2SER to live beyond July under reduced funding and staffing model

Sydney community radio station 2SER will live on beyond July after a reduced funding and staffing model was accepted by the Board.

Macquarie University announced it was withdrawing around half the station’s funding late last year with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) now to be the sole funder, but with still a need to find other financial partners.

2SER Board Member and Dean of the Faculty of Design and Society at UTS, Professor James Bennett told 702 ABC Radio Sydney:

“I’m pleased to say the station has definitely got a future.

It’s taken a lot of work from the volunteer community staff here at UTS and the station manager, but also with a transition director we brought in, Tony Duke, to kind of find a model that allows us to move out of a period of uncertainty and onto more forward-facing ground.”

We can start working with the community again on fundraising and also a future vision for the station together.”

The new model was the result of the hard work of a group of staff and alumni representatives, including former station manager Paula Kruger, UTS media academic Liz Giuffre, and the UTS board.

Tony Duke will be appointed as transitional director of the station. Most staff are volunteers but others are currently being consulted about their futures at the station. 

You can still sign the petition to save the station, which is up to 6000 signatures. You can also subscribe here.