| Vision Australia Radio | |
| Format: | Radio reading service |
| Power: | 3,000 watts[1] |
| Class: | Community |
| Affiliations: | Radio Print Handicapped Network |
| Owner: | Vision Australia |
| Webcast: | Live online stream (multiple stations) |
Vision Australia Radio is a network of eight radio stations in Victoria, amongst some other states in Australia. It is 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 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 statewide audience of more than 250,000 every week – with the majority of listeners aged between 25 and 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.
VA Radio has since expanded beyond Victoria, assuming operations of Adelaide's 5RPH in 2011,[2] and Perth's 6RPH in 2015[3] .
Vision Australia Radio is a member of the Radio Print Handicapped Network and a BBC World Service partner station.
These stations are affiliates and opt out of the 3RPH feed for local programmes:
In addition, two translator stations (sharing the 3RPH callsign of the Melbourne station) relay other VA Radio stations' programming without originating their own:
The Melbourne station is also heard in Australia via VAST satellite radio, as well as on digital (DAB+) radio in Darwin.