Voice FM, Ballarat’s community radio station, will share in a major funding boost for multicultural and multilingual community media organisations across the state.
Michaela Settle Member for Buninyong said the investment would help Voice FM continue to deliver their vital services to the Ballarat community.
Voice FM will receive $50,000 under the latest round of the Andrews Labor Government’s Multicultural Media Stimulus Program.
The station will train volunteers in radio production, install air-conditioning in their technical room to protect sensitive equipment from temperature variations and purchase digital recording and broadcasting equipment for broadcasting.
It’s one of 48 multicultural media outlets to share in $1.6 million through the Labor Government’s Multicultural Media Stimulus Program to support them as they recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
Multicultural media organisations have been critical in supporting Victoria’s multicultural communities over the past year – delivering up-to-date, culturally and linguistically appropriate health directions to all Victorians.
The next round of grants under the Multicultural Media Stimulus Program are also now open, with multicultural media outlets encouraged to apply for grants of up to $50,000.
Funding can be used to support operating and production costs, equipment or training to ensure Victoria’s rich and diverse multicultural media sector can continue to grow.
As the most multicultural state in Australia, Victoria has a long history of celebrating cultural, linguistic and religious diversity. Victorians come from more than 200 countries, speak 260 languages and follow 135 different faiths – and the Labor Government is ensuring this diversity is reflected in the media landscape.
Applications for current funding close at 4:00pm on Monday 26 April. For more information and to apply, visit http://www.vic.gov.au/multicultural-media-stimulus-program.
Quotes attributable to Michaela Settle Member for Buninyong
“This $50,000 grant from the Victorian Government will ensure that Voice FM can continue providing their vital services – keeping the Ballarat community informed and connected.”
“Ballarat is a diverse community and this funding will help these communities have a voice on our community radio station. Multicultural media outlets have always been important, but they played a vital role during the pandemic – ensuring critical health information reached everyone in our community.”
Quotes attributable to Voice FM Chairman Ron Egeberg
“The Board is delighted that the Andrews Government Multicultural Media Stimulus Program will address our immediate financial needs, build capacity in our volunteers and strengthen our future growth and development.”
“We are empowering a new generation of diverse community voices through training in radio production and presentation, ensuring a broad representation of backgrounds, languages and experiences are on our airwaves.”
“By encouraging and bringing diverse new voices to the airwaves, Voice FM will not only be building its future audiences - it will be a vehicle for developing community cohesion through the sharing of multicultural stories from across our region.”
Quotes attributable to Dr Sundram Sivamalai, City of Ballarat - Citizen of the Year 2021
“This is an opportunity for the voices of our vibrant multicultural community in Ballarat to be heard. We have seen so many cultures choosing Ballarat because of our welcoming spirit and I look forward to hearing radio shows that speak to the issues of our multicultural communities.”
