Kimberley Region Research Articles

<p><strong>A new species of <em>Drosera </em>section <em>Arachnopus </em>(Droseraceae) from the western Kimberley, Australia, and amendments to the range and circumscription of <em>Drosera finlaysoniana</em></strong></p>

A new annual species of Drosera section Arachnopus, Drosera margaritacea, from the western Kimberley region (Western Australia) is described and illustrated, including detailed comparisons with the morphologically most similar species, D. finlaysoniana. The latter name is lectotypified here. The global range of D. finlaysoniana is provided, including a doubtful first record for Thailand, while the species, in contrast with statements made in some published references, does not occur in India, Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines. Additionally, the first record from Indonesia of the frequently misidentified D. aquatica is reported.

A review of the Glossogobius giuris complex in Australia, with wider discussion on nomenclature and possible synonymies.

Two species that had previously been referred to as Glossogobius giuris from Australia are redescribed and tentatively treated as Glossogobius giuris and Glossogobius laticeps. The two species are largely allopatric in Australia with G. laticeps found on the east coast of Queensland and some rivers of the Northern Territory, while G. giuris is distributed from the Northern Territory to rivers of the west coast of Western Australia. The two species are known to be genetically distinct and with some differences in colour patterns. Morphological features separating the species are minor and there is considerable overlap in many of the characters separating them. High variation in the Hammersley Ranges and Kimberley region of Western Australia further complicates separation of the species. The status of the Glossogobius giuris group from India is discussed as a key area to resolving an overall "giuris" species complex. Information is provided on the current identity of a number of species that had previously been considered synonyms of Glossogobius giuris. Extant types and difficulties assigning the types of known species are also discussed. A key is provided to aid identification of Australian species of Glossogobius.

Unacceptably high: an audit of Kimberley self-harm data 2014-2018.

Objective:To explore the rates and characteristics of self-harm across the Kimberley region of Western Australia.Method:Retrospective, cross-sectional audit. We obtained and descriptively analysed routinely collected self-harm data from the Kimberley District of the Western Australia Police Force (2014–2018) and the Emergency Department Data Collection (June 2017–December 2018). Variables included age, sex, Indigenous status, time of incident, and alcohol and drug use.Results:The rate of emergency department attendance for self-harm was three times higher in the Kimberley than the rest of Western Australia. Both emergency department and police data showed a disproportionately high percentage of incidents involving Aboriginal people, with highest rates in the 15–19 and 20–24 year age groups. Almost 80% of self-harm events recorded by police involving individuals aged 25–50 years involved alcohol. Many self-harm incidents occurred in the evening and at night.Conclusions:The rates of self-harm across the Kimberley region from 2014–2018 are unacceptably high. Increased funding and alignment of services to meet regional need are required as part of a holistic effort to reduce regional rates of self-harm.

Metasomatism of the Kaapvaal Craton during Cretaceous intraplate magmatism revealed by combined zircon U-Pb isotope and trace element analysis

The origins of the mica-amphibole(K-richterite)-rutile-ilmenite-diopside (MARID) and the, presumably related, phlogopite-K-richterite-peridotite (PKP) mantle xenolith suites remain enigmatic. For instance, it is unclear if MARID rocks represent pervasively metasomatised peridotite or veins of magmatic material. In the Kaapvaal Craton, previous studies employing zircon U-Pb dating in MARID and PKP xenoliths demonstrated that ages of zircon are broadly coincident with nearby expressions of Cretaceous kimberlite and orangeite magmatism, implying a genetic link. However, the use of typically small sample sizes (i.e. few analysed grains) in previous studies may mask complexities in the growth history of zircon in mantle lithologies, as key populations may remain undetected. In this paper, we analyse the isotopic (U-Pb) and trace element composition of zircon (n > 40) from three MARID/PKP rocks from the Kimberley region of the Kaapvaal Craton, in order to reveal not just the timing, but the tempo of metasomatism. This protocol takes its inspiration from studies of detrital zircon in clastic sedimentary rocks, in which large numbers of grains are typically dated, so that no important parts of the zircon U-Pb record are missed.Our data show that zircon growth is broadly coincident with nearby expressions of Cretaceous kimberlite magmatism and orangeite magmatism. While the range of zircon U-Pb ages we detect mirrors the range detected by previous workers, the addition of larger sample sizes means we can detect that zircon growth was episodic. By integrating trace element data with zircon ages, we demonstrate that older zircon, generally has greater geochemical affinity to lamproitic zircon. By contrast, most zircons with ages coincident with peak kimberlite magmatism have trace-element compositions similar to megacrystic zircon - a suite of zircon crystals thought to be connected to early high-pressure proto kimberlitic liquids/fluids.These data strongly indicate that MARID and PKP rocks form during localized and recurrent melting of enriched lithosphere. The metasomatizing effects of the passage of varying magmas at shallow depth in the lithosphere may also contribute to their complex age and geochemical signatures. The presence of zircon with U-Pb ages that span the entire range of Cretaceous intra-cratonic magmatism nearby to Kimberley, and trace element compositions that derive from both major phases of intracratonic magmatism in a single MARID xenolith, necessitates a more complex origin for the MARID suite than that of a simple magmatic cumulate. This observation argues for a complex origin for zircon in MARID and presumably PKP rocks.

