business
Online Radio Surge Reshaping Sunshine Coast Job and Talent Market
Digital audio platforms are driving demand for new skills in production and content creation across the region.
How we reported this
Online radio platforms have added 180 new digital content roles in the Sunshine Coast region since the start of 2026, according to industry tracking data.
The shift matters now because traditional broadcast outlets face declining ad revenue while streaming services expand reach through targeted local programming. Listeners in regional Australia turned to online stations at higher rates after the Telstra network outage exposed vulnerabilities in older infrastructure.
Maroochydore studios and Mooloolaba training programs
Two companies have opened dedicated streaming hubs in central Maroochydore, one at the intersection of First Avenue and Aerodrome Road and another near the Sunshine Coast University Hospital precinct. These sites now run 24-hour digital feeds that mix music with local traffic and surf reports. At the same time, the Mooloolaba TAFE campus launched a six-week certificate in podcast and online audio production last month, with 42 students enrolled in the first cohort.
Employers report that applicants with basic audio editing skills and knowledge of streaming analytics now outnumber those with only traditional on-air experience. Local businesses along the Nicklin Way corridor have begun advertising for part-time hosts who can also manage social media clips for platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
Listener growth and hiring outlook
Australian Communications and Media Authority figures released 10 July 2026 show online radio listenership in Queensland regional areas rose 38 percent year-on-year. Average starting salaries for entry-level digital audio producers in the Sunshine Coast now sit at $68,000, up from $59,000 two years earlier. Several Maroochydore firms have posted openings for voice-over talent and playlist curators with closing dates in the next fortnight.
Job seekers should update portfolios with short-form audio samples and consider enrolling in the next TAFE intake before August. Companies along the coast continue to expand remote editing positions that allow work from homes in Buderim and Caloundra.