In the lead up to Mardi Gras, rebels and resistance fuel Queer Renegades, a new SBS Audio podcast spotlighting the trailblazers who helped shape Australia’s queer history – stories often overlooked or erased.

Hosted by Iranian-Australian writer and broadcaster Farz Edraki, Queer Renegades challenges the heteronormative lens cast on history, centring the voices of daring trailblazers from the LGBTQ+ community who questioned the status quo and created change.

Timed to launch ahead of Mardi Gras, the series explores stories of queer activism and rebellion, from the legacy of Dykes on Bikes, who act as protectors of the LGBTQ+ community, to newly arrived refugees seeking queer connection, and First Nations artists and curators forging new cultural spaces.

“Let’s be honest – when it comes to history, queer stories are often erased by a default lens we’re rarely challenged to question,” said Edraki.

“The truth is, queer people exist in every culture, and shared queer identity can connect deeply diverse lives – there are incredible stories of camaraderie and bravery. People who have stood up to the status quo and made change possible. We want to highlight these people and their stories.”

David Hua, Director of Audio and Language Content at SBS said, “Australia offers comparatively greater freedom for many LGBTQ+ people, but that didn’t happen by accident. Queer Renegades creates space to hear from those who shaped it, lived it, and continue to challenge it.

“At SBS we’re here to champion the voices and stories we hear least, amplifying lived experiences and perspectives to build belonging, connection, and pride.”

Each episodes marks a key moment of activism – whether an event, moment or individual. Featured trailblazers include:

• Jonny Hawkins AKA Aunty Jonny: Prolific multi-disciplinary artist and true believer of the dancefloor; 
• Jacobin ‘Jack’ Bosman: PhD Candidate and Graduate Researcher Academic Associate at the University of Melbourne; 
• Renee Dixon: Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Forcibly Displaced People Network; 
• 78er Ken Davis and Sister Claire Nolan head of nursing at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital during the HIV/AIDS epidemic; 
• Ben Graetz: Co-Festival Creative Director for Sydney World Pride 2023; 
• Xander Khoury: Father of House of Silky, a ballroom collective based in Western Sydney; 
• Kendal Walton: President of Sydney Dykes on Bikes; 
• Glenn McNamara: Co-owner of Sauna X in Sydney; 
• Sam Lewis: President of the Flying Bats Football club, the biggest LGBTQIA+ women’s and non-binary football club in the world;
• Carlie Henderson: Executive member of the Parents for Trans Youth Equity. 

The eight episodes of Queer Renegades will drop weekly from the 11^th of February 2026. Listen on the SBS Audio App, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube, LiSTNR, SBS On Demand or wherever you stream your podcasts.

ABC International has continued to strengthen its regional partnerships in 2026, signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with broadcasters and media organisations in Malaysia, Mongolia and Timor-Leste.

Under the successful program which began in 2022, ABC International has signed 23 similar agreements with leading media organisations in Asia and the Pacific which focus on opportunities to share content, exchange expertise and knowledge, and undertake technical training and media development initiatives. 

In the latest round of agreements, ABC International formalised tailored agreements with Timor-Leste’s public service news agency Tatoli, Mongolian National Broadcaster (MNB) and Malaysian state broadcaster Sarawak Media Group (SMG). 

The MoUs with MNB and SMG facilitate opportunities for content sharing of news and current affairs, factual, sports and lifestyle programming, in addition to the exchange of technical advice and information, while the Tatoli agreement also includes provisions for ongoing collaboration with ABC International’s media development arm, ABC International Development, which has worked closely with Tatoli in recent years in launching an English-language news service and other capacity building initiatives. 

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said, “ABC International has worked tirelessly over the past four years to fortify our relationships with like-minded, regional partners and formalise tailored agreements with them. Each MoU establishes a framework for collaboration across areas such as content and information sharing, and media capacity building, and in doing so, brings new opportunities for meaningful engagement.

“We are proud to announce these latest agreements with Tatoli, MNB and SMG, and look forward to the emerging possibilities for closer collaboration and how we can best work together to support and serve our respective audiences through these partnerships.”

