Community Broadcasting Association of Australia

18/12/2025

Audio Ability Accessible Training and Mentorship Program is back in 2026!

CMTO is currently receiving Expression of Interest for participants and mentors. Audio Ability is a free 16-week blended learning program offering training and mentorship to people with disabilities who are interested in working in radio.

Find out more here https://cmto.org.au/latest/audio-ability-2026-eois/

Has someone at your station recently participated in the Audio Ability training program? We'd love to hear from you, let us know in the comments below.

“I felt a strong authenticity being guided by someone who can honestly relate with your lived experience. There is a place for our own voice, here in community broadcasting.” – (Audio Ability Participant) Applications for the next round of Audio Ability are now open until ……. You can fill ...

17/12/2025

Vox FM - The Voice Of The Illawarra has recently upgraded their studio! Their old broadcaster was a real trooper, but after 25 years, sourcing parts was getting tough. Thanks to the incredible efforts of their fundraising team and vital grants, they were able to replace their panel and give the studio a fresh coat of paint.

Not only does the studio look fantastic, but the new gear also means The Voice of Illawarra can finally hit the road. With the ability to deliver live outside broadcasts, the Vox FM crew are now able to bring you all the action from local events.

17/12/2025

This time of year can often bring extreme weather conditions and natural disasters, and local stations and their communities can benefit from being prepared.

We recommend heading to our website to check in on our Emergency Broadcasting resources here https://bit.ly/3KSkzPh

Also, a reminder that the Community Broadcasting Foundation offer Quick Response Grants to support community media organisations experiencing emergencies that risk discontinued transmissions or operations. More information on this here https://bit.ly/4qcYIBp

17/12/2025

The Vision Australia Radio’s Carols by Candlelight has become a highlight event in the Australian end of year calendar. Now in it’s 88th year, this magical evening continues to make a life-changing impact for kids who are blind or have low-vision, through fundraising for Vision Australia’s children’s services.

This year the event will be broadcast on VAST CH630.

Further public broadcasting information can be found at carols.visionaustralia.org/broadcast

17/12/2025

It has been a pleasure working with you all across the sector throughout the year. We will be taking a short break, our last day of operation will be Friday 19 December 2025, and we will return on Monday 5 January 2026.

➡️For urgent Community Radio Network or station matters, please contact [email protected].
➡️For DAB+ service interruptions, call the DRP hotline
on 1800 804 045.
➡️We will respond to enquiries in the new year.

Make sure your listeners stay connected this summer, where ever they are with Community Radio Plus.

We wish you a safe and happy holiday season and look forward to building strong and successful community broadcasting together in 2026!

16/12/2025

During the summer period we see new and returning fill-in announcers get behind the mic to keep the airwaves buzzing!

It’s the perfect opportunity to brush up on the Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice, as they are the essential guide for everyone involved in community broadcasting.

Find the latest resources for your station here: https://bit.ly/4pCvjR0

16/12/2025

Victorian station 3MDR 97.1 FM has been featured in the Upper Yarra Star Mail, celebrating 40 years on air.

3MDR recently launched its very own oral history podcast, 'On Air: 40 Years of 3MDR' with dual exhibitions at the Burrinja Cultural Centre and the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum.

Archival has been a particular interest for the sector recently - 2024 was our sector's 50th anniversary, and this year we explored the fundamentals of archival in a session led by the - National Film and Sound Archive of Australia at the 2025 CBAA conference. It's great seeing stations making an effort to preserve their legacies!

What moments of your stations history come to mind? Are you listening to a podcast you would like to share? Is your station doing something similar? Let us know in the comments below.

Local station 3MDR Mountain District Radio has celebrated hitting 40 in a special way this year, with the recent launch of its very own oral history podcast. The podcast ‘On Air: 40 Years of 3MDR’, along with dual exhibitions at the Burrinja Cultural Centre and the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum, ...

16/12/2025

This year’s CBAA Conference in Nipaluna/Hobart featured three sessions on fundraising and sponsorship.

We have provided six key learnings which you can find on the website here:

1. Use identity-based social proof to lift giving now and laterWhen donors hear what someone else has given – for example, “another listener has just contributed $X” – their own gift size increases, even for renewing donors. The most effective amount to mention is around the 90–95th percen...

16/12/2025

Powerd Media will be launching a new podcast series in 2026!

Building Inclusion: Australia's Disability Strategy will be hosted by Sam Drummond, Writer, Lawyer and Disability Advocate. Join him on his journey as he travels the country capturing stories that matter most to the disability community.

15/12/2025

With the new year on the horizon, now is the time to update your station’s profile. If your financial year ends on 30 June, your station’s manager or president has been sent an email with a unique link to update this information.

We ask that you update your financial information for FY24/25 and review your key contacts by Friday 19 December.

For more information, head to our website:

As always, December is when we ask you to update your station profile for us. This means we need you to provide your financial information for FY24/25 and review your key contacts.  

15/12/2025

The brand new Indigenous Community Television - ICTV Play app brings you a wide range of videos from communities across Australia. Whether it is live, or on-demand you can watch cultural, community and language content all in one place.

Available to download on the App Store and Google Play!

14/12/2025

CBAA extends our heartfelt condolences to those impacted by the shooting attack in Bondi, including those who lost their lives, were injured and their families, friends and Sydney's Jewish community and the broader community.

Support is available to all community broadcasters impacted directly, including those reporting on the event.

Resources include:
- Support Act Wellbeing Helpline - a free phone counselling service for anyone working in Australian music or the creative industries including CBAA Members.

Call on 1300 731 303 or via https://supportact.org.au/

- This learning course on resilience and trauma in community broadcasting delivered by Centre for Journalism & Trauma Asia Pacific - https://learning.cbaa.org.au/collections/Resilience-and-Trauma-in-Community-Broadcasting

- Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au for 24-hour crisis support

- Mindframe’s self-care resources for media professionals, available at https://mindframe.org.au/need-help/self-care

- Headlines, a UK body that provides support for media professionals at risk of or suffering from burnout, available at https://headlines-network.com/