Determining the origin and changing shape of landscape‐scale rock formations with three‐dimensional modelling: The Borologa rock shelters, Kimberley region, Australia

AbstractArchaeologists often wonder how and when rock shelters formed, yet their origins and antiquity are almost never systematically investigated. Here we present a new method to determine how and when individual boulders and rock shelters came to lie in their present landscape settings. We do so through 3D laser (LiDAR) mapping, illustrating the method by example of the Borologa Aboriginal site complex in the Kimberley region of northwestern Australia. Through a combination of geomorphological study and high‐resolution 3D modelling, individual blocks of rock are refitted and repositioned t680their originating cliff‐line. Preliminary cosmogenic nuclide ages on exposed vertical cliff faces and associated detached boulders above the Borologa archaeological sites signal very slow detachment rates for the mass movements of large blocks down the Drysdale Valley slopes, suggesting relative landscape stability over hundreds of thousands of years (predating the arrival of people). These findings offer hitherto unknown details of the pace of regional landscape evolution and move us toward a better understanding of patterns of human occupation in a context of relatively stable rock outcrops both within the sites and across the region.

Measurement of total soluble solids and moisture in puree and dry powder of Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana) samples using hand-held near infrared spectroscopy

Recent research has shown the potential of portable and handheld NIR instruments to monitor and measure the composition of fruits and vegetables. Current research has also shown the possibility of using portable instruments as tools to monitor composition along the entire food value chain. The objective of this study was to evaluate two sample presentation methods (dry powder and fruit puree) to measure total soluble solids (TSS) and moisture (M) in wild harvested Kakadu plum (KP) ( Terminalia ferdinandiana, Combretaceae). Kakadu plum is an endemic plant of Australia that contains high concentrations of vitamin C, ellagic acid as well as other bioactive compounds. These properties make this plant of high economic and social importance for the Aboriginal communities of Australia. Fruit samples were wild harvested in January 2020 from locations in the Kimberley region (Western Australia, Australia) and analysed using both reference and NIR spectroscopic methods. The SECV and RPD values in cross validation were 0.65% (RPD: 2.2) and 0.22% (RPD: 4.2) to predict M and TSS in the KP dry powder samples. The SECV and RPD values obtained in cross validation for the KP fruit puree samples were 0.56% (RPD: 2.8) and 0.24% (RPD: 3.8) for M and TSS, respectively. The results of this study demonstrated the ability of NIR spectroscopy to measure M and TSS in wild harvest fruit. These findings can be also utilised by the Aboriginal communities to develop a grading/sorting system to rapidly screen and evaluate relevant chemical parameters associated with fruit quality and safety.

Coral host physiology and symbiont dynamics associated with differential recovery from mass bleaching in an extreme, macro-tidal reef environment in northwest Australia

As marine heatwaves increasingly threaten coral reefs worldwide, some extreme reef environments naturally expose corals to high-temperature fluctuations and can therefore provide important insights into the mechanisms underlying coral heat tolerance. Coral reefs in the Kimberley region in northwest Australia experience the world’s largest tropical tides and are therefore exposed to highly fluctuating temperatures in the intertidal. In contrast, the subtidal remains mostly submerged, resulting in moderate daily temperature fluctuations. A marine heatwave in 2016 triggered wide-spread bleaching in the Kimberley. Intertidal corals bleached less and recovered faster than adjacent subtidal corals; however, the mechanisms underlying this differential bleaching and recovery response remain poorly understood. Here we assessed both host- and symbiont-based indicators of bleaching resilience in the coral Acropora aspera. We tagged visibly healthy and bleached colonies from both environments in April 2016 and measured symbiont community composition, cell density, chlorophyll a, total biomass and host tissue energy reserves (lipids, protein and carbohydrates) during bleaching in April and in November 2016. Bleaching severity was higher in the subtidal than in intertidal, and while Cladocopium dominated all corals, symbiont community compositions differed significantly between environments and between bleached and healthy subtidal corals. Interestingly, bleaching resilience seemed decoupled from energy reserves, even though high levels of energy reserves and/or sufficient consumption during bleaching are widely thought to increase resistance to and recovery from bleaching. Although all bleached/recovered corals showed a general pattern of catabolizing protein reserves, distinct environment-specific trends were observed: subtidal corals that suffered extensive mortality also catabolized energy-poor carbohydrate reserves. In contrast, intertidal corals recovered rapidly after bleaching and maintained energy reserves. Total biomass remained unchanged between bleached and healthy corals in both environments. Overall, the findings of this study demonstrate that the consumption of energy reserves during bleaching is not always a reliable indicator of bleaching resilience.

