The ABC congratulates the recipients of the 2025 Bonner Committee scholarships, Bridget Caldwell-Bright and Peter Green.

The scholarships were announced at an Awards dinner last night at the conclusion of the 2025 Indigenous Staff Conference.

The scholarships honour the legacy of the late Neville Bonner AO and reinforces the ABC’s commitment to Indigenous representation, development, and inclusion. The scholarships are awarded to current ABC employees to enhance their skills and develop their careers.

Melbourne-based editorial advisor Bridget Caldwell-Bright has received the scholarship for leadership and Peter Green – a member of the Content Production Technology team in Perth – has received the development scholarship.

Bonner Committee Chair 2022-25 Dan Bourchier said: “The Bonner Scholarships are an important way of the Bonner Committee creating avenues for fellow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues, with access to professional development, training, and educational opportunities that can accelerate career growth and leadership pathways. By investing in Indigenous talent, the scholarships aim to retain skilled staff and support their personal development and growth, and advancement into influential roles across the organisation.”

Bridget Caldwell-Bright – Leadership

Bridget is the editorial adviser to the ABC state and regional newsrooms and the primary editorial policy adviser for News on issues that relate to First Nations people.

As the recipient of the Bonner Committee leadership scholarship, she will take part in a short-term international exchange with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), with a focus on Editorial Standards to assist her professional development. Bridget will participate in an observational and knowledge exchange placement with the CBC Office of Editorial and Journalistic Standards, and the CBC Indigenous Unit.

Peter Green – Development 

Peter’s current role at the ABC in Perth is an assistant technologist, providing technical support to ensure broadcast and business continuity.

His development scholarship involves a placement in the content production engineering team, with a specific focus on developing DataMiner Skills. The scholarship will increase Peter’s hands-on experience, and technical knowledge.

Last night, Dan Bourchier also welcomed Solua Middleton as the incoming Bonner Committee Chair and new Head of First Nations Audio.

The ABC had 4 podcasts in the top 10 for the third consecutive month  according to the Triton Australian Podcast Ranker released today.

ABC News Top Stories was the second most listened to podcast in July and the most listened to news podcast in the list with 838,000 listeners, up 57,000 listeners from June. ABC News Daily also remained in the top 10 at number 8.

Mushroom Case Daily, Australia’s number 1 true crime podcast, continued to grip listeners throughout July placing it at number 4. 

Conversations, which is currently embarking on a 20^th anniversary live tour around Australia with presenters Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski, added an additional 14,000 listeners in July to hold its number 9 place.

Internationally award-winning ABC podcast Expanse landed at #45 with new season Nowhere Man attracting 157,000 listeners in July. In season five of Expanse, host Erin Parke investigates a young American man who goes missing in the Australian outback in 1995. The man appears to have plunged into the desert on purpose and seemingly doesn’t want to be found. The mystery kicks off a saga spanning three decades, two continents and a colourful cast of characters.  

ABC Kids podcasts also performed well in July. After releasing new episodes from late June, beloved family favourite Dino Dome is up 98 places to #185, making it the most popular podcast developed for children on the list. Science podcast for the young and curious Imagine This presented by Niraj Lal, also made an appearance at #205.

Audiences can enjoy all the ABC’s podcasts for free and ad free on ABC listen. 

The Australian Podcast Ranker is a regular monthly snapshot of Australia’s most popular podcasts. The Ranker has been reporting podcast listening in Australia since 2019 and includes a wide cross-section of Australian podcast publishers, from both radio and non-radio backgrounds.

The full Triton Australian Podcast Ranker can be found here.

The ABC is pleased to announce the appointment of Solua Middleton as Head of Indigenous Audio.

Solua is Chair of the Bonner Committee, where she played a key role in shaping the ABC’s Listen Loudly, Act Strongly anti-racism initiative. The Bonner Committee is the ABC’s primary advisory body on issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, content and communities. 

A proud Torres Strait Islander woman, Solua has over 25 years of experience in the media industry, including 15 years with the ABC where she is co-executive producer of ABC News Story Lab’s Deep Time project. She was previously co-executive producer of the ABC’s national project Right Wrongs, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, an ABC radio and ABC Open producer and features writer. Earlier in her career, she was a journalist with The Koori Mail and NITV National News and founder and publisher of the Gold Coast Indigenous Newspaper Be Counted.

