The NEMBC has a new Constitution!
On 2nd December at a Special General Meeting, our members formally passed the new Constitution. This achievemnt is the culmination of years of consultation, careful drafting, and shared vision for the future of our organisation.
A Note of Thanks
A project of this magnitude succeeds only through collective effort. We would like to thank every member who contributed time and insight during the consultation process. Your feedback has ensured that our governing document is as robust as it is reflective of our diverse sector.
We also recognise the tireless efforts of the Board, whose diligence ensured the final product is both fully compliant and legally sound.
The Evolving Media Landscape
The adoption of this Constitution positions us strongly for the years ahead. It acknowledges that multicultural broadcasting is evolving. Our scope has now expanded to represent not only community broadcasters but also online content creators and emerging digital platforms.
By recognising multicultural media in all its forms, we are ensuring that no voice is left behind.
Building a more Inclusive Sector
This update also opens the door to broader, more inclusive membership categories. By inviting wider participation, we strengthen our collective voice and ensure our organisation remains future-focused and representative of our members and the entire sector.
For a deeper dive into what these membership changes mean for you, please see Chad’s detailed breakdown in the Membership section of this newsletter. We are incredibly excited about this new direction. Together, we have built an organisation that is more inclusive, more representative, and ready for whatever lies ahead.
2026 Priorities
The Board has finalised its strategy for the coming years, providing a clear vision for our organisation and the broader multicultural media sector. To translate this vision into reality, we have adopted the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) framework, which turns high-level strategy into measurable action.
Our Framework for Success
In this model, Objectives define where we want to go, while Key Results outline the measurable outcomes that prove we are getting there. While our core Objectives remain steady, our Key Results evolve annually to reflect our progress. The Objectives are:
- O1: Grow the Multicultural Broadcasting Media Sector across Australia.
- O2: Drive Policy, Learning, and Partnerships to Expand the Sector’s Reach and Impact.
- O3: Strengthen the Multicultural Media Ecosystem to Support Connection, Independence, and Inclusion.
Team Priorities for 2026
Beneath these OKRs sit our team’s concrete priorities for 2026. These represent the practical work, beyond our daily routine tasks, that will progress our strategic objectives:
- Membership: Strengthening engagement through forums, workshops, and competitions, while building robust systems (including a new CRM and automated communications) to better support our members.
- Growth: Launching a national volunteer recruitment campaign, exploring digital media entry strategies, and developing a business plan to reinstate our sector magazine.
- Partnerships: Conducting stakeholder mapping to identify new collaborations and fee-for-service initiatives, while deepening existing relationships to maximize impact.
- Operations: Implementing Constitutional changes, exploring new fundraising and sponsorship avenues, and streamlining internal efficiency via modern project management tools.
This structured approach ensures that our daily work is directly linked to our long-term objectives, ensuring we can make meaningful, measurable progress in 2026.
NEMBC Conference 2026
Mark your calendars! The 2026 NEMBC Conference is heading to Brisbane on 22–23 May for a massive celebration of multicultural media.
Get ready for two days of culture, connection, and learning. Whether you’re a broadcaster, a digital creator, or a community media supporter, this is the place to share ideas and help shape the future of our sector in Australia.
Stay tuned: We’ll be sharing details on the program, venue, and ticket prices in the coming weeks so you can start planning your trip!
Get Involved: We’re Looking for Speakers & Volunteers
We would love for you to be part of the team to make this event happen. We are calling for Expressions of Interest for two key roles:
Speakers
Do you have insights, stories, or technical skills the sector needs to hear? We are looking for engaging presenters to speak at the conference. If you’ve got something you’d like to share, we want to hear from you.
You’ll receive a free ticket to the 2-day conference and gala dinner as a thank you for your contribution.
Fill in the Expression of Interest form here.
Volunteers
If you’d like to help behind the scenes and keep things running smoothly, join our volunteer team! We’d love assistance with:
- Registration & Check in
- Speaker support
- AV & Technical Assistance
- Video/Live Streaming
- Attendee Engagement/Feedback
- MC/Stage Support
- Social Media/Content Capture
- Photography
- Marketing, Promotion & Graphic Design
- General Event Support
In exchange for your help, you’ll receive a free ticket to the 2-day conference and gala dinner.
Interested? Fill in the Expression of Interest form here.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate the vibrant future of multicultural media. We can’t wait to see you in Brisbane!
Have Your Say on a New Logo
With a new Constitution in place and a clear strategy for the future, the time is right for a visual refresh. We are working on a rebrand that aligns with what you, our members, expect from the NEMBC today. We want to honour our history while looking firmly towards the future. We plan to officially launch the “New NEMBC” at the conference in Brisbane this May.