Aboriginal student engagement and success in Kimberley tertiary education

Abstract Over recent years, considerable effort has been put into increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) participation in higher education. While there are signs that enrolments are increasing, the sustained engagement and successful completion of higher education remains challenging, particularly in remote locations. With this in mind, a collaborative research project among researchers from three northern Australian tertiary education institutions was designed to understand student perspectives, particularly from remote contexts, about their engagement and success towards completion in higher education. Based on a qualitative research design situating Indigenist/interpretive research within a critical realism metatheory, we present findings from the study, based in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, and unpack implications for higher education provision in remote contexts. The findings point to the unique challenges faced by students who live in the Kimberley—and perhaps in other remote locations around Australia. In order to meet these needs, we suggest that tertiary education providers must tailor provision to ensure that engagement with Aboriginal students is relational and culturally safe.

Taxonomic revision of Corynotheca (Hemerocallidaceae / Asphodelaceae)

The genus Corynotheca F.Muell. ex Benth. is revised and Corynotheca borealis R.L.Barrett, Keighery & T.Macfarlane is described as a new species from the east Kimberley region of Western Australia and the adjacent Northern Territory. Corynotheca dichotoma (F.Muell.) F.Muell. ex Benth. is reinstated for a species growing on yellow sands in the Mid west of Western Australia. The taxonomic and geographic limits of varieties of C. micrantha (Lindl.) Druce are reconsidered and all are recognised at specific rank. Four new combinations are made: Corynotheca divaricata (R.J.F.Hend.) R.L.Barrett & T.Macfarlane, Corynotheca elongata (R.J.F.Hend.) R.L.Barrett & T.Macfarlane, Corynotheca gracilis (R.J.F.Hend.) R.L.Barrett & T.Macfarlane and Corynotheca panda (R.J.F.Hend.) R.L.Barrett & T.Macfarlane. All are illustrated and a revised key to the thirteen species of Corynotheca recognised is provided.

Transition to Renewable Energy and Indigenous People in Northern Australia: Enhancing or Inhibiting Capabilities?

ABSTRACT This paper uses the capability approach to analyse renewable energy developments on Aboriginal land in Australia’s Pilbara and Kimberley regions. These regions in the north-west of Australia have very high rates of Indigenous land tenure, and are attractive for both solar and wind power generation, particularly as developing technology makes it economically feasible to transport power over large distances. They are also remote from Australia’s electricity networks and often rely on expensive fossil fuels for electricity generation. Resident Aboriginal communities are among the most income-poor in Australia yet live in regions rich in renewable energy. Their ability to benefit from the opportunities offered by a transition to renewable sources of energy varies according to a number of factors. This paper examines the conditions under which Indigenous capabilities may be enhanced or inhibited, through examining three scales of energy generation: large-scale developments for export; remote utility-owned networks; and small-scale standalone off-grid applications. This paper will ask what capabilities can Indigenous people achieve from a just approach to a renewable energy transition in northern Australia, and what capabilities are required in order to gain maximum benefit from this current rapid energy transition?

Characterisation of a G2P[4] Rotavirus Outbreak in Western Australia, Predominantly Impacting Aboriginal Children

In May, 2017, an outbreak of rotavirus gastroenteritis was reported that predominantly impacted Aboriginal children ≤4 years of age in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. G2P[4] was identified as the dominant genotype circulating during this period and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the majority of samples exhibited a conserved electropherotype. Full genome sequencing was performed on representative samples that exhibited the archetypal DS-1-like genome constellation: G2-P[4]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E2-H2 and phylogenetic analysis revealed all genes of the outbreak samples were closely related to contemporary Japanese G2P[4] samples. The outbreak samples consistently fell within conserved sub-clades comprised of Hungarian and Australian G2P[4] samples from 2010. The 2017 outbreak variant was not closely related to G2P[4] variants associated with prior outbreaks in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. When compared to the G2 component of the RotaTeq vaccine, the outbreak variant exhibited mutations in known antigenic regions; however, these mutations are frequently observed in contemporary G2P[4] strains. Despite the level of vaccine coverage achieved in Australia, outbreaks continue to occur in vaccinated populations, which pose challenges to regional areas and remote communities. Continued surveillance and characterisation of emerging variants are imperative to ensure the ongoing success of the rotavirus vaccination program in Australia.

