In the leadup to the 2025 Community Broadcasting Awards we're taking time to reflect on some of last year's winning entries and the broadcasters behind them. This year's finalists will be announced in early September, stay tuned!

In 2024, 3CR’s Disability Day broadcast was honoured with the CBAA Community Broadcasting Award for Excellence in Disability Content & Engagement. Each year on 3 December, Melbourne’s 3CR Community Radio marks the International Day of People with Disability with a 12-hour broadcast. Presented and produced by people with disabilities and chronic illness, the program is part of 3CR’s long commitment to championing underrepresented voices. 

3CR's award winning entry from 2023 was focused on the concept of health sovereignty, in which groups facing public health challenges are placed at the centre of decision-making regarding healthcare.

3CR has long been a place for communities sidelined by mainstream media. The Disability Day broadcast began around 15 years ago, conceived by disability rights advocates who wanted something different from the usual government or NGO-led events. Their vision was clear; rather than seeking mere acceptance, the broadcast would demand radical social change. 

When producer Pauline Vetuna came on board in 2019, she expanded on this vision by consciously centring disability justice. Drawing inspiration from frameworks developed by queer, BIPOC activists on Turtle Island in the US, Pauline brought a focus on intersectionality by amplifying stories from migrant communities, people of colour and others who often sit at the margins even within disability spaces. “It’s about embracing all streams of thought within disability, while still pushing for justice,” Pauline says. 

While the day is deeply rooted in local experiences, many of the issues resonate nationally. That’s why curating content for the Community Radio Network (CRN) is so important. When deciding what to share through CRN, the team at 3CR considers which topics will speak to a broader audience and how best to support local broadcasters under the pressure of pulling together a 12-hour program. 

The response from the community has been heartfelt. Pauline describes receiving regular feedback, sometimes years later, about how past broadcasts have inspired or moved listeners. Social media messages, emails and in-person comments all reinforce the value of the program, not just on the day but as an ongoing archive and community resource. “These 12 hours live on every year,” Pauline says, noting all past broadcasts are available on the 3CR website. 

Disability inclusion isn’t limited to one day at 3CR. It’s part of how the station operates, from working flexibly with team members managing health needs to ensuring accessible communication for staff and volunteers with hearing or vision impairments. “Accessibility is literally just being responsive to people’s needs,” Pauline explains. It’s a practical, person-centred approach that ensures everyone can do their best work. 

Reflecting on the award win, Pauline says it was lovely to be recognised but is quick to highlight it’s part of a much bigger story. “It’s not just about the Disability Day broadcast, there’s so much work happening across the station, with so many different communities. Disability is a strength for 3CR.”