FAST-TRACK YOUR CAREER IN RADIO AND PODCASTING

Misty Fisher | AFTRS Student and host of Grafton’s 2GF – Bigger, Brighter Breakfast Show

APPLICATIONS FOR AFTRS’ GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN RADIO AND PODCASTING OPEN IN JUNE

Aspiring broadcasters and podcasters from around the country are encouraged to fast-track their career in this booming industry by applying for the Australian Film Television and Radio School’s (AFTRS) Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting. 

AFTRS offers flexible study for this course with options to study on-campus or online, full-time or part-time. 

Misty Fisher is just one of AFTRS’ students who is combining remote learning with a burgeoning broadcast career, having joined Clarence Valley’s 2GF last year. Misty is 2GF’s Breakfast host.  

Learn more about Misty’s experience of flexible learning at AFTRS here:

Andrea Ho, AFTRS Discipline Lead, Radio and Podcasting said:

“Misty tells a truly wonderful story about becoming a part of the audio industry – living in a country town, realising your dream no matter when – and of course, about AFTRS.

As media strives to better reflect Australia, I’m proud that students can now study radio and podcasting at AFTRS where and when they wish, and that we can help connect them directly to industry.

Saying that, Misty is special – who rides their bike to the station to do a breakfast shift? She is amazing.” 

Alumni from AFTRS’ Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting are working in Radio and Podcasting positions with some of Australia’s largest media organisations including Romy Sher, Podcast Producer, LISTNR;  Tim Bolch, Drive Announcer/ Assistant Content Director – Krock 95.5; Guy Clifton, Power 100 presenter, Triple M 102.3; Dylan Saville,  ABC Double J  Programs Producer; Leah Porges, Audio Producer, Mamamia; Ellie Parnell, Content Producer, The Music Show, Radio National; Mitchell Coombs, Producer, Is it Just Me Podcast, iHeartRadio; Liza Harvey, ABC Producer; Zan Rowe, Double J; Ed Kirkwood, Executive Producer, Will & Woody at Australian Radio Network; Fiona Pepper, ABC Radio National, Features Producer; Clinton Maynard, Presenter/Reporter, 2GB; Grace Rouvray, Presenter and Producer Mamamia; Greg Byrnes, Head of Content, Nine Radio; and Alice Moldovan, Producer, Conversations with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski at ABC. 

Many have gone on to win radio awards nationally and internationally and are in leadership roles in the industry both on-air and behind the scenes, including Pariya Taherzadah, Executive Podcast Producer at Vudoo and New York Festivals World Radio Awards Gold and Silver Winner for Escape from Iran; 2GB reporter Clinton Maynard won the ACRA for Brian White Award For Excellence In Journalism in 2023; Miles Martignoni, Head of Audio at Guardian Australia, podcasts include The Reckoning (New York Festival World Radio Awards, Winner of Gold and Grand Awards 2018) Breathless, and Witch Hunt; Tim Blackwell, NOVA’S Ricki Lee, Tim and Joel Show, and Kent Small (Smallzy), Smallzy’s Surgery, NOVA. 

The Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting is a hands-on and dynamic course for emerging broadcasters, podcasters and radio producers. Through specialised training and collaboration, in class and during live broadcasts, students learn at an advanced level that the cornerstones of good content are communication, storytelling and knowing your audience. Register your interest to be notified when applications for the 2026 intake open in June.  

Learn more here:

Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting

Journalist Laura Spurway appointed as 3AW’s first dedicated AFLW reporter

Journalist Laura Spurway appointed as 3AW's first dedicated AFLW reporter

3AW is the first radio station to appoint a dedicated AFLW reporter, with the historic move reflecting the popularity of the women’s code and the station’s intent to help grow the sport.

Spurway will cover all elements of women’s football, including all state leagues, and her work will feature across Nine Radio’s websites, social media channels, and as part of the network’s news service. She will also work across the station’s AFL coverage.

Laura Spurway said: “It’s an absolute dream come true to join the 3AW Football team. This radio station is the heartbeat of Melbourne and their exceptional coverage extends way beyond that. I can’t wait to join the ranks of some of the most respected voices in the field for a huge 2025 and beyond.

