ACMA announcement regarding tender for radio amateur services

4th February 2019
RE: ACMA Announcement on 1st of February regarding tender for Radio Amateur services.


Dear WIA member,


The WIA congratulates the University of Tasmania and Australian Maritime College (AMC) in being selected by
the ACMA as the preferred provider for the delivery of amateur radio examination, callsign management and
associated services. See attachment for details of the ACMA announcement.

The WIA board views this as a watershed moment in the history of amateur radio in Australia. The expedient
delivery of these services by a skilled team backed by a sandstone university promises to deliver a robust,
cost-effective and efficient qualification service for the Australian amateur community.

It is the view of the WIA board and the WIA Education Group that anything other than a smooth transition to the
AMC will damage the already fragile amateur radio community. For this reason, the WIA and ACMA met in
October last year to begin planning for this potential eventuality. We are committed to ensuring that the WIA
does not cause any obstruction to this process.

The WIA National Office is in the process of transferring all callsign applications, assessments and other
activities that were in progress on Friday the 1st of January, 2019 to the ACMA.

The WIA sincerely thanks all WIA volunteers, assessors and learning facilitators that have been involved in the
previous examination systems over the past 20+ years for their incredible contribution to the hobby of amateur
radio.

There will be changes and uncertainty in the near term. To ensure a smooth transition and continuity of
services for this great hobby the WIA will work collaboratively with the AMC and trust you will as well.

It is the view of the WIA Board, the WIA education group and many members we have spoken to that the
transition to the AMC will allow the WIA to re-focus its resources on delivering all of the objects of Institute.

The WIA has a 100 year plus legacy of serving the amateur community. It will continue to do so into the future
with your support.

For those that are unaware, the objects for which the Institute was established are:

•  to promote, advance and represent in any way it thinks fit Amateur Radio and the interests of Radio
  Amateurs, and without limiting the generality of the forgoing,
•  to protect and enhance the privileges of Radio Amateurs,
•  to encourage an awareness of the value of Amateur Radio,
•  to educate and encourage potential Radio Amateurs,
•  to represent Radio Amateurs both nationally and internationally,
•  to provide services for Radio Amateurs and those interested in Amateur Radio,
•  and to do all other lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of these objects or any
  of them or which may be calculated to advance directly or indirectly the interests of the Institute.

 
There are a number of exciting initiatives that are being delivered by the WIA:

• The IT Team have been working on an initiative to provide enhanced email (and other services) to
  members during the month of March. All members (and some former members) will receive an email
  on this matter. For further information, please email Joseph and his team at it@wia.org.au .

• As you are no doubt aware the WIA sent a delegation to the region 3 International Amateur Radio
  Union (IARU) conference to represent VK last year. The minutes of this conference have recently
  been released and are available on the WIA Website . The IARU represents the amateur community to
  the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) for the Radio Amateur service and RF spectrum.

• Club presidents of affiliated clubs should expect an email explaining the WIA club grants program for
  affiliated clubs. This program will allow WIA affiliated clubs to receive grants from the WIA to assist in
  the delivery of the WIA’s objects. If you did not receive this email, please email grants@wia.org.au .

• The Education Group, having finished the ATM, are now moving towards syllabus review and have
  asked for any parties who wish to take part in this process email education@wia.org.au .

• If you are one of the dozen or so people that have an outstanding repeater licence request you should
  will receive a request from us asking that you provide us with permission to use a private AP (at the
  WIAs cost) to complete your assignment. If for some reason you do not, please email
  repeaters@wia.org.au

In addition to these activities, there is a pipeline of other member services that will be released over the next
few months. If you have a suggestion for a service or service improvement that you would like the WIA to
deliver, please email support@wia.org.au

  
Until next time.
73

 
 
Justin Giles-Clark
President
Wireless Institute of Australia