Start Your Own On-Air Group 
Community broadcasting, and 5EBI, welcomes everybody who has a keen interest in being involved with radio.
Anybody who’s ever made a career in radio broadcasting can tell you that community radio is a great place to start - a training ground to acquire skills and experience.
But it doesn’t even have to be a launch-pad for a professional broadcasting career; it’s also a great place to stay, and many of our volunteers have been with us for decades - serving their communities in a productive and tangible way.
Whatever your goals, if you want to start volunteering in community radio, the first step is to figure out which is the right station for you - and that will depend upon where you live, what sort of programming they air, and where you just feel you ‘fit in’ socially or culturally.
Different community radio stations focus on different areas of programming - local music artists (such as 3D), arts and education (such as Radio Adelaide), different music genres (such as Fresh FM for dance music or Coast FM for classic rock), and of course different local areas.
5EBI’s focus is on none of the above as such - but we do have a very strong, definitive focus on airing the content of different ethnicities, nationalities and languages. So naturally, most of our programming reflects that and, indeed, our broadcasting licence is conditional upon it. As such, both the spoken content and music heard on EBI varies quite widely - but only in the context of ethno-cultural diversity.
There are some ethnic programmes featured on other community radio stations, but no other station in South Australia has such an exclusive focus on ethnicity and foreign-language content as 5EBI.
Please Note: Broadcasting on community radio is a big commitment - and a constant one; usually week after week. We often find that new volunteers struggle with the responsibilities required to put a show on-air on a weekly basis. Even with all the support we can provide, think very carefully before deciding that this is for you!
So: if you approached 5EBI with a view to getting involved, what would happen?
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1) Our first question would be: What role specifically are you interested in:
An on-air presenting role? Go to Question 2.
A ‘behind-the-scenes’ technical role? Go to Question 4.
Both? Go to Question 2.
Something else entirely? Ring or email us for a chat. (Contact details on our front page.)
2) Our second question would be: Are you fluent in a language other than English, and do you wish to broadcast in that language instead of English?
Yes? Go to Question 3.
No? Go to Question 6.
3) If you are fluent in another language, and want to be an on-air presenter OR studio operator OR programme producer at 5EBI, we would first establish whether that language is already heard in any of our programming. (You can get an idea of whether this is so by looking at our Programme Guide to see if the language you speak is already represented.)
If it is not:
You can apply to 5EBI to form your own incorporated Ethnic Group, representing your language, with its own committee and office-bearers. 5EBI is always interested in bringing new Ethnic Groups aboard. Go to Question 7.
If it is:
We would refer you to that Member programme or Incorporated Member Ethnic Group. You would seek to join that Group and, if accepted, you would be presenting on-air under that Group’s support and supervision.
You would also have the opportunity to join that Group’s committee, be nominated an office-bearer of that committee (Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasure or Secretary), and also to be a delegate of that Group to 5EBI’s Annual General Meetings (and also to nominate as an office-bearer of 5EBI’s own Executive Board). Go to Question 5.
If, for whatever reason, you were not invited to join that existing Group after approaching them:
a) You could try forming a new Ethnic Group which also broadcasts in that language - Go to Question 5.
b) You could perhaps still broadcast in English. Go to Question 6.
c) You could still broadcast in some other language that you speak fluently. (The same directions apply as above: Does the Group for that language, ethnicity or nationality already exist?)
4) For those who wish to help operate our studio equipment or produce programmes, there are two main options:
a) Join an existing Ethnic Group or existing Programme and offer your help to operate the studio for that Group’s programmes. This will require some training with 5EBI to make sure you’re capable of doing so. But the next immediate step is to approach that existing Group (Go to Question 3).
b) You could apply to become a Continuity Producer. These volunteers are members of 5EBI itself, rather than members of any Ethnic Group. They help to keep the Station on-air by operating the studios for other volunteers who present shows on-air but can’t operate the equipment themselves. You can learn more about being a Continuity Producer by going to Question 9.
5) If you’re happy to join the existing Ethnic Group and your application to them is accepted, you will be referred back to us for any initial training needed. Go to Question 11.
But what if you don’t want (or you’re unable) to join the existing Ethnic Group that broadcasts in your language? Read on below:
If that Group’s programming or identity doesn’t suit you, you could apply back to 5EBI to form your own incorporated Ethnic Group, with its own committee and office-bearers. However, if you were also intending to broadcast in a language already featured on our air-waves, as per our Constitution this would require the approval of that already-existing Group.
If permission were not granted, you could still broadcast in English. Go to Question 6.
If permission were granted, you need to decide whether you want to broadcast in that language as:
A new Ethnic Group (Go to Question 7) or,
As an Individual Member (Go to Question 8).
6) Can I Broadcast in English?
5EBI does broadcast some programmes with spoken English content (and also some with English-language music). As per our broadcasting licence, there is a limit to how much such material we can air; but we can accommodate spoken English - in fact, even the Ethnic Group programmes do also have some spoken English, in accordance with ACMA codes.
