PAKAM is an association of indigenous media producers and broadcasters in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Western Australia. Our members operate thirteen BRACS (Broadcasting for Remote Aboriginal Communities Scheme) community television and radio stations and six larger town-based community radio stations.

The PAKAM Radio Network provides a satellite-delivered regional service from the network hub in Broome, switching programme feeds brought by phoneline and digital CODEC from fourteen member stations and sending them by lease line to the Optus C1 satellite uplink at Imparja Television in Alice Springs. This service enables the sharing of news, information, special broadcast events, music and stories by all the indigenous radio stations in the region and is retransmitted full time in 20 remote communities, scattered over a million square kilometers, with a total population in excess of 7,000.

PAKAM radio programmes can also be picked up and retransmitted by other indigenous networks around the country – we supply 16 hours per week to the National Indigenous Radio Service and the hugely popular “Mary Geddardyu Show” goes right around remote Australia through the NIRS, CAAMA, TEABBA, PAW and 5NPY radio networks every Wednesday night.

BRACS operators also make and broadcast their own television programmes in their own communities with digital cameras and iMovie computer edit facilities.

The BRACS Co-ordination unit in Broome has additional digital and SP Betacam cameras, non-linear editing and multiple dubbing facilities for production of higher quality broadcast television programmes and informational messages. Video programme compilations are dubbed and sent out regularly to BRACS communities for local broadcast. PAKAM now also delivers a satellite television service to the communities through ICTV (previously Info Channel 31).

PAKAM trainers deliver the Certificate III in Broadcasting (Remote Area Operations) course to remote community operators in conjunction with the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, holding week long residential workshops in radio and television production in various communities around the region.

PAKAM employs a broadcast technician to install and maintain broadcast transmission services in member stations and other remote communities. 

PAKAM also publishes a Newsletter and maintains this website to keep members and client organisations informed of its activities. Pakam is listed on http://www.cbonline.org.au, a directory of Australian Media Organisations.