Support Act extends helpline for stations

March 19, 2020

Support Act Wellbeing Helpline in red and black on a white background

The CBF is pleased to announce a partnership with Support Act to extend access to its Wellbeing Helpline to community broadcasters and station personnel. Support Act is Australia’s only charity delivering crisis relief and support to musicians and music workers.

While we are all trying to keep on top of the constantly evolving situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of the virus protocols on community broadcasters has been unprecedented. Many stations are already moving to social distancing and remote alternatives, others have opted to switch to networked or standby programming – with significant consequences and disruption to individual shows and station operations.

Many of us join in the annual Australian Music T-Shirt Day to raise funds for Support Act. Now, Support Act CEO, Clive Miller, and Support Act Chair, Sally Howland, have generously offered to extend access to Support Act’s Wellbeing Helpline to community broadcasters.

“Community radio is a longstanding champion of Australian music, providing constant support for our industry to thrive. As we grapple with the devastating impact of coronavirus on musicians and music workers, community radio stations are dealing with uncertainty of corona protocols on maintaining regular programming,” says Clive Miller.

“We know many community broadcasters are a big part of their local music communities, and some of those same communities are still recovering from recent bushfires. These are challenging times for many of us, and Support Act is proud to extend access to our Wellbeing Helpline to our friends and colleagues in community radio who have always been there to support Australian music.” 

This initiative is part of our ongoing efforts to find ways to support the sector at this challenging time.

“This is such a generous and welcome gesture from Support Act to extend access to the Wellbeing Helpline to community broadcasters, acknowledging that the impact of coronavirus protocols has extended to our sector too. Many community stations had a very tough summer of bushfires and now we’re seeing more disruption and distress,” says CBF Partnerships Manager, and long-term community radio broadcaster, Tracee Hutchison.

“Community broadcasters and stations have been great supporters of Support Act and, of course, we play the music! We share the pain and impact of cancelled tours, festivals and shows on our friends and colleagues in Australian music. From all of us in community broadcasting, our heartfelt thanks to Support Act CEO Clive Miller and Chair Sally Howland, it’s great to know we’re all in this together.”

How to access Support Act’s crisis relief and support services