I’ve always loved radio and at the age of 21 I completed a media studies diploma in New Zealand while volunteering to do as many on air shifts as I could at any student radio station that would have me! I moved to Melbourne in 1999 and spent six years working in publishing for two large magazine companies but always had a desire to return to radio. I started volunteering at JOY 94.9 in 2005 and nine months later took a role as an administration assistant. Over the next six years I moved on to be the Production Manager and Community Liaison, and in 2011 stepped in to the general manager role where I stayed for four years.
Explain the role of Vision Australia Radio Manager
My role is to manage and coordinate the Vision Australia Radio Network, which comprises 10 stations across Australia, and their digital and online platforms. This is to maximise access to information for the print disabled through radio and other broadcast services while ensuring the highest possible broadcast and program standards.
What excites you about the role?
Working with such a diverse and talented team to provide such an important community service, alongside the opportunities to create new and innovative programming that can help support people who are blind or have low vision to live the life they choose.
Explain, to those who may not know what Vision Australia Radio is, what it is and why they should tune in.
Vision Australia Radio operates to address the information needs of people with a print disability, including blindness or low vision. The service is delivered by a dedicated and passionate team of volunteers with the support of a small team of staff. The radio network headquarters are based at the Kooyong centre in Melbourne with three AM radio services in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, seven FM services in Victorian regional centres and 5 Digital Radio services. For more details see: http://radio.visionaustralia.org/
What are your top two career highlights/proudest achievements so far?
I have been very fortunate to work with some incredible individuals and organisations on some wonderful collaborations in my time in community radio. One of my proudest achievements was delivering a joint broadcast between JOY 94.9 and 3AW in 2011 to look at the issue of youth suicide in our community and what the broader community could do better to help young people. Being that the stations are considered polar opposites, in regards to their audience and position on most issues, it was great to present on-air across both stations as a united front and raise awareness for such an important issue. In turn we delivered a fantastic broadcast that was acknowledged with awards from both the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia and at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards. Another career highlight was my involvement with developing and producing a three hour outside broadcast for JOY 94.9 in 2014 in collaboration with Arts Victoria and City of Yarra for the 30 year anniversary of the unveiling of New York City artist Keith Haring’s iconic mural at the Collingwood Technical School. Personally, I am a huge fan of Haring and have spent many hours over the years exploring his various works that are still on display in New York City, so it was a great honour to be able to bring the fascinating stories of the artist, mural and the many people involved in its creation and restoration to the world.
What are some of the things that have stood out for you about Vision Australia – its staff, clients, volunteers - since you started?
Even though I come from a community radio background, it still amazes me to see the incredible commitment and talent that volunteers and staff bring to an organisation and service like Vision Australia Radio Network. Overall, as a service and solution provider within the community, Vision Australia represents to me the importance of inclusion and respect and the role these play in making a better society for us all to live in.Tell us a bit about yourself and what you like to do outside of work.
My love of radio extends outside my work hours as I indulge in a lot of podcasts from all over the world. I am also an avid film goer and am always looking for the next good book to read. I also love to travel and enjoy the occasional big bike ride and hike on a long weekend too.
(Pictured) Conrad sits inside on of the Vision Australia Radio studios