Pipalyatjara and Kalka
Pipalyatjara and Kalka are situated at the north-western corner of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in South Australia close to the WA and NT borders. We found that mobile services were relatively fast in Pipalyatjara, and the introduction of a community-wide Wi-Fi network by NBN in Pipalyatjara in November 2024 also improved access. However, there are still major affordability concerns affecting internet usage and ability to purchase or replace broken devices, with particular impact on the most vulnerable residents.
In contrast, Kalka had very limited connectivity access with no public phone, Wi-Fi hotspots or community office to access support, with little change across research visits.
700km from Alice Springs
Pitjantjatjara 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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Pipalyatjara and Kalka, SA 2025 community outcomes report14 Oct 2025 Read PDF online |
Summary
This report presents updated findings from the first and second research visit to adjacent communities Pipalyatjara and Kalka in South Australia’s (SA’s) Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. It describes changes in First Nations digital inclusion over two years, outlining the state and usage of communications and media services from 2024 to 2025.
The report is intended to assist local agencies, leaders and residents to better understand the barriers to digital inclusion, develop local strategies to address these barriers, and support planning and partnerships with government and industry stakeholders.
Key findings
- In Pipalyatjara, a new outdoor-only National Broadband Network (NBN) community-wide Wi-Fi mesh network has been welcomed, with 800GB of data used by over 300 devices monthly.
- Nearby Kalka experienced little to no connectivity during both visits, with a small cell mobile tower finally switched on in May 2025.
- Households are paying more on pre-paid mobile, Sky Muster and Starlink in both communities, from a monthly average of $167 in 2024 to $274 in 2025.
population (ABS 2021)
Aboriginal people (ABS 2021)
occupied dwellings; 4.1 / 5.6 people per ATSI household (ABS 2021)
Research Partner
NPY Women's Council
NPY Women’s Council is led by women’s law, authority and culture to deliver health, social and cultural services for all Anangu.
In 1980 NPY Women’s Council began as an advocacy body based on the need for Anangu women to have a voice and representation in conversations on land rights, policy and cultural affairs of the late 70’s and early 80’s.
In 1993 NPYWC was funded to provide services, recognizing the strength of supporting women and children for the benefit of the whole community.
NPYWC is now a leader in the provision of human services in the NPY region. Proudly Anangu led, NPYWC is governed and directed by Aboriginal women across 26 desert communities in the cross-border regions of Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory – an area covering 350,000 sq km.
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 Kalumburu co-researchers and research partners:
Renae Fox
Co-Researcher
Danny Fox
Co-Researcher
Tenisha Fox
Co-Researcher
Liza Balmer
CEO, NPY Women's Council (2024-5)
Andrea Mason
CEO, NPY Women's Council (2025)
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 the 11 participating communities.