IRCA NEWS | Indigenous Focus Day :: CONVERGE Sydney November

The recent 5th Indigenous Focus Day (IFD) held in Darwin (6th June) provided a platform for more than 70 First Nations producers, decision makers and consumers to share experiences and ideas about the potential of digital connectivity and to discuss strategies to improve digital inclusion. Co-hosted by IRCA and B4BA, the IFD was facilitated by Christine Ross and featured a keynote address by Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, welcome by IRCA Chair Dot West and presentations by Leonard Hill from DPMC and Stephen Hagan from Batchelor Institute. There were also 13 short presentations covering a range of community-based digital projects and applications, plus four break-out group discussions leading to a policy and action plan.

Delegates reinforced the call from the 2017 forum for Indigenous digital inclusion to become a Closing the Gap measure. They also outlined a 6-point Digital Inclusion Program designed for First Nations communities, including affordable access to mobile and internet and employment of digital mentors to provide peer training and support. See the Press Release of the Indigenous Focus Day and Photos from the day.

This year’s IFD was followed by a Showcase event, which included the launch by NT Minister Lauren Moss of the inDigiMOB digital learning resources app (see story below) and the RMIT/ Telstra Cyber-safety research report.

The IFD was followed by the 7th Broadband for the Bush Forum on 7-8 June, with the theme "Digital Connectivity: What Next?". The Forum attracted close to 200 participants from across Australia, who renewed the call for a remote telecommunications strategy and increased delivery of digital skills for rural and remote Australia. The presentations from the IFD and B4B Forum will be uploaded to the Broadband for the Bush Alliance Website soon.

KEY CALLS FOR ACTION FROM CONVERGE

Following CONVERGE Brisbane March 2018, the IRCA Board has now approved 9 Key Calls to Action by the Australian Government. The Calls to Action call on the Australian Government to renew First Nations broadcasting and media policy through a range of strategic actions and programs.

Government policy and funding has not kept up with changes in the industry. There has been no First Nations broadcasting and media government policy since the late 1990s. Funding has declined significantly in real terms over the last ten years, creating challenges for the sector to move forward in a convergent era.

The lack of policy and inadequate funding is compromising the sector's ability to upgrade equipment, expand employment for young people and tell the stories that are so vital to the wellbeing of First Nations peoples and communities.

We are calling on the Australian Government to support and partner with the industry to help fully realise the potential of the sector through the programs and actions set out in the Call for Action documents. We ask Government to be part of growing and sustaining the sector for the benefit of First Nations peoples, as well as growing greater understanding of First Nations cultures for the benefit of non-Indigenous Australia. The Overview and Calls for Action are available for d ownload from the IRCA website.

INDIGIMOB WORKSHOP & APP LAUNCH

Digital Mentors and Digital Access Workers from across the NT came together with the inDigiMOB team in Darwin for two days of digital workshop activities prior to the Broadband for the Bush forum.

The group was gifted with a wonderful welcome to Larrakia country by Turtleback Cultural Services. This was followed by various digital activities including creating animations using modelling clay captured on iPads and camera, recording and using GPS coordinates in digital photos, and checking out the new inDigiMOB App resources.

Following workshop, the Digital Mentors and Digital Access Workers presented examples of their digital activities and concerns at the Indigenous Focus Day (IFD) and participated in the Broadband for the Bush Forum. Dot West (IRCA Chair) and the Hon Lauren Moss (Minister for Corporate and Information Services) also officially launched the inDigiMOB App at the IFD Showcase Event.

Finally, members of the inDigiMOB team stopped off at Barunga Festival on the way back to Alice Springs to talk to people about the inDigiMOB program and the new inDigiMOB App.

OTHER RECENT IRCA ACTIVITIES

Employment and Skills Development Strategy - underway with Jumbunna Institute, UTS
Redevelopment of IndigiTUBE showcase and content sharing platform - in progress
NT Government Remote Telecommunications Forum 5/6/18- facilitated by IRCA GM
ABC Radio Big Ideas panel interview, Telecommunications in the Bush 7/6/18
‘Connecting Northern Australia though Telecommunications’ stream (chaired by IRCA GM), Developing Northern Australia conference Alice Springs 19/6/18
Presentation of IRCA’s First Nations Media Archiving Strategy at the GLAM Peak ‘Digital Access to Collections’ workshop Alice Springs 20/6/18

SOCIAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT (SROI) STUDY

The Social Return on Investment (SROI) study of First Nations media organisations undertaken by Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet has come up with an average return of 2.87:1. This means that for every $1 of investment in these organisations by government and other sources, there is $2.87 worth of community benefit. This is an excellent outcome, similar to the social return of the Ranger programs.

The study found that our organisations deliver a range of services and benefits in their communities beyond community broadcasting, including language and cultural programs, employment, training, video production, music development, festival and events, technical and IT services, archiving, building community cohesion and cultural safety, other services and support.

VAST REVIEW

The Department of Communications and the Arts sought responses to the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service in June 2018. The terms of reference for the review were to advise the Minister for Regional Communications on:

the effectiveness and efficiency of the current FTA TV service via VAST, and
options relating to the delivery of FTA TV services in areas that doe receive a reliable local terrestrial FTA transmission.

VAST is an essential platform for many radio broadcasters in the sector with the contract service provision die to be renewed from June 2020. IRCA invited broadcasters using the VAST platform to a webinar based consultation to seek information on concerns and needs. Responses from that consultation informed the development of the IRCA response to the Department.

As there is not a feasible alternative technology in place to provide free access to radio and TV services in remote Australia, including distribution of First Nations radio and TV services, IRCA’s response to the review called for a renewal of the VAST contract for at least another 5 years. However, IRCA raised the need for a maintenance program for VAST direct-to-home equipment and a rollout of equipment to houses without the service. IRCA also called for capacity for more First nations radio services to be delivered via VAST. See the full Response on IRCA’s website.

REGIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS REVIEW

The Regional Telecommunications Review, which is held every three years to assess telecommunications services in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia, is currently underway. Consultations are being held in 18 regional centres, with submissions accepted until 5 August.

As part of the review, the Committee will consider:

how regional communities can maximise the economic benefits of digital technologies
how regional consumers use their broadband services and how they might derive further benefit from it
outcomes achieved through the Mobile Black Spot Program, and examine the extent of the existing gaps in mobile coverage in regional Australia.

See the Department of Communications and the Arts Website for the Review or more information.

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