Abstract:
This article presents findings from a small-scale study of Sinhala radio programs in
Melbourne, Australia in serving the Sri Lankan community. The Australian government
introduced ethnic radio programs to fulfill migrants’ needs in their settlement in Australia.
However, it has not reviewed their goals, and listeners’ current interest in them, since
initiating them in 1975. Therefore this study focuses on the present need for ethnic radio
programs in Australia and on listeners’ feedback about their content and presentation.
This study also reviews how ethnic radio programs have addressed the issues that had
initially been identified as the reason for their introduction in 1975. The listeners state that
the Sinhala radio programs do not help them to settle in Australia. The issue of
participation is critical, and most of the participants complained that the same people have
run the programs for a long time. Everyone unanimously agrees that ethnic radio
programs play a big role within the community, which is completely neglected by
mainstream media. This study has opened the doors for further study or development of a
new model for ethnic listeners in Australia. A further in-depth study would identify the
needs of the present listenership, which may lead to a broader listenership.
