ABC's #GIRLSCHANGETHEWORLD Campaign

ABC's #GIRLSCHANGETHEWORLD Campaign

ABC ME's newest recruits, Mustangs FC, are leading the charge on the United Nations International Day of the Girl, Wednesday, October 11, as the ABC showcases a full day of entertaining and informative programming across TV and online that celebrates Australian girls of all cultures, abilities, ages and interests.

ABC's #GIRLSCHANGETHEWORLD campaign shines a spotlight on Australian girls and women who have taken risks, been rewarded for their intelligence, shown leadership, and driven social change at local, national and global levels that actively promote a better world.

Girls will take control of all the ABC ME platforms across the day with a stunning line-up of programs crafted by an impressive group of highly celebrated and emerging Australian female content makers. Fresh new faces of the future are presented for the first time, with 40 young female actors between the ages of 10-16 have been cast in these new programs.

The striking line-up of programs that celebrate incredible and powerful women and girls include: 

Mustangs FC – WORLD PREMIERE at 5.00pm: a goal-kicking comedy drama about girls who abandon the sidelines and start their football club's first all-girls team. Against the odds, they'll stand united and overcome any challenge the club, the boys or the opposition can throw at them, all while wrestling with what it means to be a girl today. 

Girls Change the World – 4:30pm: a documentary about girls who are making a difference, big and small, creating positive change through activism 

Girls Film Season – from 6.15pm: Five films selected as part of ABC ME and Screen Australia's joint initiative - dramas Summer's Day and First Day and documentaries, Shame, The Funny Ones and A Field Guide to Being a 12-Year-Old Girl - explore the pivotal and challenging moments in a 12-year-old's life. 

Advice to My 12-Year-Old Self – screening throughout the day from 7.45am: Thirty-seven of Australia's distinguished and brightest women are supporting the campaign and offering advice to Australian girls, including the President of the Australia Human Rights Commission Gillian Triggs, Australian professional soccer striker Kyah Simon, musician Dami Im, academic and author Dr Susan Carland, Astronomy and Astrophysics Postgraduate student Karlie Noon, the Minister for Foreign Affairs The Hon Julie Bishop, and more.

In addition, ABC Children's programs we know and love, including News To Me, Spawn Point, Play School and Giggle and Hoot all have dedicated episodes.

The ABC invites all Australians to join the campaign that Australian girls can do anything by sharing stories about the girls in their life who change the world every day in big and small ways. A User Generated Competition (UGC) has launched for school age kids to send in their videos – the winner will be announced on 11^th October. We encourage Australians of all ages to get involved by posting photos and sharing their #GIRLSCHANGETHEWORLD content on social media on the 11^th October.

At the heart of the ABC's International Day of the Girl celebrations is the message that Australian girls can do anything! Join the conversation: #GIRLSCHANGETHEWORLD