ARCIA update: setting the scene for the year ahead

This February saw the association executive and committee members gather in Brisbane for our annual planning day, setting the scene for the year head, enabling the association to maximise our efforts by focusing on what’s important to our members. Attendance was again high, demonstrating the commitment our committee and their organisations have to the association, and we’re very grateful to them for this.

Being in a healthy financial position, with growth in revenue in recent years, as presented during the day, the association is able to invest in numerous areas for the benefit of our members and the wider community. This includes creating learning and collaboration opportunities, and ensuring our members’ position on available spectrum is heard. Given the number that we are now delivering per year around the country, both face-to-face and online, we are pleased with how activities continue to track, and we thank our members and partners for all their support, which helps these to take place.

Given the above, our training team continues to make good progress, developing and delivering new content, with more in the pipeline for the year ahead. In addition, the team is looking at how we can align ARCIA training with the government’s National Microcredentials Framework, with the view to creating the all-important pathways required by both those new to the sector, as well as for those who have made professional communications their career of choice, ensuring long-term benefits for all members participating in professional development.

After a couple of years of discussions, Tasmania was added to our calendar in 2025, and continues to be included this year, ensuring the state is not left out. Whilst at the planning day, along with the discussion around the possibility of a Victoria State Dinner — in line with our other state dinners, smaller and more state-focused than our Gala Dinner — it was agreed that the association should also work with the local market to present a State Professional of the Year Award, offering recognition to outstanding individuals in the radio and critical communications community in Tasmania.

The association is also reviewing our spectrum advocacy role. Over the years, and given our roots, we very much focused on the role of land mobile radio technology, with our focus then shifting to include the consideration for a Public Safety Mobile Broadband network and what that meant for all stakeholders. However, with technology advancements, it is again important to reframe and include all private spectrum holders, regardless of the technology being used, and advocate for economic reform for the productivity of the nation.

Finally, it was great to see the Spurious Challenge Regatta 2026 take place in February, allowing industry professionals to come together to raise much-needed funds for a very worthy cause, the Black Dog Institute, with around $20,000 being raised on the day. Thank you to our RFI for organising such a fabulous day, which I am pleased to report, came to a close with line honours going to our very own ARCIA boat, helmed by our committee members and CEO.

Top image credit: iStock.com/Web Hakimi