Tropical Australian study sets new standard for Indigenous-led research
A new study highlights how Indigenous leadership, science and business can unite to protect coastal ecosystems while building long-term environmental and cultural knowledge.
RMIT University
image:
The team on a boardwalk through the mangroves. Back row: George Singleton, Gavin Singleton, Ashlyn Skeene. Front row: Lucy Friend, Tarquin Singelton, Mathew Skeene, Peter Macreadie. Credit: Through The Looking Glass Studio.
view moreCredit: Credit: Through The Looking Glass Studio.
A new study highlights how Indigenous leadership, science and business can unite to protect coastal ecosystems while building long-term environmental and cultural knowledge.
Published in Ocean & Coastal Management, the study found the 300 hectares of mangrove forest on the Barron River estuary around Cairns Airport – on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef – stores more than 2,000 tonnes of carbon annually, making ongoing care and monitoring of these and other coastal wetlands important for slowing climate change.
The research was co-designed by the Yirrganydji Traditional Custodians along with Blue Carbon Lab and RMIT University scientists and Cairns Airport.
Study lead author from RMIT University, Dr Micheli Costa, said the project was about more than just mangroves and carbon, it was about bringing together different forms of knowledge and strengthening capacity for long-term monitoring of ecosystem change by the Yirrganydji Land and Sea Ranger Program.
“It’s about showing what respectful, co-designed research can look like when Traditional Custodians, scientists, and industry work together with shared purpose,” she said.
“This collaboration created space for cultural leadership, capability building, and knowledge exchange; and that’s what makes it truly impactful.”
Yirrganydji man Brian Singleton, who led the project on behalf of the Yirrganydji Land and Sea Ranger Program, agreed.
“This project was special because it brought together our knowledge with scientific research, right here in a place that is deeply meaningful to us,” he said.
“For generations, Yirrganydji people, guided by our Elders and ancestors, have cared for Country and kept a strong connection to our mangrove systems. Seeing our young people demonstrate such dedication and knowledge made me proud. We’re still learning about blue carbon, but now we have a better understanding of how our stewardship helps protect these places for future generations, and we are learning how to work together with a wide range of partners. We look forward to continuing this journey together.”
Cairns Airport Chief Executive Officer Richard Barker said the airport’s unique location made it vital for the business to do its part in protecting and understanding the environment, in addition to daily operations.
“The landscapes of Tropical North Queensland are world-renowned and our natural attractions, like the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, are key drawcards for visitors. Mangroves play an important role in the health of the overall system and protect the airport physically from storm surge and erosion,” he said.
“Critically, almost two years ago, we experienced firsthand the effects of severe natural disasters through the floods, and we understand how important it is to reduce our risks by strengthening our natural defenses. The team at Cairns Airport is proud to support the important work being done on blue carbon research, as part of a range of strategies we’ve implemented to help fortify the environment and futureproof our operations.”
Cairns Airport Environment Manager Lucy Friend said the study was the first of its kind at this scale in the area.
“This project was truly co-designed,” she said.
“Working side-by-side in the mangroves gave us an opportunity to combine unique perspectives from the corporate sector, research, and Traditional Knowledge. That genuine collaboration strengthened the project and carried through to co-authoring and publishing the paper together, a first for many of us, and it produced stronger data and a study more relevant to everyone.”
Mangrove forests in Far North Queensland are highly diverse, with more than 14 species co-existing in the tidal zone.
Blue Carbon Lab founder and now head of RMIT’s Centre for Nature Positive Solutions, Professor Peter Macreadie, said the study would provide significant new data for projects across tropical Australia and encourage ongoing local research.
“Mangroves have been identified as a key natural climate solution and their conservation and restoration play an important role in emissions reduction,” he said.
“This project was unique, because it was carried out collaboratively with members of Cairns Airport and the Yirrganydji Land and Sea Ranger Program. Working close together, we gained greater insight into the area’s cultural significance and could provide the rangers with methods and equipment to enable ongoing studies around Cairns Airport.”
‘Indigenous stewardship and co-management in action: a case study on blue carbon from a mangrove ecosystem on the Great Barrier Reef’ was published in Ocean & Coastal Management (DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.107971)
Gavin Singleton (left) from Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation inspects a mangrove swamp mud sample with RMIT’s Dr Micheli Costa (right).
Taking sediment core samples to measure carbon sequestration.
