The ACMA have issued a clarification to the callsign arrangements for Foundation Licencees wishing to upgrade their qualifications to Standard or Advanced.
To quote from the ACMA Changes to Callsign Policy document:
Changes to call signs
We are making changes that will facilitate access to a wider range of digital modes for foundation licensees, and provide a ‘call sign for life’ for all licensees by:
- allowing all amateurs to obtain a 3 letter call sign
- removing the association between call sign suffixes and qualifications.
If you have a foundation, standard or advanced licence, you can apply to the AMC for any available 3 letter call sign.
If you have already upgraded your 4 letter Foundation callsign to a 3 letter callsign, you can keep it if you are upgrading your qualification to Standard or Advanced. However, if you have a Foundation 4 letter call sign (Fxxx) you will be required to change your call sign if you upgrade to Standard or Advanced.
Two-letter call signs remain available to advanced licensees only.
The document may be found here:
https://www.acma.gov.au/changes-amateur-radio-call-sign-policy