Participants of SYN’s “Raise The Platform”
2013 has been an amazing year for the Media Learning Department at SYN Media. We’ve taught hundreds of keen new SYN volunteers and thousands of participants from schools and community groups. We aim to teach media skills and provide access to media platforms for young people all across the community. Here are some of our 2013 highlights:
Queer Youth on Air
Supported by the HEY grants program SYN launched Queer Youth on Air – a summer training program for young people from LGBTIQ backgrounds.
Schools on Air
With the support of the Victorian Department of Education’s Strategic Partnerships Program and the Community Broadcasting Foundation we had another huge year of our Schools on Air program delivering radio shows, tours and workshops with over 3000+ students. You can hear some of their best work with the Best of Schools on Air podcast. We also won the “Excellence in Training” award at the 2013 CBAA awards.
Oxfam and Change Reaction
We partnered with Oxfam on Change Reaction – a program to encourage discussion about international aid and development amongst young Australians. Hear their work here.
Regional training
We delivered training to young people at 3WAY in Warrnambool and EMFM in Echuca and assisted regional community radio stations in applying for the Victorian Government’s Be Heard grants program.
Radio and TV/Screen Training
Our Radio and TV/Screen training team inducted and trained over 40-50 young people per month into the SYN Media community. Our Information Nights regularly booked out throughout the year. Anyone 12-25 can volunteer in 2014 too: http://www.syn.org.au/getinvolved
Paper Fire
In partnership with Express Media, 100 Story Building and Footscray Primary School we produced Paper Fire – radio plays written and produced by primary school students. Read a great summary of the launch event from 100 Story Building here.
YDAS and Raise The Platform
The Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS) and SYN partnered on Raise The Platform – a platform for young people to advocate for and share experiences of young people with disabilities. You can hear some of their podcasts here.
Interfaith/Multifaith programming – Unscriptured and Intersection
With support from the Victorian Multicultural Commission we farewelled Unscriptured after a great year of multifaith/interfaith discussion and welcomed Intersection to our programming. Both programs trained young people from diverse faith backgrounds in radio and media skills. Intersection will continue to be on air in 2014.
This is the Face of Australia’s Media
We celebrated our volunteers with “This is the Face of Australia’s Media” – a showcase of the many types of young people who volunteer at SYN. Find out more at http://www.syn.org.au/ThisIsTheFace
Conferences, presentations and more
We spoke at a number of conferences and events across the year including Berry Street’s Good Childhood Conference, the Foundation for Young Australian’s Change It Up program and presenting Youth Engagement Forums across regional Victoria.
And on a personal note – it all wouldn’t be possible without our wonderful volunteers, trainees, trainers, office staff, teachers, support workers, partners, supporters, advocates, mentors and you! So many people in the community make SYN and our media learning programs a reality and we can’t wait to learn, grow, challenge, experiment and innovate even more in 2014. Thank you for your support.
-JB (Jonathan Brown – Education and Training Manager)
If you’d like to work with SYN Media Learning in 2014 you can find out more at http://www.syn.org.au/learn. Our office will be closed from December 21 to January 5.
Media Learning Stories 