Iama (Yam) Island vs Warraber Island

Iama (Yam) Island and Warraber Island are two nearby islands in the Torres Strait. The biggest difference is the First Nations unemployment rate, which is far higher in Warraber Island at 15.2% compared to just 4.1% on Iama (Yam) Island. Iama (Yam) Island also has a well higher share of First Nations people finishing Year 12 at 60.7%, and the terrain is steeper there. In contrast, Warraber Island has much more street connectivity, with 95 intersections per square kilometre compared to 9 on Iama (Yam) Island.

Both islands are very similar in that every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park, but no homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school, health services, or groceries. Most residents in both places speak a First Nations language and are car-dependent. While Warraber Island has a slightly larger population of 274 people, the gap in First Nations household income between the two areas has remained small, with Warraber Island being a little higher at $1,078.