Meekatharra exc. Karalundi vs Jigalong

Meekatharra exc. Karalundi and Jigalong are both remote Western Australian areas with strong First Nations populations. There are stark differences in culture and employment; in Jigalong, 94.4% of people speak a First Nations language, compared to 18.6% in Meekatharra exc. Karalundi. Joblessness is also far higher in Jigalong, where the First Nations unemployment rate is 48.5%, which is 22 percentage points higher than the 27.0% seen in Meekatharra exc. Karalundi.

Both areas have tracked similarly since 2011, though they differ in scale and layout. First Nations households in Meekatharra exc. Karalundi have a typical income of $985, which is well higher than the $759 typical in Jigalong. While Meekatharra exc. Karalundi has a well larger First Nations population with 420 people, Jigalong is more concentrated, with a higher share of residents finishing Year 12 and a higher level of street connectivity.