End of the Line: A short film on connectivity challenges in a remote first Nations Community
Author Kathy Nickels
Date 25 November 2024
The ARC Centre for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S) and the Torres Strait Islander Media Association (TSIMA) are proud to announce the release of End of the Line, a compelling short film that explores the impact of patchy mobile and internet connectivity on the lives of First Nations people in remote Australia.
The film captures the unique challenges faced by communities on Erub (Darnley Island), located at the eastern edge of Zenadth Kes (the Torres Strait Islands), where digital access plays a crucial role in preserving culture, ensuring safety, and enabling communication.
End of the Line follows Erub Meuram woman and NAIDOC Award winner Lala Gutchen, a First Language educator and cultural leader, as she navigates the challenges of maintaining cultural practices—such as fishing and language revitalisation—in a place where mobile access is unreliable.
The film highlights how connectivity issues shape not only cultural traditions but also everyday safety and community life, especially in isolated areas where communication can be a lifeline.
The production of End of the Line is a collaboration between ADM+S and TSIMA as part of the ongoing Mapping the Digital Gap project, an initiative funded by Telstra and the ADM+S. This project seeks to understand and address the digital inclusion needs in remote First Nations communities across Australia. Lala Gutchen has served as a co-researcher since 2022, contributing her invaluable insights into the connectivity challenges faced by her community.
Launched at the ADM+S Symposium on October 16, the film’s premiere featured a panel discussion with Lala Gutchen and fellow Erub community member Nixon Mye, offering a deeper look into the realities captured on screen.
End of the Line was also screened on Wed 20 November at the 2024 Humanitech Summit in Melbourne, as part of a series of short films and case studies covering topics related to humanitarian action, innovation and beyond.
ADM+S and TSIMA extend their gratitude to the many contributors to this film, including Daniel Featherstone, who led the project with invaluable vision; Nixon Mye, for his participation; and Jimmy Thaiday, whose drone shots brought Erub’s breathtaking landscape to life. Special thanks also to editor Leah Hawkins, Jenny Kennedy, Lyndon Ormond-Parker and the Erub field team for their roles in production.
As this film reaches audiences nationwide, ADM+S hopes to raise awareness of the urgent need for reliable connectivity in First Nations communities, where limited access to mobile broadband and internet services continues to affect every aspect of daily life. End of the Line is now publicly available on YouTube for viewing and aims to inspire action and further advocacy for digital inclusion in remote Australia.
The Mapping the Digital Gap project is also hosting an online launch event for its 2024 Outcomes Report on Tuesday 3 December, which presents the most significant changes in digital inequity in remote First Nations communities found between 2022-2024. More details and registrations can be found at the Humanitix event listing Three years on: How the digital gap is changing in remote First Nations communities.
Watch End of the Line on YouTube.