The applicability of eDNA metabarcoding approaches for sessile benthic surveying in the Kimberley region, north‐western Australia

AbstractThe application of environmental DNA technologies is a promising new approach to rapidly audit biodiversity across large‐scale, remote regions. Here, we examine the efficacy of a dual‐assay eDNA metabarcoding approach for sessile benthic bioassessments in the turbid waters of the Lalang‐garram marine parks, Kimberley, north‐western Australia. We ask three principal questions: (1) “Is the eDNA released by sessile benthic taxa (i.e., hard and soft corals, sponges and tunicates) locally detectable?”, (2) “What level of taxonomic resolution is afforded by eDNA metabarcoding using the ITS2 region?”, and (3) “How well does eDNA metabarcoding compare to conventional benthic survey techniques?”. We report that a dual‐assay eDNA metabarcoding approach can detect approximately 70% of the local benthic taxa (i.e., at a species, genus level). It is, however, not as effective at the individual/population level, detecting only approximately 40% of unique amplicon sequence variant (ASV) signals released by an array of individual benthic organisms at the surveyed locations. In examining the efficacy and resolution of the applied ITS2 metabarcoding markers for bioassessments, we report large gaps in the variety of publicly available benthic ITS2 reference sequence data, limiting our ability to provide robust taxonomic assignments. These findings highlight the need to extend ITS2 databases for greater regional representation. Until this is adequately addressed, we recommend that investigating taxonomic assignments to a genus level is the most robust approach for benthic monitoring using eDNA. Lastly, we found eDNA metabarcoding and conventional belt transect surveys each detected numerous unique hard coral genera, indicating that a combined approach provides the most effective way to audit benthic biodiversity. This point notwithstanding, eDNA metabarcoding had the power to distinguish similar diversity trends between sites to that determined by the belt transect methodology, validating the application of eDNA metabarcoding as either a stand‐alone, or complementary technique for assessing sessile benthic taxa.

Australian Pleistocene rock art.

Obtaining accurate dates for rock art is important to both archaeologists and Aboriginal Traditional Owners, but a lack of organic material associated with rock art can make this challenging. Using radiocarbon dating of mud wasp nests, Finch et al. show that naturalistic depictions of animals in the Kimberley region of northern Australia date to between 13,000 and 17,000 years ago.

Ages for Australia's oldest rock paintings.

Naturalistic depictions of animals are a common subject for the world's oldest dated rock art, including wild bovids in Indonesia and lions in France's Chauvet Cave. The oldest known Australian Aboriginal figurative rock paintings also commonly depict naturalistic animals but, until now, quantitative dating was lacking. Here, we present 27 radiocarbon dates on mud wasp nests that constrain the ages of 16 motifs from this earliest known phase of rock painting in the Australian Kimberley region. These initial results suggest that paintings in this style proliferated between 17,000 and 13,000 years ago. Notably, one painting of a kangaroo is securely dated to between 17,500 and 17,100 years on the basis of the ages of three overlying and three underlying wasp nests. This is the oldest radiometrically dated in situ rock painting so far reported in Australia.

Revision of the Litoria watjulumensis (Anura: Pelodryadidae) group from the Australian monsoonal tropics, including the resurrection of L. spaldingi.

We show that the Wotjulum frog, Litoria watjulumensis (Copland, 1957), comprises two deeply divergent mitochondrial DNA lineages that are also reciprocally monophyletic for a nuclear gene locus and have discrete distributions. The taxa are differentiated in multivariate analysis of shape but show no appreciable differences in colour and pattern. The two taxa differ substantially in the degree of female biased sexual size dimorphism, with the western taxon showing considerably more pronounced dimorphism. We subsequently resurrect Litoria (Hyla) spaldingi (Hosmer, 1964) for populations from east of the Daly River system in the Northern Territory through to western Queensland and restrict L. watjulumensis to populations from the Kimberley region of north-western Australia and the Victoria River system of the western Northern Territory. The complex advertisement call of L. spaldingi is described for the first time.

The Use of a Micro Near Infrared Portable Instrument to Predict Bioactive Compounds in a Wild Harvested Fruit-Kakadu Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana).

