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National Training Program

The National Training Program is funded at $600,000 per annum by the Federal Government to maintain and develop a national training program that facilitates the delivery of accredited management and broadcasting skills training to the community broadcasting sector. The provision of training is a necessary expression of the sector's commitment to promoting access and participation in all aspects of broadcast media operation. It also recognises the strong and continuing role that the community broadcasting sector plays as a training ground in broadcast and management skills, and media and digital literacy for the broader community and as the gateway training provider for the national and commercial broadcasting sectors.

In accordance with Australian Government funding conditions the Program aims to ensure that the bulk of training places are at stations in regional and remote areas and to address the particular needs of ethnic, Indigenous and RPH broadcasters.  In relation to ethnic training, ethnic youth, new and emerging ethnic groups and new language groups are prioritised.

The National Training Program is conducted via two separate but related initiatives:

• The National Training Project.  Up until 30 June 2010, the NTP was managed by the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) via the National Training Project Secretariat.  The NTP Secretariat is responsible for the development of training resources, the professional development of sector-based trainers and assessors, and the coordination of innovative training projects.  
• The CBF Training Grants program.  The Grants program provides funding for community radio stations, sector representative organisations and Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) through a range of grant categories - broadcast and management skills training, trainer development, training resource development, pilot training projects and training innovation projects.    The CBF's Training Grants Advisory Committee (TGAC) assesses grant applications and monitors the global budgets for the NTP and associated grant funds. TGAC makes grant recommendations and provides policy advice for consideration by the CBF Board. The CBF Board is responsible for reporting to DBCDE on the progress of the NTP and expenditure of the funds provided. 

The Program provides an opportunity to create a national training structure, a bank of skilled trainers, and comprehensive training resources of lasting benefit to the community broadcasting sector.  As at 30 June 2010 the NTP has funded more than 1,800 training places in over 830 units of accredited broadcast training totalling over 12,000 hours of training. 

Redeveloping the NTP

In 2009 the Foundation commissioned an independent review of the National Training Program by Melbourne-based consultants, Binary Blue.  The National Training Program Review Report was published in April 2010 (PDF file, 1.6 MB).  In response to the NTP Review Report's  recommendations and the CBAA's decisions in March 2010 to foreshadow closure of its RTO and relinquish management of the National Training Project from 1 July the Foundation set out a process of consultation with the peak national community broadcasting organisations to determine the optimal path for NTP Redevelopment.  The CBF circulated its preliminary response to NTP Redevelopment for discussion at a Training Roundtable meeting in early June.  The Foundation subsequently received a wide range of views from peak national sector organisations in response to the NTP Review Report and its preliminary position paper.  All sector input received was considered at a special meeting of the CBF Board held on  23 July at which it was determined that a new 'Community Media Training Organisation' will be established  to manage the National Training Project and act as a national Registered Training Organisation. The NTP will also introduce a new category of non-accredited 'Pathways' training.

The Community Media Training Organisation (CMTO) will be a non-profit sector-based organisation, dedicated to supporting continuous improvement in skills development within the Australian community broadcasting sector. Whilst the CMTO will be a national RTO, stations will continue to be able to choose which RTO they wish to partner with for NTP training.

The introduction of 'pathways training' was strongly recommended by Binary Blue in the NTP Review Report.  Pathways training is unaccredited training based on accredited resources and taught by recognised trainers. It aims to both develop skills and encourage trainees to engage with accredited training in the future.  A broadening of the scope of  NTP funding conditions was negotiated with the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy in order introduce pathways training.

The CBF is also looking at ways to reduce the administrative burden associated with the grants process by giving stations the option of registering their training needs with the CMTO or their preferred sector RTO, who will then apply for a grant on their behalf.

The Foundation aims to have the CMTO established before the end of the calendar year, with changes to the funding process to occur from early to mid-2011.  In the interim, NTP funding for training continues to be available through the CBF Training grants program.

Structure of the CMTO

The CBF will establish an independent community media organisation to be known as Community Media Training Organisation (CMTO) to continue to manage the National Training Project and function as a registered training organisation.  The CMTO will have clear mechanisms for sourcing advice from the community broadcasting sector and the training industry.
 
In making this decision the CBF endorses a vision statement as follows:

The CMTO will support continuous improvement in skills development within the Australian community broadcasting sector.  The CMTO is a training organisation dedicated to addressing the training needs of the Australian Community Broadcasting Sector.

The CMTO will strive to:

• Facilitate the development of a national training strategy for the community broadcasting sector
• Promote a positive training culture throughout the community broadcasting sector
• Maintain and develop a high quality and sustainable media training organisation to serve the community broadcasting sector
• Build partnerships and create networks with other training providers and industry partners, consulting with community broadcasting sector organisations in the development of a national training strategy
• Encourage innovation in training and learning in the community broadcasting sector
• Identify and address skills shortages and gaps in training delivery, resource development and trainer professional development, with a particular focus on the priorities* established by the Australian Government for the National Training Program funding allocation for the community broadcasting sector 

*NTP Priorities: The bulk of the training places to be directed to community radio stations in regional, rural and remote areas. Funding will also be directed to the special training needs of radio for the print handicapped, Indigenous and ethnic broadcasting. In relation to ethnic training, ethnic youth, new and emerging ethnic groups and new language groups will be targeted for training.

