Australia’s favourite animated canine family has been a runaway success – and Melanie Dimmitt hopes it continues to take the disability community along for the ride.
Bluey is soon returning with nine new episodes. This won’t be news to any Aussie parent who, like me, is all set to enjoy their Easter Bunny spoils with a fresh side of Heeler family shenanigans. But aside from what we’ve sneak peeked – an elevator scene, where Bluey does that tedious, typical-kid thing of pressing every button but the right one – we know little of what’s to come.
What new mischief will Bluey and her younger sister, Bingo, get up to? And what new characters might they meet?
As someone who’ll be watching Bluey’s new episodes, repeatedly, with my two children – one of whom uses a wheelchair – I’m hoping more dogs with disability will enter the scene. And with this show’s track history, I could just be in luck.
Last season we saw the introduction of Dougie, a non-speaking pup who uses Auslan. Meanwhile, Bluey’s school friend, Jack, shows many tell-tale signs of ADHD. Both of these characters appeared on the show without it missing a beat. Their disabilities weren’t made a deal of, or even mentioned. These dogs are simply there – on the playground, at school – and a part of Bluey’s Brisbane-based community.
This series shows disability for what it is: a naturally occurring part of being a mammal. As one in six Australians of the less-furry variety will tell you.
In my seven years as a parent of a person in this cohort I’ve watched our homegrown children’s entertainment better reflect it. Presenters Kiruna Stamell, who is of short stature, and Sofya Gollan, who is Deaf, are part of a diverse team of talent on Play School. Recent “Show Time” episodes of this series feature Paralympic athletes Dylan Alcott and Sarah Rose, along with autism advocate and actor Chloe Hayden.
Play School’s Show Time even has a cameo from Buster, a three-legged rescue hound who steals the limelight while his owner, reality-tv star Matthew “Matty J” Johnson, sings “I’m a Happy Dog”.
With comedian Adam Hills, who has a prosthetic foot, tipped to be voicing one of Bluey’s new characters, dare we hope to see a pooch with physical disability on this show, too?
As a phenomenally successful, award-winning series that’s currently showing in more than 60 countries, when Bluey shines a light on something, it does so to an audience of millions. An audience that is primarily made up of young, impressionable minds. And one particular seven-year-old, in my house, who’d love to see more of himself in his favourite show.
Sure, it’s come under a little scrutiny for not being “diverse” enough, however, I’d say this show – with a rumoured movie in the works – is doing pretty well on the disability representation front.
Please, Bluey, can we have some more?
Melanie Dimmitt
Melanie Dimmitt is a freelance journalist, author and broadcaster. Since her debut book, Special, was published by Ventura Press in 2019, Melanie has written, spoken, podcasted and advocated far and wide for disability families. Creator and host of the award-winning NDIS Know-how and Tubie Talks podcasts, Melanie also publishes an annual magazine, The Blend, for the tube-feeding community.