YOUTH RADIO BROADCASTING IN THE NT

Schools are continually challenged in the Middle Years to provide relevant and engaging educational programs for students.

One school that is exploring various ways to maintain positive self esteem and motivation in learning is The Essington School Darwin, and one of the programs it has developed is its youth radio broadcasting program.
The School is well known for its excellent and innovative programs: Learn to Fly Program, interstate and overseas tours, sporting tours to Asia, Marine Science and Aquaculture Science Centre and links with Charles Darwin University.
In 2015 the School celebrates eleven years of student broadcasting in Darwin. In 2005 the School established a Radio Station for students as part of its focus on Media Studies and Communication Skills. A radio studio was set up at the school and trials conducted where prerecorded programs were broadcast on the internet. From this developed a partnership with Radio Larrakia, a community radio station, where students were introduced to community radio and live broad casting. For six years they had a two hour weekly program on Radio Larrakia. With the move of Radio Larrakia to new studios in the city – and their move into community television, the School developed a partnership with DARWIN FM (91.5 FM) to conduct a daily youth radio show from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
David Cannon, Principal of The Essington School Darwin, said: “The focus on developing high levels of personal communication skills using radio is based on a program developed in leading US schools. The link with Radio Larrakia and DARWIN FM and the opportunity for students to broadcast live each week is designed to enhance the personal communication skills of individual students and to increase their understanding of mass communication, the media”.
The School plans to expand the current radio program into a ‘radio magazine’ focus on youth activities and events in Darwin and the NT. It is also planning to provide students with a similar ‘hands on’ experience in the future in television broadcasting through partnerships with TV Larrakia and Indigenous Broadcasting.
David Cannon, Principal of The Essington School Darwin said, “These programs along with the various other programs students do in school are designed to build the confidence of students, to increase their self esteem and provide a high level of engagement at the difficult early secondary years of education. We are very pleased with the positive response from students and their obvious personal growth”.

Enrolments are limited at The Essington School Darwin and early applications are recommended. For further information, please contact the school on Phone: 8985 0100 or email enrolments@essington.nt.edu.au