Maningrida

Maningrida is one of the largest remote towns in the Northern Territory, and is located approximately 500km east of Darwin in Arnhem Land at the mouth of the Liverpool River. A permanent settlement was established in the late 1940s, and was converted into a mission during the 1950s. These days, the town is the major service centre for the population of 2,500 as well as more than 30 outstations or homelands, with a school, health clinic, multiple food outlets, two supermarkets, service station, arts centre, créche and a tarmac airport with daily commercial flights to Darwin.
Research Partner   Co-Researchers
Videos and Gallery
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500km east of Darwin

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Kunibídji people

Heather Rea conducting a survey with Ross Brian
Co-researcher Carl Williams on mobile
Co-researcher Carl Williams on mobile
2518
population (ABS 2021)
91.2%
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders (ABS 2021)
394
occupied dwellings; 6.0 people per ATSI household (ABS 2021)

Research Partner

Dhukurrdji Development Corporation

The Dhukurrdji Development Corporation is an Aboriginal-led organization based in Maningrida, Northern Territory, focused on community development and economic opportunities. They manage local assets, including the Dhukurrdji Lodge accommodation, and partner with regional Aboriginal enterprises.

The RMIT and Dhukurrdji team - Alfie Galaminda, Carl Williams, Adam Longbottom, Derek Gibson, Heather Rea (Telstra), Chloe Gibson, and Daniel Featherstone

Local Research Team

Community co-researchers are employed in each community to support research activities and contribute research findings between site visits. These roles provide local jobs and support capacity building.

Community co-researchers play a central role in the research, liaising between the research team and the local community, providing cultural guidance to the research team, acting as translators, facilitating research activities, identifying possible participants and communicating information to community members.

We’d like to extend our gratitude to the support of our Djarindjin / Lombadina co-researchers and research partners:

Derek Gibson

Co-Researcher

Chloe Gibson

Co-Researcher

Jacinta LamiLami

Co-Researcher

Alfie Galaminda

Co-Researcher

Carl Williams

Co-Researcher

Adam Longbottom

Partner, Dhukurrdji Development Corporation

Maningrida resident, Heather Rea, Chloe Gibson
Research team in Maningrida: Heather Rea, Chloe Gibson, Carl Williams, Derek Gibson, and Daniel Featherstone

Photos from research activities

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  • Maningrida resident, Heather Rea, Chloe Gibson
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Mapping the Digital Gap

Mapping the Digital Gap is the first extensive study of digital inclusion and use of media and communications services in remote First Nations communities across Australia. Using qualitative and quantitative research methods, the project is providing data to help measure progress on Closing the Gap Target 17, which aims for equivalent levels of digital inclusion for First Nations people by 2026.

Mapping the Digital Gap is a partnership project between the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S) and funding partner Telstra, as part of the Australian Digital Inclusion Index research suite. The research team also partner with local First Nations organisations and co-researchers to undertake on-site research annually in participating communities.

Learn more