Solua Middleton: “I’m really excited to be joining the Audio division as their inaugural Head of Indigenous Audio and working with Ben Latimer and the division’s leadership team. I see a real potential to strengthen our connection and service to Indigenous audiences and explore new ideas to build on the highly respected work of our flagship programs Speaking Out and Awaye! I’ve been passionately telling Indigenous stories for several decades and am looking forward to continuing to amplify those stories for all Australians.”

In the newly created Head of Indigenous Audio role, Solua will collaborate with Indigenous communities, creators, and ABC teams to strengthen cultural representation, and ensure culturally appropriate editorial leadership across all content. She will also be responsible for expanding opportunities for Indigenous talent and championing First Nations voices, stories, and perspectives across ABC radio networks and on-demand audio platforms.

ABC Director Audio Ben Latimer: “This is a landmark appointment for the ABC Audio division and a vital step in strengthening our First Nations storytelling.  Solua is a tireless advocate and supporter of colleagues and the broader Indigenous community. She will play a key strategic and creative role leading the development and delivery of Indigenous content and partnerships across ABC Audio. We’re thrilled to welcome her to the team.”

Solua received the Henry Mayer Media Prize in 2005, a Clarion Award for the Aftermath project and Human Rights Media Awards for Right Wrongs, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum. She has also served on the Walkley Judging Board and recently completed the prestigious Dr John Yu Fellowship with the University of Sydney Business School.

Solua starts in the role on November 3.

Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA), in partnership with Triton Digital, has released the July results for the Australian Podcast Ranker. The Ranker is the country’s only official, third-party verified podcast measurement system, governed by a cross-industry Steering Committee and backed by strong collaboration across commercial, independent, and non-commercial publishers. It sets the benchmark for podcast data in Australia.

Lizzie Young, CEO of CRA said: “The Podcast Ranker goes beyond audience numbers to reveal the highly engaged, trusted niche communities shaping consumer decisions. This data gives brands the clarity to invest smarter, connect deeper, and cultivate brand loyalty with the demographics that matter most to their brands.”

Who’s Listening, What’s Trending?

Why are Health & Fitness podcast listeners your most profitable paradox? Demos+ data reveals an overlooked truth about Health & Fitness podcast listeners: while 48% actively pursue fitness interests, 62% visit quick service restaurants weekly. These listeners also dominate family food decisions as 81% are the primary grocery shopper and 88% grocery shop weekly. 

 With 80% aged 18-49 and 72% part of the 25-54 demo, these decision-makers represent a prime group of consumers with peak earning and spending capacity. Despite common perceptions about health enthusiasts, it’s clear these consumers purchase fruit and fast-food in equal measure. Smart brands will recognise this duality and utilise this genre audience as a direct line to both convenience-loving and health-conscious consumers.[i]  

Australian Podcast Ranker top five genres July 2025
Genre		Monthly Listeners
1	News	4,946,725
2	Society & Culture	4,162,282
3	Sports	3,760,539
4	True Crime	3,336,768
5	Comedy	2,844,546

Australian Podcast Ranker top five podcasts July 2025
Podcast		Producer	Monthly Listeners
1	Hamish & Andy	LiSTNR (SCA)	851,031
2	ABC News Top Stories	Australian Broadcasting Corporation	837,869
3	Mamamia Out Loud	Mamamia	537,250
4	Mushroom Case Daily	Australian Broadcasting Corporation	455,544
5	Sky News Australia Update	News Corp Australia	446,257

 Please note: access the complete datasets and interactive analytics are available here 

About the Australian Podcast Ranker

The Australian Podcast Ranker is a monthly snapshot of the top 300 podcasts listened to by Australians, and the top 300 Australian podcasts. The Australian Podcast Ranker is an industry initiative commissioned by CRA and published by Triton Digital. Results comply with IAB Podcast Measurement Technical Guidelines.

