Connecting students with creative audio careers in the NT

A group of 14 teens from the Northern Territory delved into radio and podcasting careers as part of The Smith Family’s SmARTs program.

Through supporting our SmARTs program, you’re helping to provide students in Years 8 to 12 experiencing disadvantage with access to hands-on creative activities. It’s a way for the students to learn about interesting careers while they increase self-confidence and grow their social skills.

This SmARTs program gave students a taste of being media professionals. They learned about real pathways through talking to the people working in radio broadcasting, inspiring careers in the industry.

Tahlia, a Year 12 student, was thrilled to explore media after finishing school. She says, “I’ve always loved storytelling, music, arts, and creative activities. When this opportunity came up, I was very excited to give it a go.”

Your generous support helps us to explore new partnerships and extend the opportunities through SmARTs. For the ‘intro to radio and podcasting’ workshop, we worked with the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and the Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association (TEABBA) to deliver real, professional experience to the students.

For the first three days the students spent the day with Jess, the facilitator from AFTRS. Jess captivated the students, teaching them the skills and techniques a radio or podcast presenter would need. The students took it all in and put their skills and voices into action in the TEABBA studio.

TEABBA broadcasts in Darwin, Palmerston and 29 remote communities across the Top End. As well as helping students create radio and podcasts, TEABBA staff were generous with their stories about how they got to their positions.

Before long the students were operating studio equipment and giving presenting a go. First as a practise and then for real – live on air!

Having more awareness of available training and career options has opened the eyes of the young participants. Tahlia, as a First Nations student, got inspired after learning about the power of radio. She realised it could be a meaningful career in media for her.

“I am proud to have created my podcast about camping and fishing, which are meaningful activities where my family and I connect to Country together,” she says.

“The workshops have inspired me to look at higher study options in this area, and hopefully take part in an internship down the track.”