SYN is a Naarm/Melbourne based community radio station providing media broadcasting and training opportunities to young people. We believe young people should be creators, not just consumers of media, that they are the experts of their own experiences and should have ownership over all parts of SYN.
Each year, SYN supports 300+ volunteers under the age of 26 to produce the radio, TV and online media that matters to them. This is in addition to the 3,500 school students who take part in SYN’s Media Learning programs annually.
Radio: 90.7
SYN operates a full-time community broadcasting license and can be heard throughout Naarm/Melbourne on FM and digital radio. We stream live from our website (see that fancy audio player at the top of this page? hit play!). SYN’s radio content is as diverse as its volunteers, and programming rotations occur five times a year.
SYN Features
SYN manages syn.org.au, an interactive online community for people under the age of 26 to exhibit, distribute and share their content. SYN Features captures blogs, podcast, videos and other online-only content produced by SYN volunteers.
SYN Media Learning
SYN Media Learning provides media education experiences for young Australians and those who work with young Australians. Media Learning is SYN’s core business, offering media training to young people in Melbourne through hands-on radio and new media workshops. Each year SYN works with school students and various community groups to offer training through innovative peer-to-peer programs.
So Get Involved!
To be a volunteer at SYN, you must be aged 12-25 and be an active member of the organisation. Being a member gives you opportunities to participate in SYN’s training, media making and behind-the-scenes activities.
Opportunity
SYN creates opportunities for all young people with various lived experiences to participate in its community.
Inclusivity
SYN works to build a culture and community for young people of all different backgrounds to participate.
Participation
Young people run SYN – our media creation, our training, our governance and our leadership.
Innovation
SYN gives the space for young people to drive creativity, take risks and learn.
Independence
SYN is an independently run and funded media organisation, where young people can make content that is relevant to them.
SYN is famous for producing some of the most talented media personalities and media makers in the country. SYN is a place to cut your teeth, to learn about yourself and working in a team. We give young people a go – a space to make their break. Here are just a few names you might recognise, of the thousands of our exceptional alumni:
HAMISH & ANDY (FOX FM)
SCOTT PAPE (THE BAREFOOT INVESTOR)
ZAN ROWE (ABC/TRIPLE J)
TOMMY LITTLE (COMEDIAN)
MELISSA CLARKE (ABC POLITICAL REPORTER)
RYAN SHELTON (COMEDIAN)
BRIDGET HUSTWAITE (TRIPLE J) (Pictured left)
NAT TENCIC (TRIPLE J)
TOM AND OLLY (COMEDIANS)
ANIKA LUNA (TRIPLE J)
But SYN doesn’t just make excellent media makers, we make excellent humans! SYN alumni are out in the world in politics, as lawyers, educators, business people, advocates and consultants (to name just a few)!
Many of them show their ongoing love for SYN as financial supporters or volunteer their time and expertise as mentors or board members.
SYN is governed by a Board of Directors who are elected by the SYN membership. The SYN Board is responsible for making strategic decisions for SYN and ensuring that the organisation is financially and legally compliant. They represent SYN’s volunteers' interests and are elected at SYN’s annual AGM.
Lucy Grant - President
Jon King - Ordinary Member
Kurt Eckardt - Ordinary Member
Declan Kelly - Ordinary Member
Dallas Hall - Co-Opted Member
Jennifer Hunt - Youth Member
Emma Yue - Youth Member
Adam Farrugia - Youth Member
Read our latest Annual Report, outlining SYN's achievements, financial sustainability and future plans.
Our Policies and Procedures govern the conduct and behaviour of SYN volunteers, staff and members. The Policies and Procedures are updated regularly by the SYN Board’s Risk and Compliance Committee, and Constitutional change is approved by the SYN Membership at our Annual General Meeting (AGM) or a Special General Meeting (SGM) where necessary.