Under the new arrangements:

• The NTP will deliver 'pathways training' as well as accredited training.  'Pathways training' means unaccredited training based on materials developed from accredited training resources and provided by recognised trainers with a view to both developing skills and competencies and encouraging trainees to engage with accredited training through a better appreciation of its requirements.  Pathways training will sit between the basic skills and orientation provided by most internal station induction training programs and the accredited training available through the NTP.
• Stations and broadcasters will retain the right to choose their own Registered Training Organisation.
• Any RTO is welcome to provide services to the community broadcasting sector in accordance with the requirements of the NTP.
• The CMTO will employ a governance model that meets Australian Quality Training Framework requirements and ensures adequate consultation processes with the community broadcasting sector and the training industry.  A governance expert will be engaged to assist in the formulation of an appropriate structure and constitution.
• The CMTO will be a community broadcasting sector organisation by virtue of both its principal purpose as a community media training organisation and its proposed board structure. It will be fully accountable for CBF NTP funding received through a reporting and acquittal process overseen by the Training Grants Advisory Committee of the CBF.
• Stations will be able to apply for training funding as they do now.  Alternatively they may choose to register their training needs with the CMTO and allow the CMTO to apply for the funds and undertake the administrative burden associated with the grants process. 

Redevelopment of the National Training Program has been, and continues to be, a complex and challenging process.  The Foundation is committed to maintaining the flow of information as we implement NTP redevelopment and further details will be provided in due course via our website and e-newsletter CBF Update.

A brief history of the National Training Project

The NTP was originally funded at $2.2 million over four years in 2004/05, with a further $600,000 allocated for 2008/09.  In 2009/10 NTP funds were confirmed as ongoing, giving the sector many more opportunities to deliver training at stations.

In early 2005 consultants, Developing Media Works (DMW), carried out an independent assessment of the most effective means of utilising the Training Fund to meet community radio training needs within the parameters expressed by the Australian Government.  A crucial part of DMW's task was broad consultation with all key stakeholders involved with the delivery of accredited training within the community radio sector. DMW liaised with a representative group of community radio stations, all Registered Training Organisations providing accredited training within the community radio sector, the peak representative community broadcasting organisations, the national training authorities, the CBF, DCITA and other relevant organisations. DMW presented its 'Community Broadcasting Training Fund Implementation Report' to the Foundation in May 2005.

> Download the Community Broadcasting Training Fund Implementation Report (PDF Format - 1Mb)

Acknowledging the need for broad input into the complex issues associated with implementing the Training Fund the Foundation established a Training Advisory Group (TAG) with representation from the CBF, Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, RPH Australia, Australian Indigenous Communications Association, National Ethnic & Multicultural Broadcasters' Council, Indigenous Remote Communications Association, and Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. The TAG reviewed the findings of the Report and made recommendations to the CBF Board as to the best ways to implement them.

On the advice of the TAG, the CBF Board approved a structure for implementation of the National Training Fund. The structure was closely based on the DMW model and recommendations with the exception that the 'Lead RTO' advised by a Training Advisory Forum was replaced by a Training Program Steering Committee (TPSC) comprised of representatives of sector-based RTO's (Goolarri Media Enterprises, Radio Adelaide, Diversitat, Brisbane Indigenous Media Association and the CBAA) and chaired by a CBF nominee.  The Steering Committee was advised by a Training Advisory Committee (TAC) comprised of nominees of the peak sector representative organisations.  The Steering Committee was be supported by a National Training Program Secretariat (Training Secretariat) which is hosted by the CBAA.

The Foundation also established a Training Grants Advisory Committee (TGAC) to monitor the progress of the Training Program, conduct related grant programs and provide advice and recommendations to the CBF Board.

In 2007 the structure of the National Training Project was reviewed and the two policy advisory committees (TPSC and TAC) were replaced by the National Training Consultative Group (NTCG).  The NTCG was made up of nominees of sector organisations representing the priority groups for the National Training Project, with observers from DBCDE and the CBF.  Each sector organisation nominated two representatives - the first, a policy representative, provided a strategic perspective, while the second, the training expert, provided in depth knowledge of the accredited training environment and experience in training delivery.
In 2009, the CBAA formed a new consultative committee to provide policy advice on sector projects, the Sector Project Consultative Committee (SPCC).  This Committee replaced the NTCG and is made up of representatives from national sector organisations, with observers from DBCDE and the CBF.  The SPCC provided high level advice to the CBAA-managed National Training Project Secretariat and the CBF's Training Grants Advisory Committee in relation to training priority areas.

In late 2009 the CBF commissioned an independent review of the National Training Program.

As of 1 April 2010 the CBAA foreshadowed that the CBAA Registered Training Organisation (RTO) was expected to cease operations as of 30 June 2010 and that it would no longer manage the NTP from 1 July 2010.    

The Foundation is currently implementing a redevelopment of the National Training Program.

Further Information

> For information about grant opportunities or projects within the National Training Project contact Jo Curtin, Grants Administrator ph: (03) 9419 8055 or email: granta@cbf.com.au.

> For more information about the National Training Project, visit the National Training Project website: www.nationaltrainingproject.org.au.