Stephen Beers, 3AW’s Station Manager, said: “We are delighted to have Laura join the team at 3AW Football in 2025. Laura brings a wealth of experience and is a great addition as we invest in AFLW right across the station to build on the best in AFL coverage.”

In a broadcasting career spanning almost two decades that has taken her across the world including as a writer/producer for CNN in Hong Kong and a placement at German radio giant Deutsche Welle, Spurway’s most recent role was as Sport Reporter for Seven News Melbourne.

Beginning her career as a producer for Sydney breakfast radio on 2UE, she has previously held roles as a producer/journalist for ABC NewsRadio, a Today Show producer, 9News Melbourne journalist, and Chief of Staff for The Project.

Grants, Offers and Discounts – A New CBAA Resource

Many community broadcasters rely on grants to fund their operations, and it can be hard to keep track of the available options. There are also a range of discounts and offers for not-for-profits available to broadcasters for useful products and services which could enhance their capability and reduce operating costs. That’s why we’ve launched our Grants, Offers and Discounts webpage, which features resources relevant to community radio stations.
We regularly review and update these listings based on information supplied by the organisations listed. Unless otherwise stated we are not the providers of these resources and can’t guarantee that you will be able to access them. Make sure to review funder and supplier information thoroughly before applying.
If your station has been impacted in an emergency, for example a natural disaster, or has a time-limited opportunity and needs funding urgently we recommend reaching out to the Community Broadcasting Foundation and inquiring about their Quick Response Grants.
We hope that this resource empowers our members and helps them to become more sustainable. If you have any feedback on the page or the listings please contact us.

#Funding

Kyle & Jackie O Heading to Melbourne for $5 Million Dawn Dig

The Kyle & Jackie O Show are making history with Kyle & Jackie O’s $5 Million Dawn Dig, the most thrilling competition ever to hit Australian breakfast radio. With a jaw-dropping $5 million buried beneath the sand, one lucky listener could walk away with a life-changing fortune!

Starting Monday February 24, listeners can tune in to The Kyle & Jackie O Show every morning for a chance to enter this once-in-a-lifetime event. The stakes are high, and only the luckiest entrants will secure a spot at the highly anticipated Dawn Dig event.

Then, on Friday April 11, the Kyle & Jackie O Show will be broadcasting live from Melbourne’s St Kilda West Beach, where the competition will reach its peak. Among 200 buried bags, each containing various cash prizes, only one will hold the ultimate $5 million jackpot. The chosen winner will dig for their future—but will they strike gold?

But the excitement doesn’t stop there. Listeners who head down to St Kilda West Beach to catch all the action and meet radio’s most famous duo will also have the chance to dig for thousands worth in cash and exclusive prizes.

Melbourne is home to some of the country’s biggest events. And now, in their first outside broadcast in Melbourne since beaming into the southern state, the city will be home to the country’s biggest-ever competition, hosted by none other than the Australia’s most iconic radio duo in a major live event.

On this morning’s announcement, Jackie ‘O’ Henderson said: “We’re going back to where it all started, digging for cash. We’ve had success with digging. But this time, it’s not a million dollars. That’s small fry. You need a big chunk of cash like $5 million!”

Kyle Sandilands added: “We thought we should make it $2 million, but you’ve got nothing left if you buy a house. We thought we’d make it $3 million, but we’ve never liked the number three. $4 million sounds like a better number, and then we thought that we should make it $5 million buried on the beach.”

Will Australia’s next millionaire be revealed on St Kilda West Beach? There’s only one way to find out!

Don’t miss your chance to be part of history. Tune in to The Kyle & Jackie O Show from 6am Monday on KIIS 1065 in Sydney, KIIS 101.1 in Melbourne or on the free iHeart app, and be ready to call for your shot at the dig of a lifetime.

TOTAL DIGITAL AUDIO MARKET CONTINUES DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH, WITH CY2024 REACHING $313 MILLION

Total digital audio market expands 18% year-on-year, as CRA members capture greater market share with 30% YOY growth 

Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) has welcomed the latest data from IAB Australia, which shows total digital audio advertising revenue reached $313 million in CY24, growing by 18% year-on-year (YOY), and reaching $90 million in the December quarter of 2024.

