Digital Switchover Liaison Officer Program
The Australian Government has announced that all free-to-air television broadcasters in Australia will complete the switch from analog transmission to digital-only transmission by the end of 2013.
Media release: Budget 2009: Getting ready for Digital TV
What is the role of the Digital Switchover Liaison Officer?
The Digital Switchover Liaison Officer program is a key element of the Australian Government's plans to help people get ready for digital television in New South Wales and Tasmania. The officers are employed by eligible organisations on the basis of a grant from the department.
Digital switchover liaison officers provide communities with information to prepare for switchover. Depending on the needs of each switchover area, they will advise residents, community groups, local government and key education and health institutions.
The department has published guidelines for the program, for implementation in New South Wales and Tasmania. These contain full details on the role of the officer, the responsibility of the host organisations(s) and reporting requirements.
Expressions of interest—Regional Northern New South Wales
The department is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from organisations or government bodies to host an officer in four Northern New South Wales switchover areas (listed below).
The EOI information package includes an application form, program guidelines and a draft funding agreement. Please consult these if considering applying for a liaison officer position for your organisation:
EOI application form—DSLO Northern NSW (RTF, 396 KB) 
Program guidelines—Digital Switchover Liaison Officer (PDF, 253 KB) - Draft funding agreement—Digital Switchover Liaison Officer (PDF, 268 KB)
Interested applicants need to complete an EOI application form and post or email it to the department to ensure delivery by close of business on Monday 20 February 2012.
Postal address:
Manager—Consumer Liaison Section
Digital Switchover Taskforce
Department of Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy
GPO Box 4112, Sydney 2001
Email: switchover_communityofficer@dbcde.gov.au
Northern New South Wales—maps
A map of the Northern New South Wales switchover region is provided below:
Detailed maps of each of the four switchover areas are also provided, showing the geographical areas that the liasion officer must cover.
- Map—Hunter (PDF, 338 KB)
- Map—North West Slopes and Plains (PDF, 309 KB)
- Map—Richmond/Tweed (PDF, 312 KB)
- Map—Northern Rivers (PDF, 328)
Who is eligible to apply?
Not-for-profit organisations as well as government entities are eligible to apply. Further details on eligibility are in the program guidelines and the sample funding agreement.
How are potential applicants selected?
Applicants will need to show they have the community networks, community engagement experience and the ability to host a digital switchover liaison officer. They will also need to demonstrate that they can manage the activities of the digital switchover liaison officer.
After reviewing expressions of interest, the department will contact selected organisations by phone or email to ask for full applications (an application form will be provided).
Further information
If you have a question about the program please contact the department at switchover_communityofficer@dbcde.gov.au.
