Corporate Partners

NBN Television

NBN Television is affiliated with the National Nine Network, and in 2002 celebrates 40 years of broadcast. NBN serves the Northern NSW and South East Queensland regions, which with a population of 1.7 million people, is Australia's 4th largest television market behind Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. NBN's dominance of viewing in its market is unparalleled in Australia, with NBN being Australia's highest rating television station.

In 2002, NBN has launched an ambitious project - aimed at improving the social outcomes for our regions kids. Why? Because in the new millennium, the road for our kids is the toughest it's been for many, many years. Not many people are aware that:

• Australia has one of the highest rates of male youth suicide in the world - in 1999 some 380 young people committed suicide, and it is estimated over 15,000 attempted;
• Youth unemployment is around 30%;
• 38% of all teenagers have used an illicit drug, and it was supplied by a friend or acquaintance;
• 100,000 children a year are being reported to authorities because of abuse or neglect, and 20,000 of them will spend time away from their families as a result;
• As many as 100,000 young people (aged 12 - 24) experience homelessness each year, with around 37,000 being homeless on any given night. Why?

• Physical, sexual or emotional abuse; 
• Rejection when a parent re-partners; 
• Relationship and family conflict and breakdown; 
• Domestic violence; 
• Family Poverty.

NBN aims to tackle these issues by providing on-air information and education, and by promoting the avenues available for help. We will encourage our communities to take ownership of the issues and lift their status of importance with all levels of government. This project will be badged "We Care" and is an outward sign of community support. The "We Care" logo is being used in all aspects of NBN's business, including on-air promotions, program promotions, sporting and corporate sponsorships (eg Newcastle Knights) billboards, bus sides and event signage. NBN's clients are also tagging their commercials and displaying "We Care" stickers on their premises, as an outward sign of their support.

The second part of this project is to help provide much needed financial support to many of those hard-working organisations in our community who help our kids on a daily basis. To this end, NBN has broken its market into its six "distinct" geographical areas, and will conduct six separate Telethons at the end of this year to support local charities. The Telethon is badged "because every child deserves to Smile", and it is hoped that the community will surpass its incredible efforts of 1997 when over $3.25M was raised for Childrens Cancer at the John Hunter Childrens Hospital.

Telethon beneficiaries in our regions are:

Newcastle / Hunter Valley

The Children and Youth Health Network at the John Hunter Childrens Hospital; Life Education; Mission Australia; Newcastle Youth Service; and the Starlight Foundation

Central Coast

Central Coast Health Children and Youth Services; Wyong Oasis Youth Centre; and the Starlight Foundation

New England/ North West

"Newtrain" and the Starlight Foundation

Mid North Coast

Police Community Youth Centres at Taree, Port Macquarie, Kempsey and Coffs Harbour ; and the Starlight Foundation

Northern Rivers

Our Kids Northern Rivers Childrens Health Fund; and the Starlight Foundation

Gold Coast

Gold Coast Variety Club, supporting Childrens Charities; and the Starlight Foundation

All of these groups are working to improve the lives of our kids, and we hope that you are able to support this project, because every child deserves to smile.