According to Milton Data, CRA members reported 30% YOY growth in total digital audio revenue1, outpacing the broader IAB total digital audio market, which grew 18% YOY.

IAB - Audio Advertising double digit growth YOY

The Australian Internet Advertising Revenue Report (IARR), compiled by PwC, confirms podcast advertising expenditure as the fastest-growing reported format for the second consecutive quarter. Podcast ad spend grew 24.3% YOY, totaling $33.6 million in Q4 2024, reflecting increasing advertiser confidence.

“It’s pleasing to see CRA members driving digital audio growth and capturing a larger share of the market. This momentum highlights a shift in market dynamics towards premium locally produced content, demonstrating the growth of digital distribution reaching audiences on their terms, and the opportunity for advertisers to leverage scale and engagement that is efficient and effective” said Lizzie Young, Chief Executive Officer, CRA.

The growth in podcast advertising reflects strong audience engagement, with 11 million Australians tuning into podcasts monthly2. Notably, 56% of 25–54-year-olds listen to podcasts at least once a month2, presenting an exceptional opportunity for brands in this unique on demand environment.

IAB - Total Audio Dec Quarter

The IAB data also showed that streaming audio advertising experienced double-digit growth YOY, maintaining steady progress and generating $56 million in Q4 2024. Additionally, as a subset of this format, online radio streaming also continues to make strides, with 42% of 25–54-year-olds listening to online radio streaming in the last month – a figure that has almost doubled since 20213.

The full IAB Australia IARR report can be found here.

Sources:

(1): Milton Data

(2): Edison research, The Infinite Dial Australia 2024, Listened to a podcast in the last month, All People 10+ unless otherwise stated

(3): Edison Research, The Infinite Dial Australia 2024, Listened to AM/FM/DAB+ radio stations online in the last month, P25-54

 

NEW PODCAST CLOUD REWRITES THE STORY OF A LATE ADHD DIAGNOSIS

As more Australian adults are diagnosed with ADHD, more questions are naturally arising. To shed light on coming to terms with a late diagnosis, the impacts, personality traits, gifts and challenges of ADHD, Cloud, a Life Uncut Production has now launched.

Hosted by broadcaster, podcaster and Life Uncut producer Keeshia Petit, Cloud is a 10-part mini-series podcast that will explore the intersection of ADHD with identity, relationships, career, and well-being. Each episode offers insight into a different aspect of ADHD from guests like Mark Manson, the author of ‘The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck,’ psychiatrist Dr Kieran Kennedy, focus and attention expert Johann Hari and international dating expert Logan Ury.

Inspired by Keeshia’s own late diagnosis with hyperactive and inattentive ADHD a year and a half ago, Cloud looks at how ADHD is a difference, not a deficit. The name derives influence from the experiences of many late-diagnosed women, including Keeshia, who describe finally feeling like a “cloud was lifted” after learning more about the different ways that their brains work and how they ‘fit’ into society.

Keeshia Pettit, Host of Cloud said: “I spent a lot of my life feeling as though I wasn’t fully present for it. There is a lot of airtime going to ADHD right now, but Cloud feels like a different type of conversation. This series breaks down some of the existing narratives about what people with ADHD are like and focuses on the ways that we can lift the cloud on the different ways our brains are wired so that we can live fulfilling and present lives.”

Cloud marks the first production from the team behind Australia’s #1 Relationship and award-winning podcast Life Uncut, which was founded by co-hosts Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne in 2019.

Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne, Life Uncut co-founders said: “For the past six years Life Uncut’s primary focus has been to have the conversations that people have been having in private; conversations that empower and uplift women, which is why it is so exciting to expand the business with the launch of Life Uncut Productions. Kicking off this new venture with our first miniseries Cloud – hosted by our executive producer Keeshia Pettit – felt like the perfect way to do it. We all feel so very proud of this series and the incredible guests and conversations that it contains.”

The first two episodes of Cloud are now available on iHeart or wherever you get your podcasts, with a new episode dropping each week.

POSITION: Non-executive Board Member, Alive 90.5, Baulkham Hills NSW

Alive 90.5 FM YOUR community radio station serving Parramatta, Cumberland and the Hills since 1992 https://www.alive905.com.au/.

