CAAMA

The Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) came to life in 1982 with the establishment of radio station 8KIN FM. Aboriginal-owned media was seen as being vital to the broad educational and community development aspirations of Aboriginal people in Central Australia. Radio was a way to give voice to Aboriginal hopes and dreams as well as being a tool to maintain and sustain the culture and languages of Central Australia. Originally offering music and programming in Arrernte, Pitjantjatjara, Luritja and Warlpiri, today CAAMA broadcasts in half a dozen more Indigenous languages, reaching communities across Australia.

CAAMA’s social charter is to use the mediums of radio and television to give Aboriginal people a strong voice in the development of country, culture, politics and education; to use the broadcasting arts and sciences to arrest cultural disintegration, to empower people and bring inspiration to their lives. CAAMA is governed by an elected Indigenous Board reporting to Indigenous members.

CAAMA Productions (who co-produced Satellite Dreaming) create high-quality content across a range of genres, and have a full range of digital production and post-production services and facilities and have created nationally broadcast children’s TV, shorts, documentaries, music videos, advertisements and drama series. Some of the trainee CAAMA filmmakers have won national and international awards for their work, including Warwick Thornton, Rachel Perkins, Allan Collins and Beck Cole.