First Nations Media Australia | October 2024 Newsletter

It’s just over two weeks until CONVERGE 2024 kicks off. This is your chance to be part of our flagship event that celebrates and uplifts the First Nations Media sector.

We are pleased to present the draft program – join us for insightful talks, dynamic panel discussions, and exclusive networking opportunities.

The focus for day one is Digital Inclusion which will provide a dynamic platform for co-design and collaborative discussions relating to digital inclusion for First Nations people and communities. Hear from government and industry leaders in telecommunications about what is happening in digital inclusion in remote Australia.

The Archiving Project is progressing well. Last Thursday 31 October we held an Industry Huddle with ordinary members, focused on Call for Action #8 ‘Preserving First Nations Media Archives’.

We heard from one of our partners, National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) who presented on 5 stages of archiving with particular attention placed on the preparedness stage. This session has commenced our members support for the preparedness stage, where information to support you build your own knowledge and capability is vital at this early stage.

As discussed at the huddle, National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) will be in attendance at Converge 2024, so there will be an opportunity for follow up questions or further discussions. We will be looking to hold the training most likely in January 2025, so please have the staff members (2) which FNMA will support to undertake this training with National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) in Canberra.

In addition we are looking to undertake a partnership with AIATSIS in the new year to commence Audits of members archiving needs so we can gain a greater understanding of what you have, what is needed and for you and FNMA to better understand the proposed plans and options moving forward.

As discussed with the limited funds FNMA has it is not feasible that all members will get a full financial support from FNMA to conduct ALL the full 5 stages of Archiving as outlined in the huddle, unless additional funds are forthcoming, so being structured, targeted and utilising partners to best meet all members needs is FNMA’s goal.

FNMA are looking to fill the below vacancies – more information including full job descriptions can be found here.

Media and Communications Officer

Position Type: Part-time (22.8 hours per week)

Contract End Date: 30 June 2025

Location: Adelaide, Brisbane or Darwin preferred (others will be considered)

Classification: SCHADS – Level 4

Project and Policy Officer

Position Type: Full-time (38 hours per week)

Contract End Date: 30 June 2025

Location: Adelaide, Brisbane or Darwin preferred (others will be considered)

Classification: SCHADS – Level 5

For a confidential discussion regarding any of the above positions, please contact Corinne Wilmot, Head of Operations on 0436 126 567 or corinne@firstnationsmedia.org.au.

FNMA looks forward to hearing from you!

Last weekend TEABBA celebrated its milestone 35th Birthday at the Hilton with its Directors, Board, Members, Staff and Guests. This Gala Night also included awards, performances and speeches from long time TEABBA friends and associates. There are to many people to thank so we would like to acknowledge everyone who made the night happen and supported TEABBA for such a massive event. Congratulations to the awards recipients, TEABBA radio you're voice in the bush! Check out their Facebook page to keep up to date with their activities.

What a proud moment for @pawmedia_nt with our Warlpiri media staff celebrating their incredible achievements working on the new @netflixanz series Territory! @maxwellwalmatasman Hamilton Morris

"The series follows the fight for power in the remote and unforgiving Australian outback when the world's largest cattle station is left without an apparent heir. Imagine the family drama of your favorite prime-time soap, but set in a region so rough and remote that nearly everything can kill you."

Check out their Facebook page to keep up to date with their activities.

As you may be aware, Australia has now phased out 3G network services as part of a nationwide upgrade to more advanced and efficient telecommunications technology. This transition is essential for paving the way towards broader 5G deployment, which offers significantly faster speeds and more reliable service across the country.

The impact of this transition could be particularly significant for individuals using older mobile phones, medical alert devices, and other specialised equipment that relies on 3G connectivity.

The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) has established a website, 3Gclosure.com.au which provides Australians with the key facts and information to help identify mobile phones and devices that will be impacted by the 3G Network closures.

Australian media professionals now have a dedicated resource supporting safe and respectful communication about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide.

The Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention (CPBATSISP) and Everymind have developed a new quick reference guide with advice for journalists to refer to throughout the entire process of reporting on First Nations suicide.

The free downloadable resource, Quick reference guide for media reporting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide, explains the cultural differences and experiences associated with First Nations suicide and the importance of understanding and respecting its impact on community.

Access this and other resources designed to support safe media reporting of suicide at mindframe.org.au.

First Nations Advocates Against Family Violence (FNAAFV), formerly the National Family Violence Prevention & Legal Services Forum, was established in May 2012 and is the national peak body for the Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services (FVPLS) sector, which provides culturally safe and holistic services to First Nations people – predominantly women and children. As the only national peak body funded to address domestic, family, and sexual violence experienced by First Nations communities, FNAAFV provides expert national policy advice in areas of policy, planning and law reform. Read More.

The first substantive report from the Joint Select Committee Inquiry into the Impact of Social Media on Australian Society, “Digital platforms and the traditional news media” was released on Monday, 21 October.

The report contains 11 recommendations, most of which have moved in the direction of the advocacy objectives PIJI pursued in our appearance before and submissions to the Committee, as well as in our ongoing consultations with the Federal Government and other parliamentarians.

PIJI has been consistently advocating for a two-speed solution to the accelerating decline in public interest journalism: on one hand, short term financial support for the local news outlets that represent 88% of producers of public interest journalism nationally, and which are contracting at an alarming rate; simultaneously, investment in long-term, structural reform through mechanisms such as a digital platforms levy and a suite of taxation reforms.

In that vein, we are pleased to see the Committee’s recommendation that the government explore the viability of a levy on digital platforms, and the separate announcement from the Communications Minister, Hon. Michelle Rowland, of $15 million in urgent funding available to regional and local news outlets through the News Media Relief Program as part of the Government's ongoing NewsMAP process.