Djarindjin and Lombadina are discrete communities, located adjacent to each other on the Dampier Peninsula in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, about 196km north of the regional centre Broome. The traditional owners of Djarindjin are the Goolarrgoon people of the Bardi nation, with predominantly Bard people in Lombadina.

Based on 95 surveys and 6 stakeholder interviews, this report outlines the initial findings from a 2022 visit and highlights the current access and use of media, telecommunications and online services, as well as the digital inclusion and service delivery challenges in Djarindjin and Lombadina.

The report is intended to support local and regional agencies, including DAC, Lombadina Aboriginal Corporation (LAC), Pilbara and Kimberley Aboriginal Media (PAKAM) and Western Australian Government to better understand the barriers to digital inclusion and community needs and aspirations for the future. This report reflects the community views at the time of our visit, noting that significant work was underway to address the communications needs of residents, service providers and community enterprises, including a 4G small cell tower being installed in Djarindjin. The report details this progress, as well as outstanding challenges, and proposes a range of potential strategies for a local digital inclusion plan, for community stakeholders to use as they see fit. The report will be updated following research visits in 2023 and 2024.