This year we’ve allocated many big and small grants to help community broadcasters all around Australia. Since it ‘tis the season to be jolly we thought we would share 12 grants from second 2021/22 grant round that have helped stations around the nation.
$12,360 for 2BAYFM
2BAYFM in Byron Bay were granted funds to produce CyberBeat, a weekly podcast dedicated to the latest news and analysis of the internet in Australia from cybersecurity to privacy laws.
$11,000 for Cinespace Incorporated
CBF have funded a pilot web series called Lady Priest, a 10-minute pilot exploring second generation Australians’ identity issues and values in Melbourne. Inspired by a true story, I follows a 32 year old Lebanese-Australian celebrant caught between two worlds. It presents relatable and realistic female characters with nuanced and conflicting narratives — far removed from the stereotypes of Lebanese and other CALD communities.
Watch the Lady Priest pitch from creator Natalia Bornay >
$10,964 for Activated Arts
Activated Arts is a four-weekly radio show and podcast that focuses on artists with disability. Hosted by director Anthea Williams, on 2RPH in association with Accessible Arts, the show is run for and by artists with disability.
$9,540 for Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council
CBF granted the Queensland Council funding towards 36 hours of specialist radio programming for their Remote Indigenous Broadcast Service to run over 2021/22. Hosted by artist Carmel Haines on 107.7FM the station began broadcasting in 1992.
$8,808 for Richmond Valley Radio
Located in Coraki NSW, 2RBR 88.9 FM received funding to install a solar/lithium-battery system with a backup generator to ensure uninterruptible power supply to keep the station on the air, particularly during an emergency. The alternative power will also help reduce the station’s carbon emissions.
$7,120 to Coral Coast Radio
In Bundaberg, southern Queensland, sits 4BCR Bundy FM, who have faced challenges losing sponsors throughout the current economic climate. CBF funded a grant to assist with electricity and transmitter site costs, which are hosted at the local commercial station to give the best coverage.
$6,046 for RTR FM 92.1
Mount Lawley in Western australia is home to 6RTR (RTRFM) 92.1, Perth’s first community radio station that went live in 1977 as 6UWA. As part of a Specialist Radio Programming grant, CBF funded the weekly Indigenous affairs show Moorditj Mag. Co-hosts Jim Morrison and Nick Abraham are both Noongar Elders dedicated to the preservation of their culture, and each week delve into Aboriginal culture, music and arts.
$5,500 for C31 series Dog Jobs Australia
CBF funding has made Series 2 of Dog Jobs Australia possible. Join Sarah Jones as she continues her journey to meet some of the legendary working dogs across Australia showcasing their jobs and the impact they have on their owners. Dog Jobs Australia airs on C31, CCTV + and CTV+.
Watch an episode of Dog Jobs Australia >
$4,000 for Happy FM
In Victor Harbour serving the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia is 90.1 Happy FM, a station that cares for its community. CBF funding allowed Happy FM to upgrade their current scheduling and playback software that was over 20 years old. In fact, Happy FM were said to be the only station in all of SA still using the outdated 2000 Sonicart system. The new upgrades are to 2021 Simian system and their computer from Windows XP to Windows 10.
$3,642 for 4TVR
In Mareeba is 92.3 FM, Tablelands Christian Radio Association, who have been connecting communities across the tablelands through positive news and music since 1999. The CBF general purpose grant will help cover the station’s rent costs for the year.
$2,847 for 1CMS
At 1CMS Canberra Multicultural Service, 82.5 hours of ethnic radio programming is aired each week from the nation’s capital. CBF funding supported the hourly weekly Korean Program hosted by Korean language instructors Jacob Chong, Chloe Kim and Gloria An.
Listen to CMS Korean Program >
$1,003 for OCR FM
Community radio has a strong focus on telling local stories and keeping the community informed. That’s why CBF funded two spoken word programs for 3OCR in Colac, Victoria. Since 1992 for three three times a week Talking Newspapers has presenters reading out the Colac Herald Newspaper for an hour. The second program, Immersed in Verse, is a showcase of past and present bush poetry for a half hour segment every Thursday afternoon.
Photo: Dog Jobs Australia host Sarah Jones (right) with Adrian Snelling Manager of Security at the Australian Maritime Museum in Sydney and CEO of Seagulls Bailey the border collie.
About our grants
We run two Content and Development & Operations grant rounds each year, usually in January and July. You can check when our next grant round is open on the key dates page.
Quick Response Grants are also available outside our grant rounds for community media organisations that are experiencing emergencies.
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