CBAA Conference

Join us in Geelong from Thursday 22 – Saturday 24 October 2026 at the new Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre

The CBAA Conference is the premier networking and learning event for community broadcasters in Australia

Since 1974, this annual gathering of dedicated staff and volunteers from the community broadcasting sector is a celebration of community broadcasting’s identity and impact.

Past Conferences

Day 1

  • Deep Dive (invite only)
  • Fundraising Masterclass - Adrian Sargeant (Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy)
  • Small Station, Big Impact - Technorama & Community Broadcasting Foundation

Day 2

  • Opening Keynote - Adrian Sargeant (Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy)
  • Practical AI for Community Radio - Tea Uglow (EP Australia)
  • Easy Station Sponsorship Strategies - Tony Graham (Binjang Radio), Steph Riddel (MainFM), Sue McLennan (MainFM)
  • Foundations of Archiving - Johanna McMahon (National Film & Sound Archive), Crispian Winsor (National Film & Sound Archive)
  • Sound Strategy - Andrew Khedoori (CBAA), Benjamin Erin (8CCC), Aeron Clark (Edge Radio)
  • Lights, Camera, Action! A Beginner's Guide to Video Content & Podcasting - Emma Lawson (ABC)
  • First Nations Meetup (invite only)
  • Managing Internal Disputes for a Stronger Station - Amber Williams (Resolution Institute)
  • The Next Step in Station Fundraising: Identifying and Engaging with Donors - Stephen Pyk (3MBS)
  • Foundations of Sports Broadcasting - Amanda Shalala (ABC Sport)
  • AI and Media: Opportunities, Challenges and Audience Trust - Michael Davis (UTS)
  • What is a Fact? - Holly Nott (AAP)

Day 3

  • The WA Tech Hub Showcase - Andrew Morris (CBAA), Ben Menaglio (WA Tech Hub), David Marshall (Harvey Community Radio)
  • Foundations of Governance - Real Station Governance Challenges: A Practical Workshop - Kate James (Community Media Training Organisation)
  • The Future Is Accessible: Innovation Through Inclusion - Honor Marino (Print Radio Tasmania), Sam Drummond (Disability Advocate), Luke Campbell (X-Press Radio), Eliza Hull (CBAA), Hannah Rogers (Edge Radio)
  • 5 Things To Learn from Community Radio Abroad - Steve Ahern (RadioInfo & Radio Today)
  • Behind the Mic: The Hidden Risks in Running a Station - Alex Coombes (KBI)
  • Foundations of On Air Branding - Mike Byrne (Radio Consultant)
  • Community Hubs: How Your Station Can Power Local Live Music - Andrew Khedoori (CBAA), Andsley Dennis (Alive 90.5FM), Kurt Eckardt (PBS FM)
  • News Stories That Matter to Your Community - Bob Burton (Tasmanian Inquirer), Emma Myers (CBAA), Shakeel Sahib (2MFM)
  • CBF Grant Assessor Meetup
  • Why Didn’t I Think of That? 
  • Putting Your Station on the Map - Kimberley Galceran (DarkLab), Pamela Boland (RTRFM), Matt Romania (Author), Andsley Dennis ( Alive 90.5FM), Jonathan Brown (Community Broadcasting Foundation), Jacquie Riddell (CBAA) 
  • Closing Keynote - Craig Reucassel 

Day 1

  • Deep Dive (invite only)
  • Communicate Powerfully and Create Compelling Content - Valerie Geller (Geller Media) 

Day 2

  • Collaborative Fundraising for Community Radio - Valerie Geller (Geller Media) 
  • PodPoll 2024 Insights, Strategies, and Success Stories - Kellie Riordan (ABC)
  • Foundations of Program Planning - Chelsea Deeley (CMTO)
  • Best Practice Grant-seeking - Bianca Williams (Strategic Grants)
  • Legal Talk: Broadcasting Considerations with ABC Legal - Vanessa Bateup (ABC) 
  • Station Strategies for Supporting Musicians - Dave Houchin (Triple R), Kristen Paterson (PBS FM), Simon Miraudo (RTRFM), Steph Riddel (MainFM)
  • First Nations Meetup (invite only)
  • The Power of SEO for Community Radio - Vahe Arabin (State of Digital Publishing)
  • Becoming a Live Music Station: Strategies and Success Stories - 
  • Generative AI in Community Radio - Jeanna Manifold (Amazon) 
  • Foundations of News Reading - Eduardo Jordan (CMTO)
  • Powered Media Showcase

