Indigenous Broadcasting Program
On 12 November 2012 the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, opened the 2013-14 funding round for the Indigenous Broadcasting Program (IBP). Applications closed at 11.59 pm Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time, on Friday 1 February 2013.
IBP applications are part of the 201314 Office for the Arts (OFTA) Indigenous Funding Round eSub process.
Photos: Broadcasters Alby Reuben and Anita Billy of radio station Townsville 4K1G in Queensland.
About the Indigenous Broadcasting Program
The IBP provides funding to support Indigenous community radio broadcasting and to address the broadcasting needs of Indigenous people living in remote, regional and urban areas of Australia. Its objective is to strengthen Indigenous broadcasters and build a more sustainable Indigenous broadcasting sector.
The IBP aims to assist organisations by:
- supporting the operations of Indigenous-owned and controlled radio broadcasting services, including Remote Indigenous Broadcasting Services (RIBS formerly Broadcasting for Remote Aboriginal Communities Scheme, or BRACS)
- supporting the development and broadcast of programming that focuses on the promotion of local Indigenous culture and languages
- supporting broadcasting services that are able to inform and educate Indigenous Australians on accessing the range of health, legal, education and housing services available to them
- providing opportunities for broadcasting workers to develop professional skills and experience
- developing an Indigenous broadcasting sector that meets all governance and business managements requirements
- enhancing Indigenous broadcasting services by supporting national representation that serves and develops the sector's capacity.
Support for the Indigenous Broadcast and Media sector has:
- ensured the broadcasting needs of remote communities are addressed
- enriched the Australian communications landscape by supporting the production and broadcasting of local Indigenous content
- provided support for the promotion of Indigenous languages and culture
- promoted the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians
- strengthened pride in Indigenous cultural identity
- provided the opportunity for creating activity-generated income that is reinvested back into communities
- provided employment and training opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- assisted in the development of the Indigenous communications sector through the provision of support to peak bodies
- assisted the sector to adjust to digital technology.
Management of the Indigenous Broadcasting Program
The program is jointly managed with OFTA (within the Department of Regional Government, Local Government, Arts and Sport) through local National Network Offices.
Contact information
For general enquiries concerning the Indigenous Broadcasting Program please note the following contact information.
Postal address
The Indigenous Broadcasting Program
Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
GPO Box 2154
Canberra ACT 2601
Email: Indigenous Broadcasting2@dbcde.gov.au
Telephone: 1800 254 649
National Network—Offices
Staff from the Office for the Arts (OFTA) are located in a number of local National Network Offices.
Information on Indigenous broadcasting is also available from OFTA by calling 1800 006 992 and from OFTA staff in the National Network.
