This report outlines the impacts of community media training on the employment pathways and career trajectories of its practitioners. Training has been integral to the growth of community broadcasting in Australia and continues to play a vital role in the sector. The focus on training within community media has broader societal effects: community media is increasingly recognised as a key training ground for media, creative and cultural industries in Australia. While training and career development are important goals and outcomes for some participants, it is important to also acknowledge that people volunteer in the community broadcasting sector for a plethora of motivations besides wanting to further their career. As such, this research explores the role of training not just in terms of career development but also more holistically.

The research employed a multi-faceted mixed-method that combined an online survey with semi-structured interviews. The Community Media Training Organisation’s Graduate Destination Survey, developed in collaboration with the research team,  captured data on demographics, CMTO courses completed, and information about employment and volunteer activities. Drawing on the findings of the pilot research, the survey also asked participants about career pathways, skills development and training, connections and networks, and the role community media training plays in developing a sense of social responsibility. The survey was also used to recruit interview participants. 25 interviews were conducted (from a pool of 79) using maximum variation sampling techniques aimed at identifying a diverse range of participants.

The findings of the research suggest that community media training plays a vital role in the career development of practitioners. The key themes were:

• Career pathways: Participation and training in community broadcasting can be clearly and directly connected to career pathways.
• Skills development: Participants all agreed their time in community broadcasting contributed to a broad suite of skills, which prepared them for future jobs, and enhanced current careers and employment.
• Training: Training (including CMTO courses, other formal learning programs, and informal training) was seen by participants as a key benefit of community media. 

In addition to the benefits of training for career development, three other themes were identified from the data:

• Opportunities: Participation in community media facilitates many different opportunities in the form of career progression and training, as well as for personal growth. 
• Networks and belonging: Participation in community media contributed to both the development of specific networking skills and also the formation of valued personal and professional networks.
• Finding the ‘Right Fit’: While some participants discussed how the unique environment of community media enabled them to develop a sense of identity and embrace their personal values, for others the ‘sink or swim’ approach and limited oversight over workloads led to stress and burnout. 

Based on these findings, a number of recommendations have been developed:

• Expanding and supporting formal and informal mentoring programs accessible to workers in the community media sector.
• Further investment in mental health and wellbeing training, support, and research for community media practitioners.  
• Developing community media based training projects that encourage broader community engagement and lifelong learning opportunities. 
• Promoting the wide range of transferable employability skills that come from participating in community media.