth’ segment reveals tips and advice from kids; and the tools needed to work through these issues are highlighted.

There are also three principles for coping which are constantly reinforced: *We are never alone. There are always others finding things as tough as we are.

*No chapter lasts forever. Difficult times will pass.

*We’re all stars of our own great big adventure and we have the power to shape our journey – let’s do all we can to make it a great one.

Episode one: Bullying – Sunday January 29 at 6.00pm Once upon a time bullying was something obvious, a fight in the playground, name calling or teasing. But with the advent of mobile phones and the internet there are new battlefields.

During this episode, the issue of bullying is broken down – who does it, how and why -highlighting the tools needed to navigate this challenging issue.

Real kids share their stories on what it’s like to be bullied and how it affected them; Kayne sits down with actor Tim Pocock (Dance Academy, X-Men: Origin: Wolverine) who talks about his experience being bullied in high school; and an ex-bully shares why they bully and what you can do as a bystander if you see someone being bullied. In The ‘Booth of Truth’ segment kids tell us what steps they took when they were bullied, what didn’t work and what you definitely should try.