[i]Triton Digital Demos+ Australian Survey Data (Q4’23 – Q2’25). All percentages represent composition of each genre’s monthly P18+ podcast audience

The SBS Board of Directors has today confirmed it will appoint Jane Palfreyman, SBS Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer, as SBS Acting Managing Director, while it conducts a global search for a new Managing Director.

This arrangement follows the decision of James Taylor to step down from SBS after 13 years of service. He will remain with the organisation until November for a transition period, before taking up the role of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at oOh!media.

SBS Board Acting Chair, Christine Zeitz, said the interim appointment provides continuity of leadership and ensures an orderly transition until the next Managing Director is appointed.

Jane Palfreyman joined SBS in 2012 and has held senior positions across Sales and Marketing. In her current role, she leads SBS’s commercial strategy, brand and audience engagement, client partnerships and revenue growth. She brings more than two decades of experience in media and commercial leadership.

Her appointment as Acting Managing Director will take effect from 28 August 2025. The SBS Board has commenced an independent recruitment process to select the organisation’s next Managing Director.

The Role

Manage the local community radio station based in Orange NSW and serving local communities across The Central West. A full-time role working 38 hours a week. Some weekend and evening work required. The successful applicant must have the ability to obtain a Working With Children Check.

About Us

• Work from our studio in the beautiful city of Orange, to provide a community broadcast across the Central West.
• Orange Community Broadcasters Ltd. – FM107.5 – has operated a community radio licence to broadcast across Blayney, Cabonne and Orange Local Government Areas since 1998.
• We have recently received the funding to upgrade our broadcast equipment. You will be working in state-of-the-art digital studios. We can be heard across the Central West of NSW
• FM107.5, is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and a charity, managed by a Board of Directors and supported by members and presenters.
• Our volunteers, members, sponsors and listeners help shape the sound of the region and provide an independent voice for the whole of the community.
• For over 20 years we have broadcast in community languages to welcome people from diverse communities to the region.
• Demonstrated ability to meet strategic plan milestones and budget goals.
• High editorial judgement skills and ability to contribute to a broad spectrum of community program planning.

About you

• Previous experience in the community/commercial broadcasting sector.
• A demonstrated understanding of the role the community sector plays in the Australian media landscape.
• Proven track record of raising advertising/sponsorship revenue at community and/or commercial media level.
• Experience in management of the presentation and production of local radio programs, preferably with strong on-air presentation skills.
• Technical knowledge of broadcasting systems.
• Proven ability to lead and work effectively in a team of volunteers.

To chat about the opportunity call:

Indi Wood, Manager – Ph: 0421 154 426 or email secretary@fm1075.com.au using the subject line: Station Manager – Orange enquiry via EthicalJobs.

THE ORGANISATION

Orange Community Broadcasters Ltd. (OCB) – FM107.5 – operates a community radio license to broadcast across Blayney, Cabonne and Orange Local Government Areas and surrounding parts of the Central West of NSW. The studio is located upstairs above the Senior Citizens’ Hub in Orange and the transmitter is on Mount Canobolas (Gaanha-bula), both in Wiradjuri Country.

OCB is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and a charity, managed by a Board of Directors and supported by members and presenters. Our volunteers, members, sponsors and listeners help shape the sound of the region and provide an independent voice for the whole of the community.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The purpose of the Station Manager role is to manage operations and growth of the station and collaborate with the Board to achieve the strategic plan and to build the capacity of FM107.5 to ensure the long-term sustainability of the radio station, including the ongoing funding of this role.

To achieve this objective, the manager will be required to acquire sponsorship income, donations, gifts and grants.

Salary Package/Benefits

Minimum $35 per hour (depending on experience and qualifications of applicant) + 11.5% superannuation

Hours/Days

Minimum 38 hours per week. Some weekend and evening work is required for events, volunteer support and meetings. Flexible to work additional hours to deliver projects funded by grants.

Additional Terms of Employment

• Must have a driver’s license
• Able to work after normal business hours
• Must have a Working with Children Check, or the ability to obtain one.

APPLY

Part-time role available for experienced bookkeeper and accounts management. MYOB and Excel spreadsheet experience required. Grant writing and management, experience with Smarty Grants desirable.

Be an integral part of our community radio station, Connect FM 100.9 – Bankstown Auburn Community Radio located in Padstow, close to public transport.

