Christian Media & Arts Australia is celebrating a positive outcome for member stations following Round 1 of the 2026 Community Broadcasting Foundation grant program.
Across this round, ten CMAA member stations received a combined total of $437,698 in grant funding, supporting projects that will strengthen local broadcasting, improve infrastructure, support operational stability and expand community impact.
This includes funding awarded through both Content and Development & Operations grants, reflecting the diverse needs of Christian community broadcasters as they continue serving local audiences across Australia.
Across the broader round, funding supported areas including transmission expenses, salaries, operational sustainability, diverse storytelling, youth engagement, local news and community resilience. These priorities reflect the ongoing needs of community broadcasters in a changing media landscape.
CMAA is also pleased to have been successful in its Sector Investment Grant application, which will provide further support to broadcast members in the areas of governance and sustainability.
These outcomes come at an important time for the community broadcasting sector. While recent additional government investment has been welcomed, community broadcasters continue to operate in a challenging funding environment, with many stations facing rising costs, limited staffing and increasing pressure to adapt for the future.
Poor resourcing remains a significant handbrake on the sector’s capability. New investment is needed to help secure the sustainability of Australia’s largest and most diverse independent media sector, upgrade services for the future and increase social impact in local communities.
CMAA is grateful to the Community Broadcasting Foundation for the opportunity this funding provides, and for its ongoing investment in the strength and future of community broadcasting across Australia.
We congratulate the member stations who received support in this round, and acknowledge the time, thought and effort that goes into preparing strong grant applications.
CMAA looks forward to continuing to support Christian media organisations as they strengthen their services, build long-term sustainability and continue serving communities across Australia.