VK licence figures show strength

Up until 2005 Australia was, like very many other countries, experiencing a continuing decline in the number of amateur radio licences.

In that year at 30 June there were 14,041 licences, down from 15,017 in 2001, as a combined result of silent keys, others just losing interest in amateur radio and fewer new entrants into the hobby.

In late 2005 the VK licence system was restructured including the introduction of the new entry level Foundation Licence. The abolition of the mandatory Morse code proficiency licence requirement for bands below 30MHz occurred on 1 January 2004.

Total licence numbers have grown each year since 2005 even though the departures from amateur radio continue to occur due to mainly to death or age-related impairment and the inability to continue the activity in retirement or aged care accommodation.

The Wireless Institute of Australia’s annual report last month had 15,670 amateur licences as at 1 April 2010, continuing the trend of year-on-year growth since 2005.

That was made up of 11,120 Advanced, 2,042 Standard and 2,054 Foundation.

There were also 454 repeater and beacon licences.

In the past 12 months the number of Foundation Licence candidates has reduced, while there is a reasonable level of upgrading from the Foundation to the Standard and Advanced licences, and direct entry candidates mostly from technical backgrounds to the higher licence grades.

Earlier this year the WIA, as part of its Centenary celebrations planning, decided to take the opportunity to step up its efforts and provide resources to radio clubs so they can seek quality publicity about the activity of amateur radio.

Club generated reports about the WIA’s centenary are starting to appear in the news media around the nation. Many more are expected as clubs conduct their rostered use of the special callsign VK100WIA, often in association with a public event.

Jim Linton VK3PC