Thamarrurr exc. Wadeye vs Wadeye

Thamarrurr exc. Wadeye and Wadeye are nearby areas in the Northern Territory with very different scales. Wadeye is much more populated, with 1,650 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people compared to 188 in Thamarrurr exc. Wadeye. There are also notable economic gaps; the typical First Nations household income in Thamarrurr exc. Wadeye is $860, which is far higher than the $491 seen in Wadeye. However, Thamarrurr exc. Wadeye has a far higher First Nations unemployment rate at 56.6%, while it is 24.3% in Wadeye.

These two areas have tracked in different directions since 2011, with the gap in First Nations unemployment widening. Despite this, they share a strong connection to culture, as both have a very high share of people who speak a First Nations language. They also both sit well below the national figure for typical First Nations personal incomes. While Wadeye has more street connectivity and a higher share of Year 12 completions, both areas remain far below the national average for school finishes.