This is Harmony Week (16–22 March) and a good time to remember the important role community radio plays in reflecting Australia’s cultural diversity, with stations across the country broadcasting local media content in more than 100 languages each week.

4EB sports broadcasting trainees with ABC‘s Amanda Shalala in 2025

Community broadcasters understand and engage the community in creating local media content that reflects, amplifies the diverse cultures, beliefs and languages of Australia. Multicultural community broadcasting nurtures a strong sense of belonging among all communities.

Community broadcasters produce 500 radio and two TV services reaching more than 5 million Australians. These services carry thousands of hours of community language programming, connecting diaspora communities, supporting new migrants, and providing local content for audiences often underserved by mainstream media.

Dedicated multicultural community stations operate in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra, while many other local community stations also provide language and cultural programs. Faith-based and digital-only services also contribute to the sector’s impact.

3ZZZ volunteers celebrating International Women’s Day

Stations

Dedicated multicultural and ethnic community broadcasters include:

• 2OOO – Sydney
• 3ZZZ – Melbourne
• 4EB – Brisbane
• 5EBI 103.1 FM – Adelaide
• CMS Radio – Canberra
• Also, Culture Radio is an emerging service exclusive to DAB+ digital radio on the Gold Coast

There are also many community stations which produce multicultural content, with just a few including:

• 7 The Pulse – Geelong, VIC
• Alive 90.5FM – Baulkham Hills, NSW
• City Park Radio – Launceston, TAS
• Triple t 103.9 – Townsville, QLD
• 2MFM – A Sydney-based broadcaster which serves Australia’s Muslim community
• J-AIR – An online broadcaster which serves Australia’s Jewish community

Community radio’s contribution is reflected in audience data, with more than 1.5 million culturally and linguistically diverse Australians listening to community radio each week, spending an average of more than 15 hours per week with the service.

CBAA CEO Jon Bisset said:

“Community broadcasting plays a vital role in strengthening multiculturalism in Australia. Every week, community radio stations broadcast in more than 100 languages and produce thousands of hours of community language programs covering   local news and information, arts and culture, local events which helps all Australians stay connected to community and each other. By amplifying diverse voices every day, community broadcasters make sure Australia’s media reflects the full richness of the people who live here.”

Chad Phillips, Membership and Engagement Coordinator, from the National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasting Council said:

“Multicultural broadcasting is vital because it empowers Australian broadcasters and content creators from CALD and multicultural backgrounds to share their languages, cultures, and stories, enriching the Australian media landscape while strengthening social cohesion and ensuring diverse communities have a strong and representative voice.”

Amplifying diverse voices was a key priority in the creation of Roadmap 2033, the sector’s ten-year plan to ensure community broadcasting remains accessible, inclusive and representative of modern Australia.

The sector has around 18,000 volunteers broadcasting programs that reflect the languages, cultures and experiences of their communities. Stations continue to welcome new participants, with opportunities for people of all backgrounds to get involved both on air and behind the scenes.

George Salloum, President, Melbourne’s 3ZZZ, said:

“Multicultural community radio gives people the chance to hear their own language, share their culture and feel truly seen and heard. At 3ZZZ our volunteers bring communities together through storytelling, music and conversation, helping strengthen connection and understanding across Melbourne’s diverse society.”

Eduardo Jordan, Executive Producer of programs including The Wire and Fair Comment, Brisbane’s 4EB said:

“Multicultural broadcasting is essential to keep social cohesion among our communities because it has a sense of belonging and a sense of culture. With more than 200 nationalities living in Australia, these are critical in giving support and connection to new migrants, refugees, and Australians with a cultural background. In terms of news and current affairs, Fair Comment and The Wire are providing information to these communities in a time where misinformation is rapidly increasing, putting our communities at the centre of stories.”

You can listen to a Harmony Week interview with Minister for Multicultural Affairs The Hon Dr Anne Aly MP on The Wire here: https://www.thewire.org.au/story/minister-for-multicultural-affairs-on-harmony-week/

And Pattie Todorovic, Station Manager, Adelaide’s 5EBI added:

“Community and multicultural broadcasting is especially important in a Multicultural Australia, where diverse communities rely on stations like 5EBI Ethnic Broadcasters Incorporated to stay connected and informed. As Adelaide’s dedicated ethnic community radio station, 5EBI has been serving the community for over 50 years, providing programs in many languages that allow local migrant and refugee communities to hear news, share stories, music and celebrate culture in a way that reflects their everyday lives in South Australia. It helps people understand local services, events, and issues specific to Adelaide, making it easier for newcomers to settle and feel part of the community. At the same time, it brings different cultural groups together by promoting understanding and respect, strengthening social cohesion across the city. Being run by local volunteers, 5EBI also gives multicultural communities the chance to actively participate in media, build skills, and ensure their communities are represented, making it a vital part of Adelaide’s multicultural identity.”

Main: Volunteers with certificates celebrating 50 years of 5EBI – images supplied.