Papunya Outstations vs Tjuwanpa Outstations

Papunya Outstations and Tjuwanpa Outstations are both sparsely populated areas in the Northern Territory. Tjuwanpa Outstations has a far larger population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with 188 compared to 62 in Papunya Outstations. People in Tjuwanpa Outstations also have far higher First Nations household incomes, with a typical home earning $1,166 compared to $574 in Papunya Outstations. In contrast, First Nations residents are far older in Papunya Outstations, where the typical age is 35, while the typical age in Tjuwanpa Outstations is 27.

Life in both places is shaped by a strong connection to culture, as a huge majority of residents in both areas speak a First Nations language. While both areas sit far below the national figure for income, Papunya Outstations has a well higher rate of Year 12 completion at 16.3%, compared to 10.0% in Tjuwanpa Outstations. Both areas are similarly car-dependent, with neither having any street intersections across their vast landscapes.