Logo Shortlist
After a brand consultation period with our Members, we have reviewed several design concepts. While many were considered, only two truly hit the mark. These designs capture the energy and diversity of our evolving sector, but before we make a final decision, we want to know which one resonates most with you.
Reviewing our Name
Beyond the visuals, we are also exploring a potential change to our trading name to better reflect our modern identity. We’ve been toying with a few ideas and would love to get your initial thoughts on the directions we are considering.
We’d Love Your Feedback
This is your organisation, and your voice should be at the heart of our new look. Please take a moment to view the designs and share your thoughts on the potential name change via our short member survey.
Take the Rebrand Survey here.
Marianne Wangira
General Manager
[email protected]
Membership Update
New Membership Structure
Join the NEMBC community and ensure your voice is heard. For 2026, The NEMBC offer several membership tiers, including Program Member,Affiliate Member & Station Member with weighted voting rights for nominated representatives. For a full breakdown of fees, voting structures and affiliate details, please refer to our Membership FAQ.
Link: Download the Membership FAQ
CBF/NEMBC Webinar for Ethnic Broadcasters Grants
Are you an ethnic broadcaster wondering which items could be eligible for support under CBF’s Specialist Radio Program Grant?
We’re excited to collaborate with the Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF) to bring you a dedicated webinar. We will dive into the specific items, activities and expenses that can be supported. Ensuring you have the best chance at a successful application.
Event Details
• When: Thursday, 5 February 2026
• Time: 4:00 PM (AEDT)
• Hosts: NEMBC & Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF)
• Focus: Grant eligibility, expenses and supported activities.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/…/register/t7MthsadRKiresxcqwosCg
Important Note for Stations
This webinar is specifically tailored for individual broadcasters.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get extra support for your broadcast. See you online.
For further details please reach out to Chad Phillips – NEMBC Membership and Engagement Coordinator at [email protected]
New on the NEMBC Blog: How Migrants Shaped Australian Television
We are kicking off 2026 by looking back at the profound, yet often overlooked, impact migrant communities have had on the Australian media landscape.
Our first blog feature of the year is officially live, exploring the groundbreaking research in the new book “Migrants, Television and Australian Stories: A New History.” It turns out that the story of Australian television isn’t just about what was on the screen, but who was behind it.
Did you know?
• Infrastructure: In the 1950s, the major transmission towers in Brisbane were actually constructed by an Italian company.
• The Technical Pioneers: When Australian TV launched in 1956, the industry relied heavily on migrants from Europe and the US who were hired as the first directors, editors, and camera assistants.
• A Language Teacher: For many new arrivals, TV was their first classroom, families famously mastered English by watching Play School together.
• Breaking the Mold: While early TV favoured a “one-size-fits-all” image of Australia, it was the influence of our communities that eventually led to iconic, representative shows like Acropolis Now and Heartbreak High.
Understanding our history helps us shape the future of Australian multicultural broadcasting. NEMBC Blog feature highlights how our multicultural communities didn’t just join the industry, they built it from the ground up.
Read the Full Feature Here: https://www.nembc.org.au/news/how-migrants-shaped-australian-television/
Chad Phillips
Membership & Engagement Coordinator
[email protected]
Projects
Keeping Under-16s Safer Online
The Australian Government is protecting young Australians at a critical stage of their development through world first social media age restrictions, which came into effect on 10 December 2025.
Under these new rules, age restricted social media platforms are not permitted to allow under 16s to create or hold an account. This is because being logged into an account significantly increases the likelihood of exposure to pressures and risks that can be difficult for young people to manage.
These risks are driven by social media platform design features that encourage prolonged screen time and promote content that can negatively impact health and wellbeing.
The NEMBC has joined the ‘For the good of their wellbeing’ campaign and is collaborating with Think HQ/CultureVerse to distribute ready-to-air audio grabs of between 30 and 45 seconds in Arabic, Cantonese, Dari, English, Korean, Mandarin, Punjabi and Vietnamese.
All content has been approved by the federal government and is freely available for broadcast.
We invite radio stations and producers to utilise the grabs, scripts, graphics and videos to broadcast and share them online with your audiences.
More information is available via the Social Media Age Restrictions Hub.
The ready-to-air grabs, scripts, graphics and audiogram videos are available to download here.
Get Involved
Are you interested in collaborating with the NEMBC on future projects? We’d love to hear from you!
Please reach out to us at [email protected]
Radio stations are encouraged to share a list of the languages you offer so we can keep you in mind for relevant opportunities that align with your community’s needs.
We’re excited to hear from you and explore ways we can work together!
Camilo Montoya Yepes
Media Content Developer
[email protected]
Sector Opportunities
3MDR Station Manager
3MDR is looking for a new Station Manager in 2026. Applications close at 5pm on Friday 6th February.
More information here