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A Roadmap to address barriers to digital inclusion of First Nations communities was released today in Sydney.

The Roadmap highlights the pivotal role of First Nations media organisations and community broadcasters to provide information to First Nation’s communties that supports people in their lives. 

“We have three cities in this country where we do not have First Nations broadcasting services. Not only do we need to secure the provision of these services, but to properly fund them to tell the story of our culture.” - Dot West OAM 

Led by co-chairs Dr Lyndon Ormond-Parker and prominent First Nations community media leader and advocate, Dot West OAM, the Advisory Group was formed to provide advice on progressing Target 17 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap: to achieve equal levels of digital inclusion for First Nations people by 2026.

The Roadmap contains 30 recommendations to progress Target 17 that have been welcomed by the Albanese Government.

The Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP said: 

The Roadmap highlights the importance of First Nations media, which gives connection to culture, First Nations language and issues an important voice and platform.

The Albanese Government supports a diverse, independent and sustainable media sector - First Nations media has an important role to play.  

Within the Communications portfolio, a number of reviews are underway, including the Community Broadcasting Sector Sustainability Review. This has been considering funding, legislative and regulatory issues for community broadcasting; First Nations funding and licensing is one of three priority areas. 

The Roadmap highlights key areas that require attention from Government for the First Nations media sector to thrive and for First Nations people to get the most out of having access to the internet and the digital world in a way that is culturally appropriate and meaningful.

Key recommendations for community media include:  

The CBAA thanks the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group for their constructive engagement with community broadcasters and congratulates them on the publication of the Roadmap. 

CBAA CEO Jon Bissett said:

“The Roadmap is an invaluable guide to help Government and industry navigate the many complex issues that are holding back First Nations community broadcasters from playing an even greater role achieving the Closing the Gap targets for Digital Inclusion as well as health, education, employment and economic outcomes. We are pleased to see Government support for the recommendations. We now look forward to seeing urgent action to fund and deliver on these recommendations including increased funding for the Indigenous Broadcasting and Media Program and Community Broadcasting Program.”

51 First Nations media organisations provide 158 community broadcasting services, the great majority in in regional and remote areas. Australians from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background are 44% more likely than the general population to listen to community radio. (Community Radio Listener Survey, CBAA, 2024) 

Further Information:  

Media Release, Minister for Communications, The Hon Michelle Rowland MP and Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy, 10 December 2024