"The Beyond the Bars project is an example of an innovative community radio broadcast that acknowledges the connection between community media and its audience. The history of this broadcast comes from the special relationship forged between the station and the local Indigenous community. 3CR has been broadcasting Indigenous voices since 1976 and was able to tap in to its long term networks and build on its trust within the community. Former 3CR Program Manager Jay Estorninho initiated the project with Shaun Braybrook, Koori Liaison Officer at Port Phillip Prison, in an attempt to include the forgotten voices of Indigenous prisoners in annual NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Of Celebration) celebrations," said 3CR Station Manager Tim Tolhurst.

The award recognizes 3CR’s achievement in giving voice to Indigenous inmates and highlighting the ongoing difficulties and injustices facing Indigenous Australians. Judges of the HREOC awards said the program was “simply a great program and a standout winner” and an excellent example of a community telling its own story.

The judges said the program demonstrated that great radio does not have to rely on a big budget. The key ingredient is talking to people who have something honest and important to say.

The project took many years to develop with the station cultivating the trust of prison management and the Victorian Department of Justice in order to gain access for live broadcasts from inside. The broadcasts are now well understood and respected by prison management and the Department alike with Victorian Correctional Services Commissioner, Kelvin Anderson, actively supporting the broadcasts and calling 3CR to congratulate them on their award.

The Beyond the Bars broadcast was a unique opportunity for Indigenous inmates to discuss issues, voice concerns, send messages and perform songs during NAIDOC Week.

The result was emotionally powerful and illuminating programming that truly provided a forum for Indigenous issues rarely heard anywhere else in the media. 3CR thanked all those inmates in Port Phillip Prison and Dame Phyllis Frost Centre who participated in the broadcasts and also the 3CR presenters Lisa Bellear, Kutcha Edwards, Lester Green, Eleisha Jones, Gilla McGuiness, Johnny Mac, and Ross Morgan.

Indigenous broadcaster Kutcha Edwards accepted the HREOC Radio Award in Sydney at a ceremony held at the Sheraton on the Park Hotel last week. Edwards, upon receiving his award, assured everyone he had washed his face before attending the awards and said “this program is about their (the inmates) voice. I want to thank people from 3CR and the people from Port Philip Prison and all the Koori programmers who actually participated in these broadcasts.”

Having only two minutes at the podium Edwards led those enjoying their meals in thirty seconds of silence for inmates who have passed away in custody. He lightened the mood in the room at the end of his speech declaring that he was “off to play black Santa!”

This year’s Beyond the Bars broadcast is now a multi-award winner after also taking out the Best Spoken Word program at the CBAA Awards on the Gold Coast in late November. The CBAA was particularly pleased to see community broadcasting honoured for the first time for the HREOC Radio Award, with government broadcasters winning the award since its inception in 1987.

"It is to 3CR's great credit that they have been recognised by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. The six-hour broadcast from Port Philip Prison and the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre (Deer Park Women’s Prison) during NAIDOC week was a great example of the role of community radio in providing access to the airwaves for those who are marginalised by the mainstream media" said CBAA General Manager Barry Melville

3CR Program Manager Juliet Fox agrees, "The mainstream media often simply regurgitates the paternalistic and unjust attitudes of the Federal Government when it comes to Indigenous issues. This project sought to give voice, and dignity and respect, to those least afforded it within our society – Indigenous prisoners. And community radio is in a unique position to facilitate such broadcasts because we're not just a media outlet we're a vehicle for social change directly involving the community."

3CR continues to be a vibrant station with a new logo and more volunteers than ever as the station heads towards its 30th birthday in 2006. Plans for special programming for Survival Day (January 26th 2005) are already in place and the station is hoping to expand its prison broadcasts come NAIDOC week 2005 with extra programming time and additional prison broadcasts.

A CD of the highlights of the broadcast, Beyond the Bars: Out and Black, was recently launched and is available from the station.