The ABC has also recently renewed its partnership with Canadian national broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada, signing an updated MoU to support content and distribution-related initiatives, including the development of a new children’s co-production It’s Andrew! set to premiere in Australia in 2026.

After an extraordinary 25 years behind the mic on Afternoons, James Valentine will farewell 702 ABC Radio Sydney with a special two‑hour retrospective program this Friday afternoon.

“I won’t be coming back this year to the microphone and the Afternoons program” James said “it’s time for me to retire”.

“This decision has been hard for me to make but I need to focus on getting better and  being with family and friends and making sure I’m giving my health my best shot.”

“This coming Friday, Jen Fleming, long-time producer of the program and myself want to present a retrospective; the best of Afternoons, to capture what we’ve made in those 25 years.” James said as he announced the program on Monday.

Across the week, James’ loyal audience is invited to share favourite memories, moments and stories on the 702 ABC Radio Sydney Facebook page. These will be reflected on during Friday’s special broadcast as the station celebrates the legacy of one of its most loved presenters.

ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks said James’ contribution to the ABC has been remarkable and enduring. “James is one of the great creative forces in Australian broadcasting.

“He has an extraordinary gift for turning everyday moments into joyful, smart and surprising radio, and the connection he has built with his audience over decades simply cannot be overstated.

“We’re proud to celebrate everything he has brought to the ABC, and we wish him strength and support as he focuses on his health.”

James began his media career in the mid‑1980s, hosting cartoons on ABC TV’s The Afternoon Show. He went on to work across several ABC television programs before moving into radio at 666 ABC Radio Canberra. He then moved onto the Mornings program in Sydney.

In 2001, James found what he describes as his true home at the ABC when he began presenting Afternoons on 702 ABC Radio Sydney, then known as 2BL. He has held the role for more than two decades, with a brief detour presenting Breakfast in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, James announced he would be stepping away from the program to receive treatment for oesophageal cancer.

The James Valentine Afternoons: Retrospective special program will air on 702 ABC Radio Sydney at 12.30pm AEDT on Friday 6 February, and across NSW at 1.30pm.

James will also step away from his ABC Jazz program Upbeat, where he has shared his passion for jazz with audiences since the program launched in 2020.

Program or issue	Station/licensee	Description	Outcome	Report published
Licence condition	Tasman Community Broadcasters Association Inc.	Encourage community participation in operationsEncourage community participation in programming	Breached paragraph 9(2)(c)(i) of Schedule 2 to the BSADid not breach paragraph 9(2)(2)(ii) of Schedule 2 to the BSA(ref. BI-744)	19 December 2025
Licence condition and code matters	Great Lakes Area FM Community Radio Association Inc.	Encourage community participation in operations	No breach of paragraph 9(2)(c)(ii) of Schedule 2 to the BSA(ref. BI-749)	18 December 2025
Licence condition and code matters	Tamar FM Inc (7TFM)	Have in place, abide by, and regularly review constitution and key governance policiesEncourage community participation in operations	No breach of Code 2.1(a) of the Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice 2025No breach of Code 2.1(b) of the Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice 2025No breach of paragraph 9(2)(c)(i) of Schedule 2 to the BSA(ref. BI-750)	11 December 2025

LiSTNR today announced that KICBump, the parenting podcast from the team behind KICPod, has officially launched as a standalone weekly show, marking the next stage in the KIC brand’s evolution and expansion within Australia’s digital audio landscape.

Originally introduced in 2021 as a fortnightly episode within the KICPod feed, KICBump has cultivated a deeply loyal audience that has grown alongside KIC co-founders Steph Claire Smith and Laura Henshaw, following their journeys through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. 

While KICPod will continue to release two episodes each week, KICBump will now deliver its own weekly episode, expanding the brand’s overall podcast output and unlocking new opportunities for audience growth and commercial partnerships across the KIC ecosystem. 

The first standalone episode features Laura Henshaw’s never-before shared birth story, setting the tone for a dedicated, in-depth space for honest and supportive conversations around pregnancy, birth, postpartum and parenting. 

