First Nations Media NEWS | CONVERGE Sydney program :: We Are Hiring :: Truth-telling

CONVERGE Sydney is shaping up to be action packed!
We’re kicking off with a welcome event on the rooftop of Gadigal Information Service - Home of Koori Radio in Redfern on Wednesday 21st November.

Then on Thursday 22nd November Senator Malarndirri McCarthy will give keynote presentation, followed by a day of plenary and breakout sessions on a broad range of topics, including themes of news production, archiving, technology and content-sharing.
We’re excited to have breakout sessions focused on content-makers, technicians and station leadership staff so that everyone gets an opportunity to learn and participate in the discussions.

Friday 23rd November will focus on career pathways and skills development with hands-on training sessions and plenary discussions. Delegates will also have the opportunity to provide input to the next strategic plan for your national peak body. The conference day program will finish with the First Nations Media Australia AGM.

Then we’ll be dancing into the night as we celebrate the inaugural First Nations Media Awards and the launch of the new indigiTUBE platform with live performances from Baker Boy, Dallas Woods, Marlene Cummins and Alice Skye.

There’s still more to be announced, so keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for updates.

#ourmediamatters #convergesyd18

While it’s been great to see so many people registering for CONVERGE Sydney, we know there are some others who are planning on coming along and haven’t given us their details yet. We want to make sure we have plenty of catering and t-shirts for everyone, so don’t forget to fill out the registration form on our website asap. Registrations close on 9 November - that’s not far away!

We’re offering one free registration per organisation to 20 member organisations and we can assist with travel subsidies to help get your team to Sydney. Talk to Jenni Nixon to arrange travel assistance on 08 8952 6465.

You will also notice a tick box on the registration form asking if you would like one of the 70 tickets we have to share with CONVERGE Sydney delegates for the Winda Film Festival opening night on Thursday 22 November.

Our Media is Truth-telling
First Nations Media Australia submitted a response to the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition Relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Interim Report this month. The submission did not express a view on the form or process Constitutional recognition might take, but instead highlighted the role of First Nations media organisations in the truth-telling and consultation processes. It reminded Government to engage with First Nations media organisations to share information with communities, report on public debate and encourage our audiences to speak up at public hearings and meetings. The Committee has recently completed a series of public hearings and will publish its final report by 29 November 2018. First Nations media organisations are encouraged to keep an eye on this process as it progresses and to let share any coverage of Constitutional recognition activities with us so that we can highlight your work.

More information on the Interim Report and submissions made to the Committee can be found here.

"We took our message to Parliament on behalf of our organisations all over the country because our media matters just as much today as it has in all the years I’ve been involved in broadcasting, writing and training for our sector. As Chair of First Nations Media Australia, I am proud to represent the work being done in all media formats to preserve culture and language for our people and to build bridges with the wider community. Although we’ve been producing content for a long time, we keep talking up the impact our media has in communities and I’m happy to be doing that work for the industry that has given me friendship and opportunity through my own media career."

- Dot West, Chair, First Nations Media Australia

Teach a man to fish

NITV has commissioned documentary, Teach a Man to Fish which follows Grant Leigh Saunders, an Aboriginal filmmaker, writer and musician. Despite his promising artistic career, Grant is unsettled and feels there is something missing in his life. As a fair skinned, middle-aged, Aboriginal man, Grant still struggles with his identity. This fishing yarn has it all: family history, fishing, politics, singing, laughter and tears, all against the backdrop of the beautiful Manning River.
Airing on NITV Sunday 28 October at 8.30pm

Cherbourg Radio is back
After some rocky times for the Indigenous radio service in Cherbourg, we’re pleased to report the licence has been transferred to Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council and the Government has announced $580,000 in funding support to deliver programming to the South Burnett region in Queensland. "Regional and Indigenous communities know just how important is it to have their own stories and voices on the airwaves and especially want to know that there will also be local news and local content when they turn on their radio," said Llew O’Brien, Federal Member for Wide Bay.

Director identification numbers
Government is consulting on some new laws that will require all existing and future Directors of organisations registered under the CATSI Act to have a unique director identification number. The purpose of the number is to reduce phoenix activity - when Directors deliberately avoid paying debts by transferring assets to a new corporation and shutting down the old one. Director identification numbers are intended to provide transparency for everyone on what directorships a person holds, whether they have been banned in the past, or whether they have been Directors of a corporation that has shut down. Public consultation is now open on the exposure draft legislation, with responses due by 26 October.

inDigiMOB Digital Mentors workshop
The third inDigiMOB Digital Mentors workshop was held this week in Alice Springs (23-25 October). Eight indigenous mentors from Yuendumu, Alice Springs Town Camps and Grootye Island, attended along with inDigiMOB digital access workers and staff. The workshop provided intensive skills development in all things digital, from different types of microphones, booms and sound capture, to animation videos, using drones, story boarding and developing cyber safety resources.

Sound Up Bootcamp

If you’re heading to CONVERGE Sydney, you might interested in staying a few extra days for Spotify’s Sound Up Bootcamp for First Nations peoples about podcasting. This is an intensive learning program facilitated by Emily Nicol that delves into podcast creation, story development and understanding their audience. It runs from 26-29 November for 10 participants who will receive mentoring, practical experience, and networking opportunities. Three finalists with receive a cash grant and equipment to produce their podcasts at the end.

WE ARE HIRING!

First Nations Media Australia is looking for two people to join our team in Alice Springs.
Both roles are full time, Indigenous identified positions.

We are seeking an Industry Development & Member Services Officer to help support our members and identify and implement industry development and capacity building initiatives. The role will implement the recommendations of the Employment & Skills Development Strategy and will oversee advisory groups to help share knowledge within our sector. Key responsibilities include coordination of a webinar series, developing income generation opportunities, expanding the range of services supporting our members and workforce development tasks. Candidates should have strong business acumen, excellent communications skills, demonstrated project management skills, good working knowledge of governance and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. See the full position description here.

We are also looking for an Events & Fundraising Officer to focus on event coordination, prepare funding submissions for First Nations Media Australia projects, and provide fundraising advice to our sector. This role will require excellent organisation and time management skills, a working knowledge of the First Nations media industry, the ability to coordinate staff and contractors and demonstrated knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. See the full position description for the Events & Fundraising Officer role here.

Talk with us at CONVERGE Sydney
Want to know more about these positions? Know somebody who might be interested? At CONVERGE Sydney we'll have a stall in the trade hall area for anyone with questions or ideas about careers with First Nations Media Australia to come and have a chat.

Two positions at NG Media

NG Media is looking for a General Manager to join their team in Irruntju/Wingellina. If you have experience in managing a medium to large not-for-profit organisation, sound governance skills and radio/film/music experience - this could be the role for you.
They are also seeking a Radio Coordinator/Trainer to be responsible for the day to day production and programming of Radio NGM. The role includes building community member participation through training, networking and capacity building. You will need demonstrated skills in radio production and presenting, as well as the ability to lead and train others.
Both positions are full time. Aboriginal people are encouraged to apply.
Email Jenni Nixon for the full position description.

ADVANCE QUEENSLAND

The Queensland Government is offering grant support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics in the form of PHD Scholarships (up to $120,000 over 3 years) and Research Fellowships (up to $240,000 over 3 years). The research needs to benefit Queensland and work with partners who are physically located in Queensland. Applications are open now on an ongoing basis until June 2019. So you can apply right away, or take a little time to come up with your research topic.