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| ABC Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Broadcasting | |
|---|---|
| Name | ABC Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Broadcasting |
| Formation | 1970s |
| Headquarters | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Region served | Australia |
| Parent organization | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
ABC Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Broadcasting is a division within the Australian Broadcasting Corporation created to produce and distribute radio, television, and digital content for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander audiences. It operates alongside national entities such as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, engages with organizations including the National Indigenous Radio Service, collaborates with institutions like the National Film and Sound Archive and consults community groups such as the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives. The division interacts with policy frameworks set by bodies such as the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the Australian Human Rights Commission, and consults cultural organisations like the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and the Reconciliation Australia.
The service traces its origins to community movements and media projects in the 1970s and 1980s influenced by events including the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, the 1988 Bicentennial protests, and advocacy from groups like the Aboriginal Legal Service and the Aboriginal Medical Service. Early collaborations involved broadcasters from the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal era, producers linked to the Australian Film Commission, and Indigenous filmmakers engaged with the National Indigenous Television pilot projects and initiatives supported by the Australia Council for the Arts. Key milestones intersect with national policy developments such as the Mabo v Queensland (No 2) decision and inquiries like the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody that shaped content priorities and community outreach.
Programming spans radio, television, and online platforms featuring music, news, drama, and documentary work influenced by creators associated with the Deadly Awards, festivals like the Message Sticks Festival, and companies including Blackfella Films and Brindle Films. Radio output is informed by partnerships with the National Indigenous Radio Service and stations like Radio Skid Row, while television and digital content have been commissioned alongside producers who worked on productions for SBS Television, Network Ten, and ABC TV. The service broadcasts content highlighting figures such as Eddie Mabo, David Unaipon, Oodgeroo Noonuccal, Lowitja O'Donoghue, and contemporary artists linked to Archie Roach, Christine Anu, and Baker Boy.
Governance is situated within the framework of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation board appointments and oversight processes that interact with legislation including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 and regulatory standards from the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Funding sources include federal appropriations debated in contexts like the Commonwealth Budget and scrutiny from parliamentary committees such as the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories and the Senate Estimates process. Strategic plans cite partnerships with cultural funders such as the Australia Council for the Arts and philanthropic trusts exemplified by the Ian Potter Foundation and initiatives modeled after grants administered by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Engagement strategies emphasize consultation with Representative bodies such as the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, and peak legal groups like the Aboriginal Legal Service. Editorial policy draws on contributions from leaders associated with the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples, elders from communities around Torres Strait Islands and Arnhem Land, and cultural protocols referenced by organisations like Koori Mail and the Central Land Council. Recruitment and training pathways are compared with programs at institutions including the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and partnerships with universities such as the University of Sydney and the Australian National University.
Services extend to remote communities across regions including the Northern Territory, Cape York Peninsula, Kimberley (Western Australia), and the Torres Strait Islands using transmitters and community stations similar to models employed by the Remote Indigenous Broadcasting Service and networks such as the Outback Radio Network. These operations coordinate with state bodies like the Northern Territory Government, local councils including the Shire of Torres, and service providers such as Telstra and NBN Co to address infrastructure challenges noted in inquiries like the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia.
The division has influenced national cultural narratives by amplifying voices tied to movements and figures like Vincent Lingiari, Faith Bandler, Eddie Koiki Mabo, Noel Pearson, and artistic practitioners linked to the Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Cooperative and the Urban Theatre Projects. Its programming contributes to archival records alongside the National Film and Sound Archive and informs education resources used by institutions such as the Australian National Maritime Museum, Art Gallery of New South Wales, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. Awards and recognition intersect with events like the Helpmann Awards and the Logie Awards when Indigenous-led productions achieve national exposure.
Critiques have emerged regarding editorial decisions, representation, and resource allocation, echoed in debates involving the Australian Human Rights Commission, inquiries like the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and commentaries in outlets such as the Sydney Morning Herald and the Guardian Australia. Controversies have included disputes over content accuracy connected to historical topics such as Stolen Generations coverage, clashes with advocacy groups like the Aboriginal Legal Service, and tensions revealed during parliamentary oversight by committees including the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee.
Category:Australian Broadcasting Corporation Category:Indigenous Australian organizations