Our Impact

Advocating for a Strong Future

CBAA provides a strong and unified and voice to Government for community broadcasters. Our goal is to create an environment in which community broadcasting can thrive.

We Advocate By

  • Working with stations and sector organisations to understand the challenges facing community broadcasters
  • Keep informed about trends and public policy developments the impact our members
  • Develop sector policy in collaboration with members and sector organisations
  • Influence public policy through leadership and research
  • Work proactively to strengthen knowledge, understanding and support of the community broadcasting sector among; political leaders from all parties; government departments and regulatory bodies including the ACMA. 

Government Relations

We engage with political representatives to share stories of the positive impact broadcasters have on their diverse communities. Community broadcasters are recognised across parliament for their valuable contributions 

You’re well-represented by an industry organisation in CBAA that not only understands the sector and what you need, but works constructively with Government to get results.”

Community broadcasting plays an essential role as a platform for the many diverse voices that make up our community – and that’s why we’re committed to supporting the sector, now and into the future. 

– Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, CBAA Conference, 3 November 2023 

Our Campaign for Sustainable Funding

Increased, long-term and secure funding from the Australian Government is critical to support community broadcasting to deliver positive impact for our communities. 

CBAA is advocating for total funding for community broadcasting to increase from $43 million to $80 million per year, ongoing and indexed funding. A total of $36.6 million of new funding should include $18.1 million for the Community Broadcasting Program and $18.5 million for the Indigenous Broadcasting and Media Program. 

CBAA argues current funding levels are insufficient to:

  • meet station demand for grants
  • meet growing community need for services
  • support more efficient, multi-year grants that will reduce the administrative burden on stations
  • respond to technological, social, environmental and economic trends
  • support investment to build station resilience, support innovation, enhance the sector’s community impact and deliver a better return on investment to taxpayers  
  • achieve social and economic outcomes desired by stations as well as community and government stakeholders 

Read our Federal Budget Submission

CBAA Advocacy Timeline

Roadmap 2033

Roadmap 2033 is the community broadcasting sector’s ten-year vision is for community broadcasting to be at the heart of every community – where informed, connected communities are strengthened by trusted, creative, independent media.

This plan offers to grow the capacity and capability of community broadcasters to reach all communities with quality relevant content on all relevant, contemporary platforms.

  • The Roadmap 2033 plan will leverage greater collaboration and unlock new innovation to:
  • give more Australians access to trusted, independent, local news and information from diverse sources;
  • play a unique, hyperlocal role communicating emergency information and provide more support to build community resilience in times of disaster;
  • support self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and close the gap in social and economic outcomes;
  • elevate Australian music, arts and cultural industries;
  • strengthen social and economic inclusion and cohesion, support settlement of new migrant groups and strengthen multiculturalism; and
  • provide more skilled career pathways into the media and communications industry for all communities.

Roadmap 2033 was developed thorough consultation with stations, staff and volunteers as well as with industry experts, research, data analysis and surveys. The process was led jointly by the Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF) and the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia.

Read More

Roadmap 2033

Sector Roundtable

As the national peak body for the community broadcasting sector as a whole, the CBAA collaborates with the six community broadcasting peak bodies and the Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF) through the Community Broadcasting Sector Roundtable.

The Roundtable operates under the auspice of the CBAA and exists to identify and advance issues of mutual interest and provide an appropriate process for the sector to collaborate on policy and development issues for the sector. Supporting collaboration and unity is a key element in the CBAA’s strategy to provide effective sector leadership.

The Roundtable consists of representatives from:

  • The Australian Community Television Alliance (ACTA)
  • Christian Media & Arts Australia (CMAA)
  • The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA)
  • First Nations Media Australia (FNMA)
  • The National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council (NEMBC)
  • Disability Media Australia (DMA), and
  • The Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF)

The Community Broadcasting Sector Roundtable is guided by its Charter.

Crowd of people at the CBAA Conference 2023 Welcome Drinks

Research, Submissions & Publications

See the submsisions we've made on behalf of the community broadcasting sector.  

See Submissions

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