INDIGENOUS STUDENTS TRAIN IN RADIO COMMUNICATION

The Queensland Government is helping train Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in the latest radio broadcasting techniques.

Minister for Natural Resources and Water Craig Wallace said the Government had provided $25,000 for the Youth Training and Broadcasting Project, run by the Brisbane Indigenous Media Association (BIMA).

The six-month project is providing formal communications training for 16 young Indigenous people in Brisbane and Cape York, he said.

“This project will give Indigenous students a practical knowledge of a working radio station through qualified trainers and assessors,” Mr Wallace said.

Participants are taking part in on-site radio training at studios in Brisbane and Cape York, with all course materials and assessment items provided for students online.

In a break from training at BIMA’s studios in Yeerongpilly earlier this month (June 4-11), the students travelled to Parliament House to meet with the Minister.

The Minister presented six of the students with a Certificate II in Broadcasting in Parliament House’s historic Red Chamber.

Mr Wallace said the students were being encouraged to produce radio programs about climate change and other issues relating to natural resource management.

As part of the sponsorship, a $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to the Cape York student who contributes most actively to radio content on climate change.

BIMA general manager Tiga Bayles said the project would give Indigenous students new life skills and greater career prospects.

“Participants will help produce a series of 12 radio segments on natural resource issues, which will be broadcast through Queensland on the National Indigenous Radio Service,” Mr Bayles said.

“This sponsorship will complement our existing project in place with the Department of Natural Resources and Water, in which BIMA trainees produce programs about Indigenous cultural heritage issues.”

Photographs available on request.

Media contact: Caroline Kaurila, Craig Wallace’s office on 3896 3694 or 0414 213 954.