‘We are ignored’: Yarrabah misses out on student broadband initiative because it has no NBN

The state and federal governments touted a new initiative to provide a year’s free NBN at home for disadvantaged students – but Yarrabah will miss out because it has no NBN connectivity.

The federal and state governments have launched the School Student Broadband Initiative that will enable disadvantaged students with no internet at home to access a free NBN connection for a year – but a Yarrabah community leader is furious the township, 50km from Cairns, will miss out.

Suzanne Andrews, chief executive of Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service Aboriginal Corporation, said internet, telecommunications and mobile phone connectivity in the small community of Yarrabah, on the doorstep of Cairns, could be described as primitive at the best of times.

“Mobile phone coverage is poor to non-existent across the community, along with zero internet coverage whenever the slightest of rain showers occurs,” she said.

“The 4000 residents of Yarrabah are once again ignored and continue to remain digitally disadvantaged.”

CEO of the Gurriny Yealamucka health service Suzanne Andrews said she was “dismayed” Yarrabah had missed out on the latest government NBN initiative. Picture: Brendan Radke

She said both levels of government were ignoring First Nations people in remote and regional areas.

“In early 2022 the Queensland government promised greater internet speeds for students, from Yeppoon to Yarrabah, with fibre optic connection to schools – this has not happened,” Ms Andrews said.

“Now disadvantaged students are offered 12 months free NBN connection, but Yarrabah and many remote and regional communities will not qualify.

“The NAPLAN results announced recently reveal that the best performing students are from higher socio-educational backgrounds, in urban areas, or from non-indigenous backgrounds,” she said.

“The families who could benefit most are excluded.

“How are they assisting disadvantaged families living on the doorstep of a world-leading city like Cairns?

“For years we have been campaigning for improved internet and telecommunications infrastructure and connection with the outside world, and for years we are ignored,” Ms Andrews said.

She said the community had to subscribe to international service provider Starlink because the Australian NBN service would not connect fibre optics into Yarrabah.

State Education Minister Grace Grace said that it was crucial the next generation was not left behind due to a lack of connectivity.

Connecting communities for a stronger future was a key pillar of the 2022 federal budget announced last month and the government pledged to spend more than $5.6bn to improve the regional communications and arts sectors.

A spokeswoman for Ms Grace said it was a federal initiative and Communications Minister Michelle Rowlands would clarify who was eligible.

The Cairns Post contacted Ms Rowlands’ office to clarify what was being done to improve connectivity at Yarrabah.

Originally published as ‘We are ignored’: Yarrabah misses out on student broadband initiative because it has no NBN