Day 3

  • What Agencies Want and How Stations Can Deliver - Darren Pike (Fresh 92.7), Santosh Murphy (Identity Comms), Sam Buchanan (IMAA), Lee Hubber (Spots & Space)
  • Making It Local: Turning Every Story into a Community Connection - Spencer Howson (UniSQ)
  • Demystifying Media Careers - Natalie Pozdeev (AFTRS)
  • Community Newsroom Strategies - Susanna Freymark (IndyNR), Mia Armitage (BayFM), Claire Stuchberry (LINA), Paula Kruger (2SER)
  • Foundations of Interviewing - Martin Corben (CMTO)
  • Young Voices, Big Ideas - Eleanor Zurowski (CBAA), Megan Williams (CBAA)
  • Volunteering Knows No Age Limits: Managing Multigenerational Volunteers - Clint Bertenshaw (Centre for Volunteering)
  • Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Your Station - Karen Paterson (NIRS), Rachel Kirby (3CR), Megan Williams (CBAA), Angel Dixon (Attitude Foundation), Simon Miraudo (RTRFM)
  • Trends Shaping the Future of Content Consumption - Claire Stuchbery (LINA)
  • Foundations of Technology - John Maizels (Technorama)
  • In Conversation with Shane Fitzsimmons: Community Resilience and the Power of Community Radio

Day 1

  • Masterclass: Youth - Gabrielle Andolfatto (Edge Radio) 
  • Masterclass: Design a Podcast - Jane Curtis (Independent Producer)
  • Masterclass: Newsroom - Eduardo Jordan (The Wire)
  • Powerd Media Launch 

Day 2

  • Charting the Future of Community Radio - Jo Curtin (Community Broadcasting Foundation)
  • Address from the Hon Michelle Rowland, Minister for Communications
  • Go it Alone or Go it Together: Collaboration in Community Radio - Andrea Ho (AFTRS)
  • Recalibrating the Volunteer Experience - Clint Bertenshaw (Centre for Volunteering)
  • Marketing Your Station to Sponsors and Government - Pino Migliorino (Culture Perspectives Group)
  • Amplifying Local News: How Local Newsrooms Can Get the Word Out - Martin Davies (CBAA)
  • Lunch and Learn with the CBF
  • Dialogue with First Nations Stations and Broadcasters
  • Lunch and Learn with CMTO
  • Telling Local Stories through Hyperlocal Podcasting - Jane Curtis (Independent Producer)
  • From Volunteer to Leader: Building Capacity Through Skill Transfer - Clint Bertenshaw (Centre for Volunteering), Demi Williams (Fresh 92.7), Matt Field (RPHA), Sahana Sehgal (1CMS)
  • Workshop: Strengthening Sponsorship at Your Station - Declan Kelly (CBAA)
  • Merch! Making More than Money - Simon Miraudo (RTRFM)
  • More Than Just A Playlist: Connecting With Your Local Music Scene - Andrew Khedoori (CBAA), Benjamin Erin (8CCC), Jo Pratt (4EB), Tiff Stodart (Three D Radio)
  • Disaster Preparedness: The Role of Community Radio in Building Stronger Communities - Andy Colvin (2BOB), Dan Waters (Health Communication Resources Inc), Erin Smith (DART Centre Asia Pacific), Mikaela Ford (CMTO)

Day 3

  • Keynote: Rhoda Roberts AO
  • Warming Up: Australian Community Radio and Climate Change Communication 
  • AI and Community Radio: Exploring the Opportunities - Carl Bribble (Dorothi AI)
  • Building Capacity for Funding in Community Radio - Natalie Egleton (FRRR)
  • What Content Do Young People Want - Garbrielle Andolfatto (Edge Radio), Madhuraa Prakash (CMTO), Ruby Smith (SYN), Sophie Campbell (Fresh 92.7)
  • Planning for Success: Simple and Sustainable Strategic Planning - Charlotte Bedford (CMTO), Jason Velleley (CMTO)
  • Lunch and Learn DAB+
  • Lunch and Learn CR+
  • Women and Gender Diverse People's Forum
  • Workshop: Closing the Gap Target 17: The Role of Community Broadcasting for First Nations Digital Inclusion - Naomi Moran (Koori Mail)
  • Community Radio Research Symposium
  • Workshop: Making Engaging Current Affairs at Your Station - Eduardo Jordan (The Wire), Martin Davies (CBAA)
  • Are They Dead Yet? The Future of Technologists in Community Broadcasting - Cameron Paine (Triple R), John Maizels (Technorama), Natalie Pozdeev (AFTRS), Stephen Wilkinson (Hope Media)
  • Workshop: Strategies for Effective Advocacy - Reece Kinnane (CBAA)

The CBAA Conference is a great opportunity to meet hundreds of community broadcasters across Australia, learn from other’s experiences, and collaborate to address common challenges and new opportunities.   

Attendees will gain new insights from leading industry experts to support your station’s audience development, programming, technical and business operations. Past keynote speakers have included Rhoda Roberts, Phil Maguire, Tania de Jong AM and Brian Nankervis. 

Need Support? 

Post on the Online Community, email [email protected] or call (02) 9310 2999. 


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