Flexible hours. Immediate start.

Email your CV and expression of interest to applications@connectfm.au

Successful candidates only will be contacted.

New campaign by Thinkerbell and Glue Society centres on “Fire Frequency” and proves audio can extinguish fire and ignite emotion.

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Video asset can be accessed here on Vimeo 
Behind the scenes asset (how we did this) can be accessed here on Vimeo
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Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) and leading independent agency Thinkerbell have launched a bold advertising campaign to showcase the power of audio, using soundwaves to extinguish a flame, prompting marketers to reconsider audio’s ability to cut through and create lasting impact.

The idea centres around a specially designed audio score that, set at the right ‘fire frequency’, has the power to literally put out a fire. In a live experiment it shows that when harnessed with intent, audio can move more than molecules. It can move minds, emotions, and brands. 

The campaign draws on System1 research, developed in partnership with CRA, which identifies the key ingredients for effective audio creative: strong branding, memorability, emotional resonance, and entertaining execution.

Lizzie Young, CEO of CRA, said “This campaign doesn’t just talk about the power of audio, it proves it in the real world. We’ve applied System1’s creative principles and partnered with Thinkerbell to bring that strategy to life through a bold and emotive execution that conveys the effectiveness of audio in driving business outcomes.”

Created in partnership with sonic specialists MassiveMusic and art collective Glue Society, the project serves as a living metaphor for the medium’s impact, literal and figurative – in that it can both light a fire in you and actually put one out.

“Audio is uniquely positioned to influence behaviour – it connects emotionally, can adapt in real time, and reaches audiences in the moments that matter. The ‘Power of Audio’ sets a benchmark for what’s possible when you combine insight, creativity, and context with audio’s unmatched ability to engage at scale. It’s exactly what we encourage brands to do: harness the full potential of audio to work harder, cut through, and deliver growth,” continued Young.

The team at Glue Society, said “When we first heard that sound can put out flames, it felt almost impossible to believe. But creating an art installation that proved it to be true was something we couldn’t wait to sink our teeth into. The result is a bit magical, a bit scientific and a bit wonderful. And genuine proof of the power of audio. Hearing is believing”. 

Adam Ferrier, Founder & Chief Thinker at Thinkerbell, says: “By using a sub-bass frequency to extinguish a flame, we wanted to prove just how potent audio can be. Audio’s often treated like the side dish in campaigns, but when you isolate it and make it the hero, it becomes undeniable. This is proof that a good frequency can spark culture, shift mood, and even kill a flame. That’s power.” 

The actual audio frequency captured live on the day is used across all assets in the work – from the film, to radio, to social cutdowns. It also marks the first use of CRA’s new sonic brand identity, created by audio specialist David Konsky, and features dynamic creative capabilities across podcast and streaming platforms produced by Original Audio.   

This initiative builds on CRA’s broader positioning, Where Brands Are Heard, and aims to grow investment in commercial radio and audio across metro and regional markets, by reminding CMOs, creatives, and media leads that audio, when done right, doesn’t just speak. It resonates.  

Sydney, 15. August 2025

METRO MARKETS:

Sydney Radio 360 Survey 4, 2025

Melbourne Radio 360 Survey 4, 2025

Brisbane Radio 360 Survey 4, 2025

Adelaide Radio 360 Survey 4, 2025

Perth Radio 360 Survey 4, 2025

REGIONAL MARKETS:

Canberra Survey 2, 2025

Gold Coast Survey 2, 2025 

Newcastle Survey 2, 2025

Archive:

Archive of Previous Surveys

Statement by SBS Managing Director, James Taylor 

SBS is deeply saddened by the passing of David Stratton, one of Australia’s most respected and beloved film critics.  

His insightful reviews and deep passion for film have left an indelible mark on Australian culture. 

From 1986 to 2004, David co-hosted SBS’s The Movie Show alongside Margaret Pomeranz, introducing generations of viewers to cinema from Australia and around the world. His legacy endures in every thoughtful review and every inspired viewer. 

We extend our heartfelt condolences to David’s family and loved ones, and honour his extraordinary contribution to the art of cinema.