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AUSTRALIA: Victoria funds indigenous media facility

The State Government of Victoria recently allocated $1.3 million to build new facilities for three Melbourne Koori media outlets, according to the ABC Message Stick. Funds will be used to renovate a former factory building to include new recording and production studios, a television studio, training facilities, and meeting rooms. Facilities will be shared by the Koori radio station 3KND, South Eastern Indigenous Media Association (SEIMA), and Songlines Aboriginal Music Association, an organization that mentors and promotes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians, performers, managers, and technicians.

In an interview with 3KND, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Gavin Jennings explained that "housing three vital indigenous media organizations together will allow opportunities for indigenous presenters and performers to better promote awareness and appreciation of their culture to both their own community and non-Indigenous audiences." An additional $50,000 has been allocated through Victoria's Indigenous Community Capacity Building Program toward hiring an Indigenous Program Manager for 3KND.