Wireless Institute of Australia
Abbreviation	WIA
Formation	1910
Type	Non-profit organization
Purpose/focus	Advocacy, Education
Headquarters	Bayswater, Victoria QF22od
Region served	Australia
President	Michael Owen VK3KI
Main organ	Board of Directors
Affiliations	International Amateur Radio Union
Website	http://www.wia.org.au/

The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) was formed in 1910, and is the first and oldest national amateur radio society in the world. It represents the amateur radio operators of Australia in dealings with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the authority under the government of Australia that administers communications within and external to Australia.^[1] The WIA publishes a monthly journal for its membership called Amateur Radio.^[2] The organization is the national society representing Australia in the International Amateur Radio Union.^[3]

Contents 1 Governance 2 Emergency communication 3 Contests 3.1 Remembrance Day (RD) Contest 4 External links 5 References

[edit] Governance

On 16 May 2004, the Annual General Meeting adopted a new constitution that established a national organisational structure (seven Directors with individual membership of persons in the national body) versus the former federal arrangement (membership held in state Divisions, and the Divisions having membership of the Federal body).^[4]

[edit] Emergency communication

The Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network (WICEN) (pronounced 'Wy-sen') trains and rehearses amateur radio operators in amateur radio emergency communications for call-out in civil emergencies. It is organised by state and region, with autonomous bodies in each state linked to that jurisdiction's disaster plan. In most states, WICEN is organized by a committee of the WIA state organization, but in New South Wales and Victoria, WICEN is separately incorporated. WICEN has been activated for various emergencies, notably in recent years the Black Saturday bushfires on 7 February 2009 in Victoria.^[5]

[edit] Contests

The WIA sponsors or conducts various Australian and Australasian radio contests.

[edit] Remembrance Day (RD) Contest

Amateur radio operators in Australia participate in the Remembrance Day Contest on the weekend nearest Victory in the Pacific Day, 15 August. The competition commemorates amateur radio operators who died during World War II and encourages friendly participation to help improve the operating skills of participants. The contest runs for 24 hours, from 0800 UTC on the Saturday, preceded by a broadcast including a speech by a dignitary or notable Australian (such as the Prime Minister of Australia, Governor-General of Australia, or a military leader) and the reading of the names of amateur radio operators who are known to have died. It is organised by the WIA, with operators in each Australian state contacting operators in other states, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. A trophy is awarded to the state that can boast the greatest rate of participation, based on a formula including: number of operators, number of contacts made, and radio frequency bands used.^[6]

[edit] External links

• WIA home page
  • Amateur Radio magazine
  • WIA News - weekly audio broadcast (download) and text
• WICEN

[edit] References