IRCA calls on political parties to pledge support for the Indigenous broadcasting and media sector

The Indigenous Remote Communications Association (IRCA), the peak body for remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media, has shared a media release calling on major political parties to commit funding for:

• A doubling of remote Indigenous media employment;
• Enhancement of Indigenous organisational and service delivery capability;
• Expansion of Indigenous media services to unserved areas; and
• Rectification of the failures of the digital switchover in remote Indigenous communities.

The remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media sector provides significant opportunities for meaningful Indigenous employment on-country, as well as providing vital broadcasting, infrastructure and maintenance services for remote Indigenous communities.

Years of stagnated funding has left the sector increasingly compromised in its capacity to support wider government policy initiatives in the areas of Indigenous employment, development of remote Australia, digital inclusion and promoting community well-being.

IRCA calls on major political parties to answer 8 questions (see page 2) to outline their commitment to the advancement of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media sector.

IRCA is the peak body for remote Indigenous media and communications, founded in 2001. IRCA currently represents over 100 hundred Remote Indigenous Broadcasting Services (RIBS) across Australia, supported by eight Remote Indigenous Media Organisations (RIMOs), plus other remote media producers and aspirant community groups.  From July 2016, IRCA will be expanding its representation and role to become the national peak body for Indigenous media and communications.

For further information, please contact IRCA General Manager Daniel Featherstone on 08 8952 6465 or via email: [email protected].