Healing with the Heelers

“I had someone who works in foster care say, ‘This show is probably the only example that some kids have of a functioning family,’” says Melanie Zanetti, better known as the voice of Bluey’s mum Chilli on what is arguably Australia’s most successful TV show.

With the Heeler family set to unleash their biggest episode yet, we had a chinwag with Zanetti, plus Bluey’s executive producer Daley Pearson, about their favourite episodes, the healing power of play, and the little dog’s quest to take over the world from Brisbane, one heart at a time.

Also in this edition:

• Youth homelessness is a national crisis, and a coalition of advocates is tackling the problem head on via the Home Time campaign.
• In The Big Picture, photojournalist Doug Gimesy captures the tireless volunteers nursing injured and orphaned native animals.
• We visit the set of Swift Street, the new freewheelin’ SBS crime series shot in Melbourne’s inner north.
• When Melbourne singer-songwriter Grace Cummings invented her alter ego Ramona, she never suspected it would lead to her most revealing album yet.
• Big Issue vendor Stephen B adjusts to life as a cat dad with the arrival of his first-ever feline friend, Pretty Boy Floyd.
• And Bianca Koutoufides shares her family recipe for sweet, crispy Crostoli, just like Nonna’s!