CBAA Winner of the COVID-19 Hero Association Award

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia has been named the winner of the inaugural COVID-19 Hero Association Award as part of the 2020 APAC Association Awards. This award program recognises associations that exemplified the highest standards of excellence and achievement that have significantly changed the association. The CBAA was recognised for quickly reacting to the global pandemic through raising public, community and social awareness of community broadcasting and proactively working with influential stakeholders to strengthen knowledge, understanding and support.

The CBAA increased independent, local, and community news to listeners during the COVID-19 pandemic. After securing a philanthropic partnership with the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas in March 2020, the sector’s National Radio News service became free for all current and new subscribers. As a result, community-driven news reached an even greater audience.

The CBAA shifted from a physical to a virtual event when it conducted the 2020 CBAA Conference online for the first time. The program engaged with the audience and involved the community broadcasting sector. Compared to previous years, the engagement tripled and recorded more than 1,000 community broadcasters across Australia and New Zealand as participants.

Through a Facebook group, Community Radio COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Response, regular direct email and phone communications, weekly webinars and resources delivered to all community broadcasters, the sector was able to connect, show support and most importantly stay on-air for our communities.

The CBAA team was thrilled to accept this award and look forward to builiding on this great work.

See the full list of the 2020 APAC Association Awards.