PRK Radio

PRK Radio provides an Indigenous broadcasting service to the Halls Creek area as well as contributing to and receiving programming through the PAKAM and NIRS networks. At various times in its history, according to the skill of the station’s broadcasters, it has regularly developed and syndicated programs broadcast nationally.

The Radio Station is particularly important for the Indigenous people of the region, with news, community messages and announcements regularly broadcast in Kriol or the traditional local languages. The station also encourages broadcasting of Indigenous music.

From 2007-2009 the former office and studios were refurbished and extended in order to allow an internal reception area with limited office space and importantly, the construction of a small staff flat. Previous managerial staff had been forced at times to camp on site in a caravan when other accommodation in the town was not available.

6PRK Radio plays a lead role in the community for the dissemination of news and is part of the emergency network. 6PRK plays about 70% Indigenous music with other music genres making up the remaining, indigenous news as provided by NIRS, job and training opportunities, health tips, local interviews and voices of local people spaced over a daily rotation.

6PRK is reliant on a small number of paid staff with the support of a dedicated group of volunteer broadcasters. Several of the current broadcasters and volunteers have previously been trainees at the station and have returned to work at 6PRK after picking up further experience elsewhere.

Level of capacity, knowledge and experience in delivering Aboriginal radio content has increased steadily since the stations inception. This is likely to continue to increase in the short to medium term with the manager able to concentrate on quality of service delivery after a lengthy period of capital works. Longer-term development will occur if the organisation is able to retain and develop career paths for those staff members who are at various levels of undertaking broadcasting training.