Credit
RMIT
Journal
Ocean & Coastal Management
Method of Research
Case study
Article Title
Indigenous stewardship and co-management in action: a case study on blue carbon from a mangrove ecosystem on the Great Barrier Reef
First Nations Australians twice as likely to be digitally excluded: report
First Nations Australians are twice as likely as other Australians to be digitally excluded and face barriers to accessing, affording and using the internet. For those living in remote Australia, the barriers are much greater.
RMIT University
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Aerial photograph of the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire.
view moreCredit: Daniel Featherstone, RMIT University
First Nations Australians are twice as likely as other Australians to be digitally excluded and face barriers to accessing, affording and using the internet. For those living in remote Australia, the barriers are much greater.
Three in four First Nations people living in remote and very remote communities are digitally excluded according to the Mapping the Digital Gap report by RMIT University and Swinburne University of Technology. This means many face significant barriers to accessing and using online services needed for daily social, economic and cultural life.
This 2025 outcomes report draws on three years of fieldwork to compare digital inclusion levels for First Nations people to nationwide Australian Digital Inclusion Index (ADII) scores by remoteness, location, age and other factors.
Drawing on expanded data, the report found a 10.5 point digital gap for First Nations Australians nationally, with this gap more than doubling in the remote communities surveyed for the report.
But it wasn’t all bad news; the Mapping the Digital Gap research found an 8.7 point improvement in digital ability for First Nations people in very remote communities, rising from 45.8 in 2023 to 54.5 in 2025.
This boost suggests First Nations Australians now have greater access to digital connectivity and support to develop online skills needed for work, education, health, banking and other vital services.
Co-investigator Associate Professor Daniel Featherstone from RMIT said people living in remote communities were rapid adopters of digital technology and innovative in finding ways to connect.
“We found digital participation is on the rise, with more people than ever before trying to get online.” Featherstone said.
“Connectivity is an essential service nowadays, especially in remote communities.
“But there are a range of barriers to having affordable and reliable internet access in these communities – largely due to limited or strained infrastructure, low household connectivity and high reliance on pre-paid mobile services.”
While access is improving in many remote communities with expanded mobile and Wi-Fi connectivity, it remains the largest contributor to the digital gap, 42.4 points below the national score for non-First Nations Australians.
The gap in access is nearly four times greater than the gap for affordability (11), and more than twice the gap for digital ability (19.3).
Elders, low-income households, and people with limited English or people living with a disability in remote areas continue to face significant barriers to getting online.
The RMIT and Swinburne research team partnered with local First Nations organisations in 12 remote First Nations communities from 2022 to 2024, working with community co-researchers to promote community engagement in the project.
First Nations co-investigator Professor Lyndon Ormond-Parker from RMIT said the community partners and co-researchers were critical to the project’s success.
“All data collected is given back to the community through annual outcomes reports, with digital inclusion plans to support community-led and place-based solutions,” he said.
The team is tracking progress towards Closing the Gap Target 17 under the National Partnership Agreement, which aims for equal digital inclusion for First Nations Australians by 2026.
Daily internet use rising but gaps remain
In 2022, 44% of people in remote First Nations communities visited by the research team used the internet daily, with 20% not online at all.
By 2024, daily usage climbed to 62%, while non-users fell to 14%.
Meanwhile, 95% of non-First Nations Australians are daily users and just 2% are non-users.
Telstra, the study’s industry partner, provides mobile, fixed line phone and broadband services in remote communities, providing essential connectivity.
Lauren Ganley, Head of Telstra’s First Nations Strategy & Engagement, said reliable connectivity was critical to improving digital inclusion in remote communities.
“Quality connectivity can be life-changing for remote First Nations communities, unlocking access to opportunities and growth,” Ganley said.
“Telstra is proud to partner in this important work and help bridge the digital gap, so communities can connect, learn and thrive.”
New dashboard puts data in communities’ hands
Under an expanded national project with support from the Australian Government, the ADII team last month launched the First Nations Digital Inclusion Dashboard – Australia’s first interactive, national data set tracking First Nations digital inclusion.
The dashboard empowers local organisations and communities to access up-to-date data to inform local decision making.
This will give First Nations communities better tools to track progress and advocate for further improvements, ahead of the next Mapping the Digital Gap report in December 2026.
Mapping the Digital Gap: 2025 Outcomes Report is published by RMIT University, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, Telstra, and Swinburne University of Technology.
ADII Score by Remoteness Ma
Daily internet use of remote First Nations communities visited by the research team, compared to Non-First Nations.
Credit
RMIT University
Method of Research
Survey
Subject of Research
People
COI Statement
Mapping the Digital Gap and The Australian Digital Inclusion Index receive funding from both Telstra – a long-standing project partner – and the Australian Research Council through the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S).
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