Christian Radio Celebrated at the 2026 CBAA Community Broadcasting Awards
Christian broadcasters have been recognised among Australia's best at the 2026 CBAA Community Broadcasting Awards, with wins for Sonshine and John Sandles from 96three FM in Geelong, alongside several finalist nominations for stations across the country.
Presented on Saturday 24 October at the Nyaal Banyul Convention and Event Centre in Geelong, the annual awards celebrate the people, programs and initiatives making a difference through community broadcasting.
This year's awards attracted more than 300 entries across over 20 categories, recognising everything from outstanding programming and technical expertise to fundraising and community engagement.
Sonshine Wins for Heart For The Homeless
A standout achievement for Christian radio was Sonshine 98.5FM's win for Excellence in Community Engagement, recognising its annual Heart For The Homeless campaign.
Now in its eighth year, the Perth-based initiative brings together listeners, churches, schools, businesses and community organisations to provide essential items for people experiencing homelessness and hardship.
In 2026 alone, the campaign collected an incredible 13,548 donated items, including sleeping bags, blankets, warm clothing and toiletries. These were distributed through community partners St Pat's, St Bart's and Uniting WA.
What began as a suggestion from a single listener has grown into a city-wide effort, demonstrating the ability of Christian radio to bring people together and turn compassion into practical support.
Congratulations to the Sonshine team and everyone who has contributed to this remarkable initiative.
96three FM's John Sandles Recognised for Technical Excellence
Geelong's John Sandles was named the winner of Outstanding Technical Contribution, recognised for his work with both Christian broadcaster 96three FM and community station 94.7 The Pulse.
While presenters and programs are often the most visible parts of radio, the work happening behind the scenes is just as important.
The award recognises the technical expertise and contribution that help keep community broadcasting operating and serving its audiences.
Congratulations to John on this well-deserved industry recognition.
Christian Stations Among This Year's Finalists
Beyond the award winners, Christian broadcasters were represented across several categories, with finalists recognised for their creativity, community initiatives and contribution to the sector.
89.9 TheLight, Melbourne
TheLight was nominated as a finalist in three categories, showcasing the breadth of their content and talent.
- Lucy & Kel's Show 3000 for Excellence in Special Events & Outside Broadcasting
- One Day of Difference for Excellence in Fundraising
- Ash Couchman for Outstanding Youth Contribution
Rise 96.5
Rise 96.5 was named a finalist in the Excellence in Production category for its Goat Giveaway campaign, which had listeners searching for a hidden screaming goat sound in songs to win tickets to an exclusive screening of Sony Pictures' animated film GOAT, resulting in plenty of listener engagement and a packed cinema!
These nominations recognise a range of work happening across Christian radio, from creative on-air content and audience engagement to fundraising and the development of emerging talent.
Celebrating Christian Radio's Contribution to Communities
The CBAA Awards are an opportunity to recognise excellence across the wider community broadcasting sector, and it's encouraging to see Christian stations and their teams represented among Australia's finalists and winners.
Whether it's responding to homelessness, developing engaging content or providing the technical expertise that keeps stations on air, these achievements demonstrate the many ways Christian broadcasters contribute to their communities.
CMAA congratulates Sonshine, John Sandles, TheLight and Rise 96.5 on their achievements, and celebrates the dedication of the teams and volunteers behind their work.