You might wish to start and present an English-language programme which specializes in a particular genre of music, or which focuses on the arts, or sport, or on lifestyle, or current affairs, for some examples. (You can get an idea of what sort of such content we air by looking at our Programme Guide.)
If so, you would first sign up to 5EBI as an Individual Member (go to Question 8).
Or, you wish to join an existing EBI programme which already covers an area of interest to you - You would be signing into an entity which already belongs to 5EBI as an Individual Member. But before doing that, ring or email us for a chat. (Contact details on our front page.) In the meantime, read on about becoming an Individual Member by going to Question 8.
If, as a speaker of English only, you have no interest in starting an English-language programme but would still like to be involved in 5EBI in some sort of voluntary on-air technical or production role, you might consider becoming one of our Continuity Producers. You can learn more about being a Continuity Producer by going to Question 9.
7) What does forming a new Ethnic Broadcasting Group involve?
a) Incorporating as a not-for-profit organization - unless the radio Group is being formed by an already-existing not-for-profit incorporated body, active in the wider community, which is strongly associated with an ethnicity (such as a social club).
b) In either case, the Incorporated body will then need to form a Radio Committee.
c) That Radio Committee will need to elect or appoint office holders: A Chair, a Vice-Chair, a Treasurer, and a Secretary.
d) A Constitution will need to be drawn up (unless the Radio Committee is part of an existing incorporated body which has its own Constitution).
e) That Radio Committee will meet with EBI Staff to sign up as an Ethnic Broadcasting Member Group of 5EBI. All individual volunteers are covered by that Membership entity.
f) Submission of the Group’s application to the EBI Executive for approval.
g) Negotiation and payment of annual membership and broadcast fees to 5EBI.
Go to Question 10.
8) I can’t or don’t want to seek membership of EBI as part of an Incorporated Ethnic Group. What is an ‘Individual Member?’
An ‘Individual Member’ of 5EBI is any Programme and/or Group that is not an incorporated Ethnic Broadcasting Group with its own Radio Committee and Office Holders.
An Individual Member is status which can still encompass a number of volunteers, or a single person. Ordinarily, it applies to a particular programme with only one time slot. It can apply to an Access Group.
Individual Member programmes pay for annual membership of 5EBI and pay for broadcast airtime much as an Ethnic Group does - and are bound by the same charter and rules in regard to conduct both on and off air.
However, Individual Members cannot attend 5EBI’s AGMs (unless by invitation), do not appoint delegates to the 5EBI AGM, cannot vote at the AGM, and cannot be elected to the 5EBI Board.
Individual Member programmes are still subject to EBI Board approval. Termination of an Individual Member programme does not require a vote by Delegates.
Once approved by the EBI Board, and with negotiation and payment of annual membership and broadcast fees to 5EBI taken care of, an Individual Member must refer any new volunteers to 5EBI for any necessary Training. Go to Question 11 for information about the required Training for all newcomers.
9) What’s involved in being a Continuity Producer?
CPs have an important role at 5EBI. They ensure the continuity of 5EBI’s on-air sound, and that programmes run seamlessly from one to the other. At any given time outside of our night time World Trax programming (which is automated), a CP is at the helm of 5EBI’s broadcast. CPs may panel (drive the equipment) for volunteers who produce and present a programme but cannot (or prefer not to) operate the desk themselves.
These skilled and dedicated volunteers are not only responsible for the station’s on-air sound, they also act as Duty Manager after hours and when the Station Manager is not available.
If you’re interested in becoming a CP, you should get in touch with us directly: production@5ebi.com.au The more CPs we have on our roster, the happier we are.
At any rate, any new volunteers to 5EBI, including CPs, undergo some necessary Training once they come on board. Go to Question 11 for information about the required Training for all newcomers.
10) Once formed and approved, what does an Ethnic Broadcasting Radio Committee do next?
a) The Radio Committee will need to appoint two Delegates to attend 5EBI’s Annual General Meetings.
b) Refer new volunteers to 5EBI for any necessary Training. Go to Question 11 for information about the required Training for all newcomers.
11) What does Training for new volunteers involve?
All volunteers new to 5EBI must undergo some compulsory training which we will enrol you into when you are referred to us by your Group:
a) A one-lesson Orientation Course which introduces students to community radio and features a tour of the premises.
b) A Course in Responsible Broadcasting; which covers what you are and aren’t allowed to say on-air, as well as relating to conduct off-air in the Station.
Once you have completed these requirements, you are eligible to start broadcasting with 5EBI as a Presenter. (Our CPs can operate the studio for you; so you don’t need to have any training in those aspects right away.)
Further, optional Training is offered in Presentation, Studio Operation and Pre-Production. There are fees charged for these Courses. You may not need training in any of these areas if you already have previous equivalent experience.
Those seeking to become Continuity Producers will require Training in Studio Operation (although there is no fee in this case), in addition to further training and guidance.
Hopefully this guide answers all your initial enquiries! Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need further information: ebiradio@5ebi.com.au