Kalka and Homelands vs Irrunuytju

Kalka and Homelands and Irrunuytju are two remote communities located about 70 km apart across the state border. Irrunuytju has a larger population of First Nations people, with 117 compared to 107 in Kalka and Homelands. The most significant differences are in income and language; First Nations household income is far higher in Irrunuytju at $1,312, while Kalka and Homelands is much lower at $762. Everyone in Irrunuytju speaks a First Nations language, which is 22 percentage points higher than the 77.6% who do so in Kalka and Homelands.

These two areas have stayed distinct, and the gap in First Nations household income has widened over time. Residents in Irrunuytju are also noticeably older, with a typical age of 32 compared to 25 in Kalka and Homelands. Kalka and Homelands has a higher share of people who finished Year 12 at 20.0%, compared to 14.1% in Irrunuytju. Both areas have very low typical personal incomes that sit well below the national figure.