ABC Names Head of Children’s & Family

Australia’s ABC has appointed Beyond Entertainment alum Melinda Wearne as head of children’s and family.

“The ABC has always been a trusted destination for Australian kids and their parents, championing ambitious, original storytelling that connects with young audiences here and internationally,” Wearne commented. “I’m honored to work with Australian creators and the talented ABC team to continue building on that trust and create the next generation of stories for Australian families.”

Wearne joins from Beyond Entertainment, where she most recently served as head of scripted and led development across drama, children’s and family content. Her credits include developing, producing and executive producing The Family Next Door. Across her career, she has held senior creative and production roles, including development executive on Troppo, producer on Motown Magic and Monster Beach and associate producer on Beat Bugs.

“We’re delighted to welcome Melinda to the Screen team as the head of children’s and family,” said Jennifer Collins, director of Screen at ABC. “Melinda is an exceptional, creative leader with a proven track record in delivering outstanding content for Australian and international audiences. I would also like to thank and acknowledge Mary-Ellen Mullane, who has been acting in the role and has guided the team through a period of change while continuing to deliver high-quality programs.”

In addition, senior executive Alex Baldwin has been tapped as ABC Screen’s head of development and commissioning across all genres.

Collins added, “The Screen [team] brings together some of the most creative and experienced leaders in the industry, ensuring the ABC continues to deliver premium programming that champions Australian storytelling. With the team in place, we’re ready to unveil an outstanding 2026 slate at the ABC Media Showcase on Thursday.”