A doctor’s appointment shouldn’t depend on your postcode

Booking a doctor’s appointment. Helping a child with homework. Starting an online business. Checking on family during a cyclone. In two remote Queensland communities, each of these will soon become easier.

Vocus is committed to supporting digital inclusion outcomes for First Nations people and we’re proud to be working in the remote communities of Lockhart River and Napranum, thanks to support from the Australian Government’s $20 million First Nations Community Wi-Fi Program.

We’re installing free community Wi-Fi networks connected via Vocus Satellite – Starlink, and delivered on the ground in partnership with AirBridge Networks, a specialist in remote network deployments.

The real cost of being offline

A reliable internet connection is now part of everyday life. Yet three in four First Nations people in remote and very remote communities are digitally excluded, according to the 2025 Mapping the Digital Gap report.

Connectivity is how people stay close to family, Country and community. It helps communities share stories, keep language strong and take part in cultural life, even when distance makes that challenging.

It also means access to jobs, education, healthcare, and essential services that are increasingly delivered online.

A national program, delivered locally

Delivering on the Government’s First Nations Community Wi-Fi Program in remote Queensland isn’t easy, but Vocus has spent more than 25 years building digital infrastructure in some of Australia’s hardest places to reach. We use a combination of wireless and satellite technology, including ruggedised enclosures, batteries and solar power, designed to keep working in tough conditions.

Lockhart River, for example, sits on Cape York Peninsula, where cyclone season tests networks each year. Both the Lockhart River and Napranum solutions are designed with backup power, helping the connections to hold when communities need them most.

Built with communities, for the long term

The communities themselves will help shape how each solution works. Both Vocus and AirBridge are focused on culturally informed consultation, so the projects reflect local priorities.

That collaborative approach continues once the Wi-Fi is live. The program also supports digital skills and knowledge sharing – including online safety and digital literacy training – helping ensure communities are not only connected, but confident using these tools so the benefits extend well beyond the initial installation.

Closing the digital divide takes governments, industry and communities working together. For Lockhart River and Napranum, that work is about to get underway.