News items relative to the Foundation License can be found on the Foundation News page.

The next Foundation Licence Training/Assessment Weekend is scheduled for September 20th and 21st.

If you are interested in becoming an Amateur Radio Operator, you can download the Licence Training and Assessment Information and Application document.

June 30th, 2008 - Here is an extract from an email received recently.

On air behaviour - the WIA meets with ACMA
Date : 28 / 06 / 2008
Author : Peter Young - VK3MV

Michael Owen VK3KI, WIA President and Peter Young VK3MV, WIA Directors met with Allan Major, ACMA Executive Manager Regulation and Compliance Branch, Dominic Byrne, ACMA Manager Compliance & Investigations Section and, by phone hookup, Gary Ryan, ACMA Acting Manager, Interference Management Section, Brisbane, on 18 June 2008.

The meeting, originally suggested by Allan Major at the RadCom08 meetings, discussed compliance issues that concerned many amateurs in Australia. The ACMA representatives said that there had been an increased level of complaints about on air behaviour, some of which appeared to be breaches of the Amateur LCD and the Radiocommunications Act.

The range of regulatory tools available to ACMA, from criminal prosecution to administrative action, including warnings leading to the suspension of licences, perhaps even leading to the cancellation of licences, were discussed.

The WIA representatives pointed out that, to a very large extent, the amateur service was self-regulating, from the voluntary acceptance of band plans to the guidance of new amateurs. However, certain on air behaviour is unacceptable to the majority of amateurs, particularly as amateur radio sought to attract younger people. It was stressed that the WIA was not a law enforcement agency and that ACMA was the national regulator. The WIA Board believed that ACMA should not only act, but be seen to act, either criminally or administratively, against particular amateurs in such circumstances.

The WIA is grateful that ACMA intends to place more information on regulatory and compliance matters on the ACMA website.

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia.
February 14th - The Australian Media and Communications Authority has released a collection of amendments to the Licensing Conditions. Check the ACMA web site for details.
Tee Shirts - New Tee shirts have been arranged for member purchase. These are available from Judith Whittle of Embroiderall, 9 Highett Street, Epsom. Phone 5448 8535. Two types are available - male and female. The male shirt is a dark blue colour and costs $20 plus GST. The female shirt is dark blue with a light blue highlight panel and edge trimming and costs $28.00 plus GST.
October 14th - The club library is finally a reality with the recent purchase and donation of a stack of Amateur Radio magazines. Complete years from 1949 through to 2004 are available for members to borrow in future. The borrowing process is still to be determined and binding the issues into yearly lots is still being pursued.
October 19th - New Licensing Structure - The new licensing structure is in. An extract from a WIA email provides the latest details.

Key points at a glance:
. New licence structure begins 19/10/2005
. Expect new replacement licences through the post
. WIA rolls out the new Assessment for Competency
. First group qualifies for their Foundation Licences
. Class Licence for short-term visitors - not yet

The three tier amateur licensing system officially comes into force on Wednesday, 19 October, through an amendment to the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Amateur Licence) Determination.

Due to an anomaly in the new LCD, the Foundation Licence has been given only 3-watts output power for AM, FM or CW, but 10-watts PEP for SSB. The WIA has raised this situation with ACMA and the intention is to increase the 3-watts to 10-watts.

The ACMA says that all existing amateur licensees will be issued with new replacement licences. Novice and Novice-Limiteds can on the commencement day (above) use the Standard Licence operating privileges. However all licensees need to wait until they have received their new licence before seeking any changes to a callsign.

The new Assessment for Competency system to determine the qualification of individuals for amateur certificates of proficiency was introduced on 14 October by the Wireless Institute of Australia. It was trialled in Queensland on the weekend of 15-16 October. That resulted in 16 people, the youngest aged 10, being declared competent after their Foundation Licence assessment. The Assessment for Competency system through a network of WIA Accredited Assessors will be rolled out across the nation in coming weeks.

The current WIA Exam Service Invigilators continue to have a role to play in conducting paper-based multi-choice theory and regulations exams for the Standard and Advanced licences. They can also team up with an Assessor and provide assistance to them. Only Assessors can conduct the Foundation Licence assessments and the practical assessments required for those who aren't already radio amateurs who want to take get a Standard or Advanced licence.

Still More - An extract from another email.

What does it mean?

It means that as from 19th October the Foundation licence exists, and we hope that the first Foundation Licences will be issued by the end of this week, to those who qualified at the Foundation training course conducted by the Gold Coast Amateur Radio Society on the weekend of 15 and 16 October.

The amateur Foundation licensee can only use a transmitter that has been manufactured commercially, can only use voice, on either SSB, AM or FM or morse using a manually operated morse key, and not more than 10 watts output power ssb or 3 watts output power AM, FM or CW.

The Foundation station can operate on the 80, 40, 15 and 10 metre bands as well as the 2 metre band and the band 430 to 450 MHz, subject to necessary bandwidth restrictions.

It means that the Standard licence now exists, and this licence includes the existing Novice, and Novice Limited licensees, who now can use any emission mode with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 8 kHz on the 80, 40, 20 and 15 metre bands, and any emission mode with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 16 kHz on the 10 metre band, the band 52 to 54 MHz, the 2 metre band, and the bands 430 to 450 MHz, 1240 to 1300 MHz, 2,400 to 2,450 MHz and 5.650 to 5.850 GHz, with no change to the current output power limits of 100 watts and 30 watts.

It means that the Advanced licence exists, and this licence includes the existing Unrestricted licence, the Limited licence and the Intermediate licence, who can use any emission mode with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 8 kHz on all bands below 24.990 MHz, any emission mode with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 16 kHz on the 28.00 MHz to 29.70 MHz band, any emission mode with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 100 kHz on the 6 and 2 metre bands and any emission mode with no bandwidth restriction above 420 MHz, and with no change to the current output power limits of 400 watts and 120 watts.

Full details of the Determination and other administrative details including the arrangements being made by ACMA to substitute new licences for existing licenses can be found at The Australian Communications and Media Authority, and all amateurs are urged to check that site for the full and authorative information.
Local Assessors - Bendigo has two qualified WIA Assessors, Ross VK3FCE and Ian VK3ZZG. Anyone interested in being assessed should contact the club or either of the assessors to arrange a suitable time.
Created 2005 by Kevin Crockett. Comments and suggestions may be e-mailed to