Tuned into home: Broadcasting Bhutan from Canberra

2026-03-30 - 10:31

“Kuzuzangpo La! Welcome to all our listeners.” A simple greeting. But for Bhutanese living thousands of kilometres away from home, these words carry something far deeper. They echo connection, community, and a quiet reminder of where they come from. This is Kuzu Zangpo Canberra Radio, a volunteer-run community program that has been broadcasting every Thursday evening from Australia’s capital since February this year. Today, it has quielty become a lifeline for a diaspora community navigating life in a foreign land while holding onto the culture they left behind. Host Choeday describes each episode as a deliberate act of community building. “In every episode we try to deliver community news updates, make call-outs or provide reminders to the community for important participation, and play Dzongkha music and songs,” she says. “We also do narrations on the importance of particular practices of our cultural traditions, or undertake interviews with community members to understand the journey as an immigrant, or interviews on educational topics.” For Jigme Jamtsho, the Australia-Bhutan Association of Canberra president, the station fills a need that goes beyond entertainment. He says, “We usually celebrate Bhutanese traditions together, so the radio strengthens our identity, supports migrants in feeling welcomed, and encourages community participation.” “Most importantly, it creates a sense of belonging, reminding everyone that even though we are far from Bhutan, our culture, our values, and our unity remain the same.” That sense of belonging resonates deeply with the listeners. For Dorji Tashi, a Bhutanese resident in Canberra, the ritual of tuning in has become a moment of daily solace. “No matter how caught up we are in work or the noise of daily life, the moment we turn it on in the car, we are transported. Suddenly, we are connected to Bhutan, despite the distance.” For others, the station stirs something more complex. Rinchen Tshewang, another Canberra-based Bhutanese, says the radio brings both joy and a quiet ache. “Living far from family and friends, it carries me back to my years in Bhutan – the memories, the faces, the feeling of home.” But what moves him most is not just his own nostalgia. “There are other Bhutanese families here and knowing that wherever life takes them, their children can still grow up hearing our language and stay rooted in our culture gives me an assurance.” As Bhutanese communities continue to grow across borders, maintaining cultural identity can be a quiet but persistent challenge. However, initiatives like a community radio programme help carry the voice of home across that distance. “Thank you for tuning in. Kadrinchey La.” A simple greeting as Host Choeday signs out. Another Thursday evening in Canberra, the miles between the Ausrtalian capital and Bhutan narrow, one broadcast at a time. Kinley Bidha