Software Donations Turn Up the Volume at Aboriginal Station
Umeewarra Aboriginal Media Association (UAMA), South Australia's only Aboriginal radio station has given indigenous people in the Port Augusta region a voice they rarely get in mainstream media. UAMA produces a wide range of programs for and about the Aboriginal community, including Daily News, Job-watch, After School Show, Documentary Time, Aboriginal Current Affairs, a sports program, a gospel program, and a country music show. All the programs feature indigenous content and focus on local news and events.
The station provides information about indigenous issues — issues that are often overlooked by the mainstream media — and offers positive stories about the Aboriginal people. UAMA is more than just a media company. It provides hands-on assistance to individuals, such as helping them to write job applications and deal with government agencies.
UAMA's work has been greatly facilitated by the Microsoft software it received through DonorTec, the product donation program of TechSoup Global Network partner Connecting Up Australia. The software has enabled the organization to operate on a professional level by using the latest technology, no small matter for a nonprofit media organization operating with a tight budget in a field with many well-funded corporate competitors.
"Our organization received software from DonorTec, and this has been of great benefit to our limited budget," said Gayle Mather, a UAMA spokesperson. "Funding is tight, and just keeping the doors open can be very difficult. DonorTec has enabled us to have up-to-date software on our computers, and for a media organization this is a vital part of being able to be competitive in our market."
