AusGov Media & Tech

It’s that time of year again – the end of financial year sales have begun! 🛒🎁

And while it might be tempting to sn**ch up that online bargain before it disappears…do you know how to shop safely?

The eSafety Commissioner’s Be Connected website has information to help you protect your details and have a safe online shopping experience, including:

✔️ buying on eBay
✔️ how to pay securely
✔️ how pay later services work
✔️ what to do if something goes wrong

Check out the Be Connected learning resources at https://tinyurl.com/2hvkyvxw

Only a few weeks until the SMS Sender ID Register launches on 1 July 2026.

Find out more about the register ⬇

Scammers often impersonate well-known brands using fake SMS sender IDs.

That’s why the SMS Sender ID Register is launching on 1 July 2026.

The register means:

✔️ Only registered sender IDs will display on smart phones
✔️ Unregistered sender IDs will be labelled as ‘Unverified’

Register now to avoid disruption of your branded SMS and MMS messages.

Follow the link in the comments to learn more.

Time is running out for suppliers to apply to participate in Round 3 of the On Farm Connectivity Program!

The Program provides rebates for eligible connectivity equipment sold to Primary Producers.

There have been some changes to Round 3 of the Program. Find out more and submit your expression of interest before 12 June 2026 to participate!

Visit tinyurl.com/mw4vrbyz






business.gov.au
The Regional Australia Institute
Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Food Agility
AusAgritech
National Farmers' Federation
Australian Farm Institute
Regional Tech Hub

“E.T., home, phone”

This iconic line first hit cinemas on this day in 1982.

Today, calling home is easier than ever—even in regional and remote areas across Australia—thanks to our Mobile Black Spot Program (MBSP).

A new Telstra base station in the rural Tasmanian community of Kelso is one of more than 1,400 mobile base stations funded under this program.

Dial into more details about the program: tinyurl.com/s7yr7rbv

We love and it’s great to see how life-changing postal communication can be!

Meet Luke 👋 He's one of our Posties and as part of our Connection Campaign with Beyond Blue, he's helping us deliver something pretty special, 4 million free Connection Postcards to rural and regional homes across Australia 💙

This month marks an incredible milestone: 25 million postcards delivered since 2021. With loneliness affecting 1 in 3 Australians, a few handwritten words can mean the world to someone.

🗨️ “It’s a very special feeling to read something someone’s handwritten just for you. I hope it brings more people that joy.”

Can you crack the code?

Testing of AusAlert, the new national emergency warning system, will begin in some communities this month.

Check below to see if you can expert an alert ⬇️

Testing will soon begin for the new Australian Government cell-broadcast message alert system, called AusAlert. 📱

AusAlert will allow emergency services organisations across Australia to send targeted, near-instant warning messages to compatible mobile devices during disasters.

This means authorities can reach people quickly when it matters most, helping to save lives and property.

AusAlert will be operational by October 2026, ahead of the 2026-27 higher risk weather season.

Community testing will take place across urban, regional, and remote areas in all states and territories in June 2026. Locations include:

🔷 Majura, Australian Capital Territory
🔶 Queanbeyan, New South Wales
🔷 Liverpool, New South Wales
🔶 Port Douglas, Queensland
🔷 Geelong, Victoria
🔶 Port Lincoln, South Australia
🔷 Tennant Creek, Northen Territory
🔶 Goomalling, Western Australia
🔷 Launceston, Tasmania

A national test of AusAlert will take place on 27 July 2026.

During the national test, everyone with a compatible mobile device will receive an alert.

Follow National Emergency Management Agency for updates about AusAlert.

Find more information, including times and dates for all tests, at: http://www.ausalert.gov.au/

Australians have a proud history of innovation in assistive technology – from Dr Graeme Clark creating the bionic ear to CSIRO scientists developing the wireless Local Area Network in the 1990s.

Today, technologies like Wi-fi play a vital role in making everyday tasks more accessible.

Through the Access Hub, people who are d/Deaf, hard of hearing and/or have speech communication difficulties can make phone calls or connect online in ways that suit them.

Find out more about this service: tinyurl.com/2nvycsa2

Coming soon – Australia’s first National Media Literacy Strategy will identify ways to help equip every Australian with the ability to understand, question and confidently engage with news and media.

Find out more: tinyurl.com/yc2r74nj

Do you know great First Nations storytellers that are working in the media industry?

Submit your nominations for the 2026 First Nations Media Awards!

🏆✨ Nominations are now open for the 2026 First Nations Media Awards! ✨🏆

🎙️ First Nations Media Australia is proud to celebrate the incredible achievements, storytelling, innovation and leadership across the First Nations media industry.

🎬 The awards recognise excellence across a range of categories, including Major Awards, Content Awards and Development Awards — celebrating individuals, organisations, productions and projects making a meaningful impact across First Nations media.

📻 We’re inviting nominations from FNMA members working across radio, broadcasting, print, digital, television, film and online media platforms.

🌟 Do you know an individual, organisation, program or production making a difference in First Nations media? Now is the time to recognise and celebrate their work.

📩 Submit your nomination today and help celebrate the voices and stories shaping our industry.
https://au.entegy.events/converge26/Awards

Entries close Monday 20 July 2026