Our station is run by volunteers, to entertain, inform, promote inclusiveness and resilience in our communities. Our programs include Breakfast and Drive with regular news, weather and traffic updates, special guests, plus a range of special interest programs. You’ll also hear a wide range of special interest programs catering to different music interests, cultures, languages and communities.

Key Activities: Broadcasting news, events and special interests of residence of Parramatta, Cumberland and the Hills Shire council. Our goal is to be the town square across a broad range of multicultural, first nations people, youth, older and LGBTQI communities. We undertake outdoor broadcasts where our volunteers engage directly with the community at a number of charitable and community events where Alive 90.5FM aims to ensure that Every Voice Matters and Every Beat Connects Us! We aim to empower and highlight voices of our communities through engaging interviews with local sport teams, community changemakers and local councils to ensure our listeners remain engaged with our community!

The Alive FM Board meets monthly between a virtual session and our physical station (Seven Hills Road, Balcombe Heights Estate, Baulkham Hills NSW 215. There are 10 to 11 Board meetings per year, with board papers being provided by the first Thursday of each month. Committee meetings (Programming, Information Technology and Social media and marketing) occur every Month. Meetings are held in person and online.

Alive 90.5FM is committed to providing a transparent and inclusive platform for all residents of Cumberland, Hills Shire and Parramatta City Council. We believe in fostering an open channel of communication, ensuring that everyone in our community has the opportunity to connect and express themselves through our accessible services. Our diverse range of programming reflects our dedication to serving the varied interests and needs of our audience.

 

Responsibilities

Alive 90.5FM Cumberland Community Radio invites applications from eligible individuals who wish to be considered to fill a Casual Vacancy on the Board. The role of a director is a voluntary position.

The Board is seeking to balance the skills across the Board and hence is considering a variety of capabilities to fill this position. Those capabilities being considered include:

  • Community Engagement
  • PR & Communications
  • Information Technology
  • Sponsorship, Media and Partnership Management

Selection Criteria

The nomination process is being run by the Nominations Committee who will conduct the interviews in Quarter 1 2025 Candidates should possess the following personal attributes:

  • A commitment to the highest standards of governance and integrity
  • Demonstrated passion and time to make a genuine and active contribution to the Alive 90.5FM Community, Board and committees
  • Well-developed strategic thinking capabilities and ability to contribute to the effective decision-making of the Board
  • Excellent communication skills with a collaborative approach
  • Experience in broadcasting is preferred but not mandatory

Candidates will be expected to provide the following if shortlisted for the position:

  • Working with Children check; National Police Check;
  • Alive 90.5 Membership

AUSTRALIAN PODCAST RANKER – JANUARY

The official Australian Podcast Ranker has been released by Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) and Triton Digital. Below are the top five charts for January. The complete charts can be viewed here.

January 2025 reached an average weekly listenership of 5.5 million, reflecting a 15% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This growth has been driven by an expanding and diversifying roster of participating publishers, showcasing the increasing appetite for on-demand audio content.

Australian Podcast Ranker top five podcasts January 2025
      Podcast Producer Monthly Listeners
1 The Mel Robbins Podcast SiriusXM Podcast Network 719,444
2 ABC News Top Stories Australian Broadcasting Corporation 702,309
3 Mamamia Out Loud Mamamia 521,399
4 Shameless Shameless Media 432,073
5 Casefile True Crime Audioboom 388,972

 

Australian Podcast Ranker top five genres January 2025
     Genre Monthly Listeners
1 Society & Culture 4,110,086
2 News 3,763,023
3 True Crime 3,726,800
4 Comedy 2,775,267
5 Sports 2,341,384

 

Australian Podcast Ranker top five podcast publishers January 2025
     Publisher Monthly Listeners
1 ARN/iHeart 3,779,981
2 SiriusXM Podcast Network 2,761,787
3 Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2,499,216
4 LiSTNR (SCA) 2,490,953
5 Audioboom 1,606,249

 

