Galiwin’ku
Galiwin’ku is the largest Yolŋu community in the East Arnhem region. It is a large island community, with microwave backhaul from the mainland for all Telstra services (4G, ADSL, phones). With high levels of congestion throughout much of the day, and limited coverage to outlying suburbs, residents have called for upgrades for several years.
150km from Nhulunbuy
Djambarrpuyŋu, Gupapuyŋu, and Djinang people.
2025 Digital Inclusion score
ADII scores range from 0 to 100. The higher the score, the greater the level of digital inclusion. ADII scores are relative: they allow comparisons across different social groups, different geographic areas, and over time.
2025 Dimension scores
We measure digital inclusion across the three dimensions of Access, Affordability and Digital Ability; identified as the key requirements of digital inclusion. Where early research on digital inclusion focuses on questions of access, subsequent work highlights affordability challenges, and shows the importance of digital skills or abilities as the use of online technologies has grown. To understand and address digital inclusion, it is important to pay attention to Access, Affordability and Digital Ability simultaneously.
Community Outcomes Reports
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Galiwin'ku, NT community update report4 Jun 2024 Read PDF online |
Summary
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Galiwin'ku, NT community update report21 Dec 2022 Read PDF online |
Summary
The first research visit to Galiwin’ku was undertaken from 16th to 20th May 2022. The team worked with community research partner Yalu Aboriginal Corporation (Yalu) and co-researchers Yungirrnga Bukulatjpi, James Bayung, and Cyril Bukulatjpi, with support from Alice McCarthy. This report is intended to assist local and regional agencies, including Yalu, East Arnhem Regional Council (EARC) and Northern Land Council, to better understand the key barriers to digital inclusion in Galiwin’ku. It is designed to provide a basis for a local digital inclusion plan through assisting in identifying infrastructure and program needs to enable a targeted approach for advocacy with government and industry stakeholders. The report will be updated following research visits in 2023 and 2024.
population (ABS 2021)
Torres Strait Islanders (ABS 2021)
occupied dwellings; 6.3 people per ATSI household (ABS 2021)
Research Partner
Yalu Aboriginal Corporation
Yalu Aboriginal Corporation is an Indigenous-owned and managed organisation dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of the Yolŋu people in Galiwin’ku. Through culturally appropriate social programs, partnerships, and research, Yalu works to strengthen Yolŋu Walŋa (well-being), rom (law), and culture, ensuring that Yolŋu cultural practices and language are preserved for future generations. Yalu’s approach has positioned the organisation as a key driver in the community development of Galiwin’ku.
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 Galiwin’ku co-researchers and research partners:
James Bayung
Co-Researcher
Yuŋgirrŋa Bukulatjpi
Co-Researcher
Wesley Dhurrkay
Co-Researcher
Evelyn Djotja Bukulatjpi
Co-Researcher
Cyril Bukulatjpi
Co-Researcher
Maliku Dhamarrandji
Co-Researcher
Shaun Dhamarrandji
Co-Researcher
Anahita Tonkin
CEO, Yalu Aboriginal Corporation
Tia Roko
Project and Indigenous Engagement Coordinator, Yalu
Glen Gurruwiwi
Co-Researcher
Photos from research activities
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.