Road to the Conference: Why Community Wi-Fi Makes a Difference with Che Cockatoo-Collins
As a part of our Road to the Conference Series, Executive Manager of Indigenous Affairs at NBN Co. Che Cockatoo-Collins shares the story of how cross-sector collaboration can translate connectivity into real impact and how community-led design, capability building and a stronger focus on inclusion outcomes can lead to stronger communities. Che will be bringing this principle to life in the panel: Ensuring Digital Inclusion for All Australians.
This article is made possible through the support of our conference sponsor, NBN Co, who acknowledge that their role, through their social licence as a government business enterprise, extends beyond connectivity and that we must also support culturally safe and appropriate use of technology, expand employment and business pathways with First Nations Australians, and amplify the success of community-led programs and solutions.
By Che Cockatoo-Collins.
Technology alone doesn’t drive change. Collaboration does.
Behind every meaningful innovation in our sector is a network of partners aligning capability, insight, and intent. Our conference sponsors play a critical role in that ecosystem, helping turn tools and infrastructure into tangible outcomes for communities.
Digital inclusion sits at the heart of what we do at nbn. Fair access to affordable, reliable broadband is fundamental to participation in the digital economy, supporting skills, jobs, and the economic, social, and environmental wellbeing of First Nations Australians. Understanding how to operate in the digital world also creates opportunities for lifelong learning and resilience.
But we know that genuine inclusion is about more than just having a connection. That’s why we’re proud to work alongside government, community groups and our industry partners to help people get online and make the most of what the digital world has to offer. Spending time in communities like Doomadgee deepens our understanding of the lived experience of First Nations people. Doomadgee is a remote community of around 1,500 residents on Gangalida Country in Far Northwest Queensland, home to mostly Gangalida and Waanyi people.
Like many remote communities, it faces long periods of isolation during the wet season, when flooding cuts off road access for not days but weeks and months at a time. When a company like nbn talks about technology we mainly focus on the technology, networks, and infrastructure deployment because that's how our industry has operated for a long time. We often use very technical language, but it is not what local people want to hear. They want to know how it can help them, how reliable it is, and how much will it cost.
Our First Nations Community Wi‑Fi program provides free internet access in remote communities just like Doomadgee to improve affordability and access. The Commonwealth funded program is co‑designed by the community and nbn, with a focus on online safety and ownership. Digital Champions, based in each community, help build onboard new users and help develop basic digital skills so they can participate safely.
And the data tells us it’s working. Usage statistics indicate that device connections outstrip the size of the local population, highlighting both rapid adoption and high levels of data use for each device. These consumption trends show the service is embedded in daily life, supporting access to essential services alongside entertainment and social connection.
We also heard how many residents previously relied on prepaid mobile data, which can be expensive and unreliable in remote areas. Tapping into the shared community Wi-Fi reduces that dependence, enabling more households across the community to access to online services. But some of the most powerful impacts are less tangible. Community members spoke about how connectivity helps during long periods of isolation. When roads are cut and travel isn’t possible, boredom and frustration can build. Connecting people online, even over long distances, can help with staying in touch with family, streaming content, using apps and online services after school and work.
Connectivity is also creating new opportunities for cultural expression. Local artists and bands are sharing music online, giving community voices a platform well beyond Doomadgee. That pride and visibility matters. Importantly, getting online is also a learning process for everyone involved. Early feedback from the community highlighted knowledge gaps that we were able to work to fill, and understanding has quickly improved. Trusted local leaders are now helping reinforce how the service works and why it’s valuable.
nbn has connected over 100 communities across the country with these Community Wi-Fi services. But this is not just a story about internet access. For me, Doomadgee is a powerful example of how access to the online world can help bring peace of mind, greater access, wellbeing and a stronger sense of connection, especially in places where isolation is part of everyday life. We’re grateful for the Australian Government’s support that helps make programs like Community Wi‑Fi possible, and for the partnerships that enable communities like Doomadgee to get online in ways that are community‑led.
But it’s also clear this work can’t stop here. We’re serious about closing the gap on digital inclusion and recognise more is needed to keep building on what works, including expanding Community Wi‑Fi networks. As part of nbn’s broader commitment to First Nations Digital Inclusion, Community Wi-Fi is proving to be an important enabler of social resilience and digital inclusion, delivering tangible outcomes for communities facing some of the country’s most challenging conditions.
Note: Doomadgee is one of 23 communities to benefit from nbn Community Wide Wi-Fi as supported by the Australian Government’s $20m grant to expand community Wi-Fi services to more remote and isolated First Nations communities.
Impact is strongest when solutions are co‑designed
Lasting outcomes come from designing services with communities. Doomadgee’s Community Wi‑Fi succeeded because local leaders co‑designed it around community priorities, cultural context and lived experience, building trust and relevance for community.
Collaboration turns infrastructure into outcomes
Infrastructure delivers real impact when governments, industry and community organisations collaborate with shared purpose, as Community Wi‑Fi shows by turning investment into benefits like access to essential services, improved wellbeing and connection during isolation.
Local capability is as important as access
Access is only the first step, so building local capability through trusted community leaders and Digital Champions helps people use technology safely and confidently.
Scalable models start with trust
Scalable programs are built on trust, flexibility and learning, and in Doomadgee early feedback refined Community Wi‑Fi delivery to improve understanding of the service, reinforcing the value of listening, adapting and treating development and delivery as an opportunity for shared learning.