Policies and Procedures
In order to comply with relevant legislation and ensure your station's operations run smoothly, it's important to make sure your station has the relevant policies and procedures.
There are some policies that you need to have to comply with the ACMA and the Codes of Practice, and having these policies will help save you a lot of time when your licence renewal comes around.
Policies you need to have
- Corporate Governance (Code 1.2)
- Membership (Code 1.4)
- Internal conflict & grievances (Code 1.5) - immediate download template from Our Community and a related template for disciplinary action and dismissal of volunteers
- Complaints handling (Code 1.6) - get template
- Community participation (Code 2.1)
- Programming (Code 2.2) - immediate download template (pages 11-16) - developed by the Community Media Training Organisation (CMTO)
- Volunteering (Code 2.3) - get template
- Sponsorship (Code 6.1) - get template (see below for an example)
Changes to whistleblower laws: what not-for-profits need to know
- A guide published by ASIC, Regulatory Guide 270: Whistleblower Policies, outlines the changes, which include an exemption from the requirement to have a whistleblower policy for not-for-profits and charities with annual revenue of less than $1 million.
Example policies / procedures
-
Volunteers, Grievance Procedures, Complaints Handling Procedure, Programming Policy, Programming Standards, Sponsorship and Legalities policies/procedures (developed by the CMTO).
There are hundreds of other policies you could have to ensure the smooth-running of your station. These include but are not limited to:
- Workplace Health and Safety,
- Child Protection Policies,
- Conflict of Interest,
- Social Media,
- Recreuitment and more!
Looking for a specific policy template? Get in touch on 02 9310 2999 or [email protected].
Making decisions based off your policies and procedures
Decisions can’t be just made ‘off the cuff’. Your policies and procedures should already be based around the Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice. Check out this fact sheet for advice (developed by the CMTO).
Keeping your policies current
An important part of compliance is making sure that you maintain contact with the various regulatory bodies you are dealing with. This does not necessarily mean phoning them for a chat every now and then! Check out this fact sheet for advice, developed by the CMTO.