Radio Adelaide has top industry standard broadcast facilities in the Adelaide CBD, and a skilled and qualified training staff. Our Training Manager can work with you to design a course to meet your needs. All training can be built around the nationally accredited Certificate I to IV qualifications within our scope.

• Meet national standards in record keeping, financial management, access and grievance procedures
• We recognize qualifications issued by other training providers and we are registered to deliver courses based on:
  Certificate II in Creative Industries (Media)
  Certificates III in Media
  Certificate IV in Screen and Media
  Certificate II in Music Industry (Foundation)
  Certificate III and IV in Music Industry (Business)
• Abide by the Training and Skills Commission Codes of Practice (Word 1.3 MB)

Radio Adelaide is committed to providing quality training for our station workers. All volunteers who want to broadcast are required to complete our Basic Radio Skills Course, which provides the skills needed to work on air, AND also leads to credit towards the Certificate III in Media CUF30307. People who have on air experience and training already can apply for assessment through Skills Recognition. Station workers can go on to complete the FULL Certificate III in Media CUF30307 for a further fee.

Want to be a Station Worker               [back to top]
... follow these steps....

1. Ask to attend a Radio Adelaide information night
These are held regularly, usually on a Monday night. You will hear about station programming and the Basic Radio Skills Course and decide if this is the project for you. After this you can ..

2. Make an individual appointment with Radio Adelaide staff member
This is your chance to discuss your aims and the station needs, and whether they match. At this meeting you can complete the next 2 steps

3. Subscribe to Radio Adelaide
for $52 or $26 if you have a concession card.

4. Enrol for the Basic Radio Skills Course
There is a fee of $400 ($265 concession), covering the training, use of our facilities and a copy of our Training Manual. See more details on the course below. If you have on air experience you may negotiate to have your existing skills recognised through a Skills Recognition assessment.

5. You will receive an offer
The Training Office will offer you a place in the next available course. You have a year within which to complete the course. If you need to withdraw, our refund policy is listed on this site.

Once you have successfully completed the Basic Radio Skills Course you will be supported in going to air. As trainees you have all the rights and responsibilities of volunteers as outlined in the Station Worker's Handbook. Any grievances regarding training which cannot be settled within the station may be referred to the Training and Skills Commission.

Basic Radio Skills Course                [back to top]
The course is run four times a year, at roughly the same time as school terms. It runs for 12 weeks, and you will need to commit to a minimum of 4 hours a week for this time. Working with computers is an essential part of work at the station, so you need basic computer skills to start the course. Make sure that you discuss this, and any other special support needs you may have, at your individual appointment before you enrol.

Classes are run on a weeknight or weekend, and you must complete part 3 successfully to continue with the course.

Part 1: Induction Class
1 x 90 min.
Content: Access to equipment and to the station, OH&S, security, station personnel etc.

Part 2: The Community Radio Sector
1 x 2hr class Optional assessment
Content: Community radio history, legislation and regulation. Broadcast technology

Part 3: Technical Production
4 x 2hr classes plus 2 hrs per week studio practice Assessment by “live” studio test
Content: Panel Operation, Recording onto cassette. Recording onto Cool Edit Pro. Telephone calls to air. Running Sheets, Microphone use, Station Systems

Part 4: Broadcast Law and Ethics
1 x 2hr class Optional assessment
Content: Introduction to laws governing broadcast, including defamation, copyright, APRA., media standards and license conditions, Community Broadcasting Codes of Practice including complaint handling.

Part 5: Radio Presentation
4 x 2hr classes plus 2 hrs per week preparation Assessment by “live” studio test
Content: Your Role as Presenter, Program planning, Program changeovers, links, bridges and stings, Running Sheets, Writing Radio Scripts, Continuity, Vocal Warmups, Breathing Exercises, Vocal Exercises, Station Systems.

The BRSC leads to a Statement of Attainment in the following units of the Certificate III in Media CUF30307

CUFWRT301A Write content for a range of media
CUFAIR201A Develop techniques for presenting information on radio
CUFAIR301A Present radio programs
CUSSOU09A Mix sound sources
CUFIND301A Work effectively in the screen and media industries
CUFRES201A Collect and organise content for broadcast or publication

Skills Recognition                [back to top]
If you have been trained and worked elsewhere, you can apply at your initial interview to complete Parts 3 and/or 5 of the Basic Radio Skills Course through a Skills Recognition assessment. This means that we assess your skills or “current competencies”, and qualify you to go on air. ALL station workers are required to attend Parts 1, 2 and 4. The fee charged is available on application from the Training Office. Concession rate is available.

