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VK7AX > WIA 23.05.15 08:16l 66 Lines 3025 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 23532-VK7AX
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Subj: [WIA-News] The Foundation Licence and WIA assessor
Path: IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<IQ2LB<F1OYP<ED1ZAC<VK2DOT<VK7AX
Sent: 150523/0708Z 23532@VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC [Ulverstone] $:23532-VK7AX
From: VK7AX@VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC
To : WIA@WW
The Foundation Licence and WIA assessors
Date : 17 / 05 / 2015
Author : Jim Linton - VK3PC
The 10th anniversary of the new entry level licence in Australia
has seen a great turnaround with Amateur Radio being made more
accessible to a greater number of people.
When it was proposed as part of the Australian Communications Authority
“Big Reviewö, the Foundation Licence was embraced by radio amateurs
as the way forward for Amateur Radio.
The Foundation Licence has transformed us from a worrying declining
interest in Amateur Radio, to one of growth with new people entering
the hobby and most upgrading to the Standard or Advance levels.
Designed more than a decade ago, it gave entrants a taste of
Amateur Radio, inspiring many to explore the multi-faceted hobby,
and encouraged some to go further and upgrade their qualification.
Since 2005 over 5,000 Foundation Licence assessments have held,
but with a decline in the number of candidates, more needs to be
done to promote the hobby and review the attractiveness of it as
the entry point.
The WIA annual general meeting in Canberra saw the 10th anniversary
of the Foundation Licence as an opportunity to award a special
certificate recognising the first batch of assessors, who have consistently
provided licence assessments.
Such recognition is planned to be given by the WIA annually as assessors
reach their 10th year of voluntary service.
Currently there are 200 assessors.
The WIA thanks all involved education and training for their cooperation
and assistance in encouraging new entrants into Amateur Radio.
The WIA AGM heard that in the 2014 calendar year 75 Foundation Licensees
became Standard Licence holders, while 32 qualified directly to the
Advanced Licence. A continued general upward trend in licence level
upgrades is occurring, but the number of Foundation Licences issued has
somewhat stalled.
While the Foundation Licence is now 10 years old and due for a review to
better reflect new technology of the last decade, and provide a better
taste of a modern Amateur Radio, it remains a popular entry point into
the hobby.
We have entered the digital age, and the Australian Communications
Media Authority (ACMA) is about to digitise its processes, including the
way it administers all radio licences. The ACMA has told the WIA that it
will suspend for two weeks the issuing of licences, including payments
for renewals, while it makes the conversion and switch-over to a new
digital system. For example, the ACMA plans to email licences and make
greater use of online registration in future.
Later this year, licence applications will be a simplified and completed
online or digitally.
All WIA assessors are to be trained in the new way of doing things.
(Sourced from the WIA Website)
http://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2015/20150517-1/index.php
(Posted to the Packet Radio Network courtesy Tony VK7AX)
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