What are the living conditions like for Indigenous people in Roebourne during heatwaves?

Many Indigenous residents in Roebourne live in public housing without air conditioning, enduring extreme heat and seeking relief in the few available cooled homes.

How does climate change affect Indigenous communities in Australia?

Climate change intensifies natural disasters, threatens sacred sites, and exposes Indigenous people, often in substandard housing, to greater risks.

Why are Indigenous-led disaster response organizations underfunded?

Indigenous organizations often receive insufficient funding, forcing them to use their own resources to respond to natural disasters, straining their capacity.

Home / Environment / Australia's Heatwave: Indigenous Communities Bear Brunt

Australia's Heatwave: Indigenous Communities Bear Brunt

30 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Roebourne residents endure extreme 50C heat without air conditioning.
Substandard housing exacerbates climate crisis impacts on Indigenous people.
Indigenous-led organizations strain resources responding to disasters.

Australia's Heatwave: Indigenous Communities Bear Brunt

Roebourne, a Western Australian town, faces extreme heatwaves with temperatures reaching 50.5C, impacting its Indigenous residents most severely. Many live in public housing without adequate cooling, forcing communal living in the few air-conditioned homes and resulting in unaffordable power bills. Elders and vulnerable individuals are at increased risk due to inadequate housing in these extreme conditions.

Indigenous populations across Australia are disproportionately affected by climate change, experiencing more frequent and intense natural disasters. Their traditional lands and cultural sites are threatened, and existing housing often fails to provide basic thermal comfort. This situation is compounded by a funding gap, where Indigenous-led disaster response initiatives receive a fraction of the necessary support, forcing these organizations to use their own limited resources.