Refund Policy                [back to top]

• Fee covers all parts of the Basic Radio Skills Course and the Manual
• Training contract expires 12 months from receipt date on this form
• You must complete Part 2 assessment successfully to continue with the course
• No refund after a maximum of 2 course offers have been made, or more than 1 part attended
• An administration fee of $70 or $45 concession is charged on all refunds
• Refund for Training Manual ($60 or $40 conc) available if it is returned intact within 6 months of enrolment
• 70% refund of remaining fee available on application within 12 months if no classes have been attended
• 50% refund of remaining fee available on application within 12 months if student has attended 1 part of course

Advanced Training                [back to top]
All Station Workers who are regular broadcasters and are paid up station subscribers can apply to attend the monthly advanced workshops. These cover the skills of Interviewing, Voicework, Digital Editing and Production, Portable Recording and MORE!

Full Certificate III in Media                [back to top]
This qualification is available to

• Radio Adelaide station workers who have completed the Basic Radio Skills Course or equivalent.
• Individual clients or groups based at other community radio stations (Price on application)

It is only available through a Skills Recognition process, which involves a series of individual appointments with the Training Manager. Goals based on the units of the Certificate are set, and tasks to demonstrate competency are completed. Eleven units are needed. Fee for Radio Adelaide workers is $80 administration fee, PLUS a fee PER UNIT enrolled for. Concession is 70% of full fee. Certificate details here (PDF 58KB).

Detail on Elements of Competency and Performance Criteria for all units is available here

Short Courses Designed For Your Needs                [back to top]
Courses already available include

• SACE based courses ( see below)
• Professional development courses for teachers
• Specific skills including digital editing and sound mixing
• Short courses run in partnership with other community radio stations, usually funded by the Community Broadcasting Foundation

Enquiries about designing short courses to meet the needs of your group or organization are welcome and should be made to the Training Manager

Schools and Radio Adelaide            [back to top]
Secondary students can include our accredited radio training as part of their school qualification:

• As station volunteers enrolled in our Basic Radio Skills Course.
• By enrolling as a school group with Radio Adelaide for SACE Radio Courses A or B, both based on 2 units of the Certificate II in Creative Industries. These can be counted as "stand alone" SACE units. They are available at Radio Adelaide and at other SA community radio stations, completing training and assessment onsite.
• By enrolling through their school for the SSABSA subject Broadcasting and Multimedia, available to Radio Adelaide station workers and at other SA community radio stations.

Schools involved will complete a Partnership Agreement with Radio Adelaide. Assessment can be completed and credit awarded for units from either Certificate II in Creative Industries CUF20107 or Certificate III in Media CUF30307.

Schools On air across SA
A 12 minute Flash presentation about the Schools On Air project managed by Radio Adelaide in 2007 can be seen here

Radio Training Resources                [back to top]
We have two resources available to be ordered online

SACBA Training Resource Kit
This resource, produced by the SA Community Broadcasters' Association, is available as a CD, with text and audio files.

There are 10 chapters, each including Trainer's Notes and Useful Resources. It is designed to be adapted to individual station needs and published as a manual for students or for trainers.

• YOU & YOUR STATION
• THE COMMUNITY BROADCASTING SECTOR
• BROADCAST LAW
• TECHNICAL OPERATIONS
• PROGRAM MAKING
• WRITING FOR RADIO
• ON-AIR PRESENTATION
• THE INTERVIEW
• OUTSIDE RECORDING
• SOUND EDITING
• GLOSSARY OF TERMS

View Table of Contents here (Word 97 document, 26K).

Costs are $110, or $66 for CBAA member station.
Complete the online order form.

Radio Adelaide Training Manual
Copies of 5 chapters of the manual can be ordered and delivered online.

Complete the online order form, noting WHICH chapters you want. You will be invoiced for them, and the chapters emailed to you. The files are zipped, and in PDF format.

Hard copies can be ordered for $88 plus post and packaging.

International orders need to be accompanied by an international money order - online cost AUD$70, hardcopy cost AUD$100

Community stations or others wishing to apply for permission to reproduce any part of the manual should contact the Training Manager, Nicky Page.

University Courses                [back to top]
Radio Adelaide training delivers 2nd and 3rd year Radio Production courses subjects within the Adelaide University Bachelor of Media degree, with some options for Media Industry Placements and Honours level work. More information available here

The station news room is staffed by students from the School of Communication at the University of South Australia. Students are taught to write and present daily bulletins. More information at http://www.unisa.edu.au/com/

Financial Support For Radio Adelaide Training                [back to top]
The Basic Radio Skills Course runs over 12 weeks. Because we are an RTO and the course is based on a recognized qualification there is financial support available in SOME conditions. Job Network providers will have more information for trainees who wish to apply to enrol.

Applications for Mutual Obligation (Work for the Dole) placements can also be made to Job Network supervisors, but ONLY for graduates of our BRSC who are already accepted as station workers. Radio Adelaide then enters into arrangements with the Job Network provider.