Series synopsis
Head Start is an Australian drama television series that premiered on ABC TV on March 4, 2001. It ended on December 2, 2001. It stars Freya Stafford, David Hoflin, Blair Venn and Ryan Johnson.
A large banking corporation runs an ongoing competition to foster innovation, creativity and achievement for young Australians. Applicants aged 18 to 21 submit projects in the arts, sports, science, business and community fields. Each winner receives a $20,000 grant to make the dream project a reality. The series revolves around the trials and tribulations of the seven successful applicants. We will see their personal lives collide as they try to make their mark on the world in their chosen fiel ...
Premise
A large banking corporation runs an ongoing competition to foster innovation, creativity and achievement for young Australians. Applicants aged 18 to 21 submit projects in the arts, sports, science, business and community fields. Each winner receives a $20,000 grant to make the dream project a reality. The series revolves around the trials and tribulations of the seven successful applicants. We will see their personal lives collide as they try to make their mark on the world in their chosen fields. Along the way there will be casualties and successes, romance and heartache but nothing will dampen their spirit.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Freya Stafford as Basia Lem
- David Hoflin as Patrick Gormley
- Blair Venn as Garrett Quinn
- Ryan Johnson as Kyle Richter
- Gareth Yuen as Loc Minh Vu
- Megan Cooper as Katherine 'KT' Josephine Ingram
Guest cast
- Manu Bennett
- Callan Mulvey as Rodney 'Rod' Hunter
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 40 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 40 | March 4, 2001 | December 2, 2001 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Make or Break A youth program offers $20,000 to the most promising projects to get the successful applicants started. Kyle and Seth have developed an automatic gearing system for racing bikes, Loc has developed a website which attempts to reunite refugees separated from their families and Basia is an aspiring documentary maker. Then there are Clare and Patrick have driven all the way from Gunning with samples from their yabby breeding program and Katherine desperately wants the freedom to write and perform her own musical compositions. As the applicants go through the interview process, each with their own confidence or lack thereof, and the time to the final announcement of winners draws closer, they deal with the pressure in their own ways. |
March 4, 2001 |
| 2 |
Dischord It's the first meeting at the Foundry and Garrett drills the new team on the rules and regulations of life at Head Start. There aren't many and they're pretty basic. The winners pick out their individual rooms and set about getting to know each other. Of course, there are a few teething problems.Loc wants to rectify the situation with the computer shop. Tran continues to hassle him for money and Loc tries to avoid him but is followed back to the Foundry.Kyle is stunned to learn that Terry and Posy want nothing more to do with him. Meanwhile, he gives Seth a peace offering, with a bit of help from Basia.An impromptu celebration might have consequences for Katherine when she gets drunk for the first time. Moira turns up and is unimpressed, giving not only Katherine, but an earful to Garrett as well. |
March 11, 2001 |
| 3 |
Changing Views Loc apologises to Clare for the damage to the yabby tanks, but Patrick isn't pleased and attempts to enforce his racist views. Loc makes extra cash to pay Tran back with by building a web site for Sacha. Patrick follows Loc to a meeting with Tran to see what Loc is up to but finds himself in too deep when Tran turns on him.Seth confides in Kyle about missing Katherine, who convinces him to go to her house to ask her out. When he gets there he meets Katherine's mother and finds out that she's leaving Head Start to pursue a performance career. And Basia is having difficulty getting Amanda to open up to her. |
March 18, 2001 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ABC TV |
|---|---|
| First aired | March 4, 2001 |
| Last aired | December 2, 2001 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| Status | Ended |