Top five sales representatives by monthly listeners January 2025
    Sales representatives Publishers represented Monthly Listeners
1 LiSTNR (SCA) LiSTNR (SCA) / SiriusXM Podcast Network / audiochuck / Wondery / DM Podcasts / NBCUniversal News Group 6,630,663
2 ARN / iHeart ARN / iHeartMedia / Audioboom / AdLarge Media / Sport Social Podcast Network / The Athletic / The Investors Podcast Network / All Ears English / Sony Music / Clubby Sports / NZME / TED / BBC 6,521,788
3 NOVA Entertainment NOVA Entertainment / News Corp Australia / Podshape/ Schwartz Media/ Johns Media 2,276,595
4 News Corp Australia News Corp Australia 1,398,691
5 Mamamia Mamamia 1,236,432

 

About the Australian Podcast Ranker

The Australian Podcast Ranker is a monthly snapshot of the top 200 podcasts listened to by Australians, the top 200 Australian podcasts, the 20 biggest publishers and the 20 most successful podcast sales representatives.

The Australian Podcast Ranker is an industry initiative commissioned by CRA and published by Triton Digital. Results comply with IAB Podcast Measurement Technical Guidelines.

 

Step Outside with Paul Burt joins 4BC Weekends

Step Outside with Paul Burt joins 4BC Weekends

Focused on all things camping, boating, fishing and outdoor adventures, Step Outside with Paul Burt will provide listeners with all the information they need to make the most of their weekends in the Sunshine State. Whether it’s advice on the best camping spots or where to catch the biggest fish, Paul will help inspire and equip listeners with the knowledge to tackle every outdoor adventure.

Paul Burt said, “I am looking forward to bringing local outdoors content to our listeners. Whatever the weather is doing, what the surf is doing, where the fish are biting, whether listeners are after gardening tips or if they want a good seafood recipe, I want to bring it all to the 4BC audience.”

4BC Content Manager Siobhain McDonnell said, “We are absolutely delighted to have Paul joining the 4BC team. Step Outside is a brilliant addition to our live and local lineup that celebrates all our city and local coastline has to offer.”

Step Outside with Paul Burt will air from 6am to 8am every Saturday and Sunday on Brisbane’s 4BC, commencing Saturday, March 1, 2025.

ABC audio on demand has a record-breaking summer

December to February was the ABC’s strongest summer on record for listeners across our on demand audio content.

Engagement with our audio on demand content has grown throughout January with the first two weeks of February the strongest ever for on demand content. There were 2.38 million stream starts in the week commencing 2 February and 2.37 million in week commencing 9 February via the listen app, according to our internal measures*.

ABC SPORT was a significant driver of audiences across December and January. Audiences peaked in the week commencing 29 December during our coverage of the Australia v India test series with 744,000 live stream starts. Across the summer period there were a total 59.7 million streaming minutes for ABC sport content**.

ABC and Australian exclusive Bluey Listen Along, audio-only versions of favourite Bluey episodes delivered 1.76 million listening minutes via the ABC listen app across January*.

ABC Director Audio, Ben Latimer said: “The ABC prioritised original, distinctive Australian content for our audience across the traditional non ratings summer period. We’re delighted our content has connected with more Australians than ever.”

The latest Triton results***, released today also demonstrate the strength of the ABC’s podcast offering. The ABC continues to be Australia’s 3rd most listened to podcast network adding 140,000 listeners for 2.5 million listeners across January, up 275,000 listeners when compared to January 2024.

The ABC has more titles in the top 200 than any other publisher, with 27 of our titles featuring in the January ranker. ABC News Top Stories was the second most listened to podcast in January and we had 3 podcasts in the top 10 for the first time since October 2024, with Conversations improving by one rank to #6 and ABC News Daily climbing three ranks to #8.

Other highlights from our podcast slate were The ABC Tennis Podcast which returned to the ranker at #85 thanks to our partnership with the Australian Open and ABC SPORT Daily up 44 places to #36. Radio National Breakfast also jumped 31 places to #104 and added 15,000 listeners.

The full Triton Australian Podcast Ranker can be found here.

Audiences can enjoy all the ABC’s podcasts, live radio and sport content for free and ad free on ABC listen.

*Source Snowplow.

**Summer period defined as (15/12/24 – 25/01/25).

*** The Triton 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.