Vision Australia Radio

Vision Australia Radio - VAR
City of license Melbourne, Victoria
Slogan "Sound Information"
Frequency 1179 KHz[1] (1990-)
1629 kHz (1982-1990)
First air date December 12, 1982[2][3]
Format Radio reading service
Power 3,000 watts[1]
Class Community[1]
Callsign meaning Vision Australia Radio
Affiliations Radio Print Handicapped Network
Owner Vision Australia
Webcast MP3 Stream [1]
Real Media Stream [2]
Website Official Website [3]

Vision Australia Radio is a network of eight radio stations in Victoria and southern New South Wales owned by Vision Australia. The stations broadcast a range of programs, generally consisting of readings of newspapers and magazines for people unable to read print media. All the stations are operated by a volunteer staff and a small group of dedicated employees.

The Vision Australia Radio Network is headquartered at Kooyong and is licensed as a Community (RPH) Broadcaster to the print handicapped community. This can include people with vision impairment, a physical illness or disability which makes it difficult for them to hold a paper (such as MS or Parkinson’s), people with dyslexia or those who understand spoken but not written English.

A recent McNair Ingenuity Research study showed that Vision Australia Radio has a state wide audience of more than 250,000 every week – with the majority of listeners aged between 25-54. An estimated 38% of listeners are professionals or self-employed with a further 36% skilled workers.

The station originally broadcast as 3RPH in 1982 from Melbourne, however the station is now formally known as Vision Australia Radio.

Vision Australia Radio is a member of the Radio Print Handicapped Network and a BBC World Service partner station.

Melbourne Station - VAR 1179AM

The chief station is:

Regional Stations

The other stations are affiliates and opt-out of the 3RPH feed for local programmes:

The Melbourne station is also heard in Australia and New Zealand on Optus Aurora satellite radio channel 12.

References