General Manager’s Update
We’re a little bit late getting the April newsletter out, but for good reason.
We’ve been focused on finalising the details of our upcoming conference which is now just three weeks away! It’s shaping up to be a vibrant celebration, so if you haven’t locked in your tickets yet, we’ve extended the early bird offer one final time until Friday 9th May.
We’re also preparing for our Annual general Meeting, to be held on Friday 23rd May at the conference.
A key item on the agenda is the vote on a new Constitution, which will allow us to transition to a Company Limited by Guarantee, a requirement for national organisations like ours.
Importantly, the updated Constitution also reflects what we’ve heard from you, that you want to have a say and a voice in the future of the NEMBC.
The new Constitution introduces program membership, meaning individual programs (not just stations) will have voting rights. Your participation is vital to getting this change across the line.
Behind the scenes, we’ve been working hard to realign our operations, refine our financial processes, and explore sustainable models for legacy projects.
We’ve also launched new ways to engage with our members, including a new Facebook Group.
Thank you for your continued support and energy as we build a stronger, more inclusive NEMBC together.
Yours in community,
Marianne Wangira
General Manager, NEMBC
Annual Conference – just over 2 weeks to go
We’re counting down to the 2025 NEMBC Conference. This year’s theme Voices of Change: Strategies for Inclusive and Impactful Broadcasting is all about spotlighting the vital role of multicultural and ethnic broadcasters across the country.
Held in Melbourne from 23-24 May at Crowne Plaza Southbank, the conference will bring together broadcasters, community leaders, and sector advocates for a powerful weekend of learning, connection, and celebration.
Expect interactive workshops, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and inspiring keynotes from voices shaping the future of community broadcasting. It’s also your chance to engage with NEMBC’s new strategic direction, with our Annual General Meeting and vote on a new Constitution and membership structure.
And of course, don’t forget our Gala Dinner & Awards night, recognising excellence across nine categories including the inaugural Voices Through Time Award, which honours broadcasters with over 20 years of service to their communities.
Award nominations have now closed and are being assessed by an independent panel. Nominees and winners will be announced on the night, so we hope you’ll be there to celebrate with us!
Haven’t registered yet? We’ve etended our early bird rate until Friday 9 May. This is the final extension, so don’t miss your chance to secure your spot at the best possible price.
Nominations for 2025 NEMBC Awards are now closed
Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination.
We are excited to celebrate the outstanding achievements in ethnic community broadcasting at the Award Ceremony, which will take place during the NEMBC Conference Gala Dinner in Melbourne on Saturday, 24 May 2025.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Member Facebook Group Launch
We’ve recently launched a Members-Only Facebook Group designed to help ethnic and multicultural broadcasters across Australia connect, collaborate, and share.
Whether you want to show off a recent highlight from your station, ask a question about equipment, or start a conversation about community engagement, this group is your space.
It’s a simple way to stay connected with your peers and share knowledge across our growing national network.
If you haven’t joined yet, click here.
Operations & Staffing
Over the past month, we’ve been reviewing our internal operations and team structure to make sure NEMBC is positioned for long-term growth and impact.
This includes realigning roles, strengthening systems, and tightening our internal processes, all part of building a more efficient and strategic organisation.
These changes support our commitment to transparency, good governance, and delivering real value to our members.
Sector Advocacy & Stakeholder Engagement
We’ve been continuing important conversations with key stakeholders, including government departments and media sector partners, to advocate for greater support and recognition of multicultural and ethnic broadcasters.
Our goal is to ensure your voices are heard at the highest levels, and that our sector receives the funding, respect, and visibility it deserves.
Behind the scenes, we’re also exploring a number of exciting new projects aimed at strengthening the sector through news, training, grant support, and networking opportunities.
While many are still in development, we look forward to announcing these initiatives soon. Watch this space!
Projects
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) – Distribution Campaign
The NEMBC and the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care are collaborating on a new round of distribution of ready-to-air 60-second grabs in Arabic, English, Indonesian, Turkish, and Urdu on the topic of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), produced by the NEMBC in 2024.
The distribution will take place over five weeks in two phases, across 10 community radio stations:
- Phase 1: 13 May – 3 June 2025
- Break: Distribution paused during the Hajj period (4–9 June)
- Phase 2: 10 June – 24 June 2025
Share the Gift – Organ and Tissue Donation
We are proud to have been awarded the 2025 Community Awareness Grant by the Australian Organ and Tissue Authority (OTA) to help raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation.
As part of this initiative, we are creating an audio explainer series that will be distributed in English and Australia’s nine most spoken languages: Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Punjabi, Greek, Italian, Hindi, and Spanish.
We are currently consulting with community leaders from each of these language groups to help develop the script.
The explainer series will be freely available to all stations, programs, and radio broadcasters.
More information will be shared soon!
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!
Community Updates
Voices of Australia Podcast
The Voices of Australia podcast explores what makes Australian society tick. Join Anthea Hancocks, CEO of the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute, as she chats with experts and community voices about social cohesion in Australia.
Listen here.
Victoria’s Multicultural Review
Help shape the future of multicultural policy in Victoria by joining a consultation session or submitting your feedback online. Your voice matters.
Get involved here.