On 18 September 2013, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet became the responsible agency for the majority of Indigenous policies and programmes, picking up Indigenous Broadcasting as part of the change. 

Staff who used to work in the Indigenous Broadcasting section of the Department of Communications have now been transferred to PM&C.

“As part of this machinery of government change the Indigenous Broadcasting Program co-located with other Indigenous programmes on 18 November 2013,” said a departmental spokesperson.

In 1972 the first Indigenous-produced community radio programs went to air—on 5UV in Adelaide and at the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Media Association (TAIMA) at Mount Stuart, south of Townsville, on 4KIG FM—50 years after the first radio broadcast in Australia.

Aboriginal community broadcasting is seen as crucial for the promotion of Aboriginal culture and languages and the communication needs of Aboriginal communities.

Throughout the 1970s Indigenous broadcasting began to grow. This growth came from the community sector. But it wasn’t until the 1980s that more widespread community broadcasting began to develop.

Since then, Indigenous broadcasting has grown to include television and over 130 community radio stations. It has established its own unique position in the Australian communications sphere. Read more about Indigenous broadcasting here.