Registrations have now opened for the 2026 Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) Conference, taking place from the 22nd to 24th of October at the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre. The theme is Our Story, Stronger, and how community broadcasting articulates its value across an evolving media landscape.

CBAA CEO Jon Bisset said:
“With 5.4 million Australians listening each week and spending significant time with community radio, the sector continues to demonstrate the strength of local, independent storytelling. 

“Our Story, Stronger is about building on that strength, strengthening how community broadcasters tell stories through their services, and how that value is understood by audiences, industry and policymakers.”

Attendees at the 2025 CBAA conference

CBAA’s annual conference is the largest gathering of community broadcasters in Australia, bringing together station leaders, volunteers and sector partners to focus on the future of community media.

A three-stream program will cover content and the business of broadcasting alongside a dedicated training stream delivered by the Community Media Training Organisation (CMTO).

Sessions will span audience growth, storytelling, governance, technology and partnerships, with content designed for broadcasters at all experience levels, with keynote speakers and the program to be announced soon.

The CBAA Community Broadcasting Awards will be held to conclude the conference, with entries opening on April 27.

Scholarships and flexible pricing options are available to support participation across the sector. More information can be found here: https://conference.cbaa.org.au/

Image: This publication’s founder Steve Ahern speaking at the 2025 Conference held in Hobart.