Laura Henshaw and Steph Claire Smith, KICBump Co-Hosts said: “For the past six years, KICPod has been a place where our community has come to catch up with us every week. We’re so excited for KICBump to now have a dedicated feed, so we have the space to share the parenting sides of our lives too. We’ve both been sharing our lives online for the past 12 years and as our families change and grow, we want to continue including our community in these parts of our lives, as well as reaching new parents who are looking for authentic, relatable, judgement-free and more modern parenting content.”

Since joining LiSTNR in 2022, KICPod has continued to grow as one of Australia’s most engaged lifestyle podcasts, with a highly loyal listenership of over 107,000** unique Australian listeners per month, and strong performance across health and wellbeing categories. 

Lindsey Green, KICBump Executive Producer said: “KIC’s dedicated community has evolved with Steph and Laura in real time, from fitness and wellbeing to identity and motherhood. Launching KICBump as its own weekly podcast allows us to speak more directly with new parents, while also unlocking new opportunities for partners looking to connect with this audience in an authentic way. This evolution demonstrates LiSTNR’s commitment to helping creators strategically grow their audience and revenue opportunities.”

KICBump and KICPod are published weekly on the free LiSTNR app.

RTRFM is The Sound Alternative: an independent, non-profit community radio station in WA that provides an alternative voice for Boorloo and beyond through innovative music and talks programming. Founded in 1977, we take pride in being a platform for local news and issues, with a strong focus on the arts, culture, social justice, politics and the environment. We especially champion local music and support musical diversity through 50+ specialist music programs and a huge program of events.

This is an opportunity to help define, reinforce and drive the musical ethos of one of Australia’s most exciting music outlets. Ahead of our 50th anniversary, we are seeking a new Music Director who can not only contribute to RTRFM’s storied legacy, but also has an innovative imagination when it comes to the future of the station.

At the role’s core, the Music Director is responsible for sourcing music across all genres for the station, selecting the weekly Features, administrating RTR2, managing the volunteer Music Team and keeping all presenters informed about what is happening within the local/national music scenes. The Music Director also coordinates music interviews and studio performances in collaboration with staff, and they help encourage quality and diversity within RTRFM’s specialist & peak music collectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Liaise with distribution companies, management and artists to ensure RTRFM is receiving the latest music across all genres relevant to RTRFM programming, and to retain RTRFM’s status as an industry leader.
• Coordinate transfer of new music into the physical music library and the digital music database, and ensure digital music listings are up to date.
• Set the ‘tone’ of The Sound Alternative by selecting weekly Feature Albums and Sound Selection; make music recommendations to relevant programs.
• Manage a team of volunteers (the Music Team) to ensure the digital music database and catalogue are up to date.
• Periodically review RTRFM’s Music Policy with the General Manager and ensure the station is positively trending towards its Representation Targets (25% WA artists, 25% Australian artists, 50% female and gender-non-conforming artists and 5 – 10% First Nations artists).
• Liaise and support Breakfast host and RTRFM members in coordination of music-based interviews and live-performances as required.
• Collaborate proactively with staff and volunteers on the administration of online station RTR2, from the consistent curation of selectors to programming uploads.
• Report to the General Manager with any member issues, both on-air and off-air.
• Ensure security, integrity and confidentiality of data.
• Participate in administrative tasks shared by all RTRFM staff (answering phones, welcoming guests, processing at POS, radio panelling when available).

Selection Criteria:

Essential

• Vast awareness and appreciation of all kinds of music, with an ability to articulate and recognise music and artists that ‘fit’ RTRFM’s sound.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills; ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced working environment.
• Excellent writing, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel and Google Suite.
• Ability to work in a team and independently.

Preferable

• Extensive knowledge of community radio, and in particular RTRFM.
• Experience working in a volunteer or community organisation, managing a team or related activities.

Please note: RTRFM is located on the first level of 642 Beaufort St in Mount Lawley, which is only accessible via staircase. Successful applicants will need to get Working With Children checks completed (RTRFM will cover the expense).

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: $53,040.00 – $57,657.00 per year

Expected hours: 30 per week

Work Authorisation:

• Australia (Required)

Work Location: In person

APPLY HERE