East Arnhem

The East Arnhem region is home to the one of the world’s longest continuing cultures and is entirely Aboriginal freehold land.

Set against a spectacular natural environment, the region has a history of trade and entrepreneurship, and is connected with national and international markets.

The population is approximately 15,000 of which more than 75% are Yolŋu or Anindilyakwa.

There are eleven main communities in the region: Nhulunbuy, Yirrkala and Gunyaŋara (collectively referred to as the Gove Peninsula), Galiwin'ku, Gapuwiyak, Ramingining, Milingimbi; and the Groote communities of Alyangula, Angurugu, Umbakumba and Milyakburra. There are more than 50 homelands and satellite communities across the region also.

Download Northern Territory Government regions map with place names PDF (410.7 KB)

Groote Archipelago

The Groote Archipelago Local Decision Making Agreement was signed on 14 November 2018.
The Agreement identifies services delivered by the Northern Territory (NT) Government to be transferred to community against short, medium and long term priorities.
The Groote Archipelago LDM community updates paper features stories from Anindilyakwa people and community organisations leading the LDM work in the Groote Archipelago: LDM Community updates issued March 2024 PDF (4.3 MB).
The LDM Agreement’s four year progress report was developed in 2022 by NT Government and Anindilyakwa Land Council, in consultation with relevant local stakeholders. It provides an overview of progress made to date across all aspects of the LDM Agreement, and outlines the work which lies ahead.

LDM Agreement PDF (2.6 MB)	LDM Progress Report PDF (8.5 MB)

6 Implementation Plans have been developed to underpin the overarching LDM Agreement. These are the:
- Housing Implementation Plan (signed19 June 2019)
- Economic Development Implementation Plan (signed 19 June 2019)
- Law, Justice and Rehabilitation Implementation Plan (signed 19 June 2019)
- Education Implementation Plan (signed 30 April 2020)
- Health and Wellbeing Implementation Plan (signed 14 November 2022) - Media release
- Local Government Implementation Plan (signed 19 July 2023)

Housing PDF (2.0 MB)	Economic Development PDF (1.3 MB)	Law, Justice and Rehabilitation PDF (1.6 MB)

Education PDF (8.4 MB)	Health and Wellbeing PDF (2.4 MB)	Local Government PDF (2.8 MB)

A letter of variation under the Agreement has been signed by the Anindilyakwa Land Council and the Chief Minister approving an extension to the Sustainable Long Term Power Supply Initiative.
The Groote Archipelago Local Decision Making Newsletter outlines achievements and progress updates against priorities and commitments of the Agreement: LDM Newsletter issued June 2022 PDF (2.5 MB).
Anindilyakwa Land Council Chairman, Tony Wurramarrba AO, delivered a keynote address at Garma Festival 2022 identifying the important work being delivered on Groote Archipelago under Local Decision Making.

Djalkiripuyngu (Blue Mud Bay)

The Djalkiripuyŋu sub-region of East Arnhem (also known as Blue Mud Bay) is made up of homelands and a population of around 500 people and is the traditional land and seas of a number of significant clans, including the Madarrpa clan led by Djambawa Marawili AM. The clans of this region led the homelands movement of the 1970s and had their sea rights recognised in 2008 by the High Court of Australia in the historic Blue Mud Bay case.

Djalkiripuyngu LDM Agreement PDF (2.7 MB) signed on the 30 July 2022.
The Agreement outlines the Djalkiripuyngu priorities and how the NT Government will work with Djalkiripuyngu to achieve them. Priorities include employment, business and economic development, education and training, community safety, health, infrastructure and housing and culture.
Djalkiripuyngu LDM Executive Summary PDF (1.1 MB).
Djalkiripuyngu LDM Statement of Commitment PDF (853.5 KB)
The Djalkiripuyŋu Local Decision Making Telecommunications Implementation Plan (IP) PDF (909.6 KB) was signed on 30 July 2024, and is the first IP to be signed under the Djalkiripuyŋu LDM Agreement.
Under the IP, the NT Government will support broader consultations with Djalkiripuyŋu leaders to understand aspirations and needs for telecommunication services in smaller homelands and to support delivery of identified telecommunications projects for the Bäniyala, Gängan and Wandawuy homelands.

Gove Peninsula Futures

Rio Tinto's bauxite mining on the Gove Peninsula is due to cease towards the end of the decade. When Rio Tinto's lease ends, this land will be returned to the Traditional Owners. There will be changes and challenges over the coming years as the Gove Peninsula transitions from mining, but this place is special and the people are strong and we are using this moment to create new opportunities across the Gove Peninsula.
In 2021, the Traditional Owners of the Gove Peninsula, with the support of the Gove Peninsular Future Reference Group released A New Journey, Traditional Owner Vision for the future of Nhulunbuy and for the Gove Peninsula PDF (2.1 MB).
For further information on the TO Vision and the initiatives being progressed by the Gove Peninsula Futures Reference Group, please visit the Gove Futures website at Gove Futures.

East Arnhem Land Youth Model – Partnership Agreement

On 26 April 2024, the East Arnhem Land Youth Model extended for an additional 5 years. Read Guŋga’yunga Djamarrkuliny - East Arnhem Land Youth Model Partnership Agreement PDF (3.3 MB)
The $7.75 million partnership agreement was signed between the Australian Government’s National Indigenous Australians Agency, the Northern Territory Government and the Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation.
The Agreement ensures all funding partners maintain their commitment to the delivery of the EALYM with a focus on embedding the principles of the Coordinated Investment Framework, Local Decision Making and all 4 Closing the Gap priority reforms.
Established in 2020, the EALYM is a community and homelands led and controlled initiative across the Yolŋu Matha speaking communities of Gapuwiyak, Galiwin’ku, Ramingining and Millingimbi.
Through the EALYM, each community has its own local leadership group made up of Traditional Owners and clan and community leaders.
The model is so much more than a youth program or brokerage fund – it is community building approach that aims to restore decision making to clans and community. It aims to empower community and make the decisions that are best for community.
During 2022-23, the EALYM established over 20 clan and community based activity programs to positively engage young people, support cultural learning and reinforce prosocial behaviours.

Cultural competency training program

With NT Government funding, ARDS Aboriginal Corporation have developed a cultural competency training program for NT Government employees working in the Yolŋu region.
The Program equips participants with the specific cultural competencies required when working in East Arnhem Land.
This training can be found through the following link on the ARDS website

Transitioning health services to community control

On 1 July 2019, the Department of Health transferred control of the Gapuwiyak and Ramingining community health clinics to Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation.
Miwatj looking after the Health of North East Arnhem Land media release