Kakadu plum (KP; Terminalia ferdinandiana Exell, Combretaceae) is an emergent indigenous fruit originating from Northern Australia, with valuable health and nutritional characteristics and properties (e.g., high levels of vitamin C and ellagic acid). In recent years, the utilization of handheld NIR instruments has allowed for the in situ quantification of a wide range of bioactive compounds in fruit and vegetables. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of a handheld NIR spectrophotometer to measure vitamin C and ellagic acid in wild harvested KP fruit samples. Whole and pureed fruit samples were collected from two locations in the Kimberley region (Western Australia, Australia) and were analysed using both reference and NIR methods. The standard error in cross validation (SECV) and the residual predictive deviation (RPD) values were 1.81% dry matter (DM) with an RPD of 2.1, and 3.8 mg g−1 DM with an RPD of 1.9 for the prediction of vitamin C and ellagic acid, respectively, in whole KP fruit. The SECV and RPD values were 1.73% DM with an RPD of 2.2, and 5.6 mg g−1 DM with an RPD of 1.3 for the prediction of vitamin C and ellagic acid, respectively, in powdered KP samples. The results of this study demonstrated the ability of a handheld NIR instrument to predict vitamin C and ellagic acid in whole and pureed KP fruit samples. Although the RPD values obtained were not considered adequate to quantify these bioactive compounds (e.g., analytical quantification), this technique can be used as a rapid tool to screen vitamin C in KP fruit samples for high and low quality vitamin C.

Tidal range resource of Australia

In some shelf sea regions of the world, the tidal range is sufficient to convert the potential energy of the tides into electricity via tidal range power plants. As an island continent, Australia is one such region – a previous study estimated that Australia hosts up to 30% of the world’s resource. Here, we make use of a gridded tidal dataset (TPXO9) to characterize the tidal range resource of Australia. We examine the theoretical resource, and we also investigate the technical resource through 0D modelling with tidal range power plant operation. We find that the tidal range resource of Australia is 2004 TWh/yr, or about 22% of the global resource. This exceeds Australia’s total energy consumption for 2018/2019 (1721 TWh/yr), suggesting tidal range energy has the potential to make a substantial contribution to Australia’s electricity generation (265 TWh/yr in 2018/2019). Due to local resonance, the resource is concentrated in the sparsely populated Kimberley region of Western Australia. However, the tidal range resource in this region presents a renewable energy export opportunity, connecting to markets in southeast Asia. Combining the electricity from two complementary sites, with some degree of optimization tidal range schemes in this region can produce electricity for 45% of the year.

Large‐scale eDNA metabarcoding survey reveals marine biogeographic break and transitions over tropical north‐western Australia

AbstractAimEnvironmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has demonstrated its applicability as a highly sensitive biomonitoring tool across small spatial and temporal scales in marine ecosystems. However, it has rarely been tested across large spatial scales or biogeographical barriers. Here, we scale up marine eDNA metabarcoding, test its ability to detect a major marine biogeographic break and evaluate its use as a regional biomonitoring tool in Australia.LocationNorth‐western Australia (NWA).MethodsWe applied metabarcoding assays targeting the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and CO1 genes to 284 surface seawater eDNA samples collected from 71 mid‐shelf, inshore, coastal and nearshore estuarine sites over 700 km of the NWA coastline.ResultsMetabarcoding detected a wide range of bony fish (404 taxa), elasmobranchs (44) and aquatic reptiles (5). We detected bioregional and depth differentiation within inshore bony fish communities. These findings support the presence of a marine biogeographic break, which is purported to occur in the vicinity of Cape Leveque, demarcating the border between the Kimberley and Canning bioregions. Inshore bony fish and elasmobranch communities, as well as coastal bony fish assemblages, were additionally found to differ between the South and North Kimberley regions suggesting previously unrecognized subregional differentiation amongst these taxa. The overall compositional data have been used to update distribution information for a number of endangered, elusive and data‐deficient taxa, including sawfish (family: Pristidae), northern river shark (Glyphis garricki) and wedgefish (genus: Rhynchobatus).Main conclusionseDNA metabarcoding demonstrated a high level of sensitivity that was able to discern fine‐scale patterns across the large‐scale, remote and oceanographically complex region of North‐western Australia. Importantly, this study highlights the potential of integrating broad‐scale eDNA metabarcoding alongside other baseline surveys and long‐term monitoring approaches, which are crucial for the sustainable management and conservation of marine biodiversity in this unique marine region.

Regional Assessment of the Conservation Status of Snubfin Dolphins (Orcaella heinsohni) in the Kimberley Region, Western Australia

Implementing conservation measures for data-limited species is a fundamental challenge for wildlife managers and policy-makers, and proves difficult for cryptic marine animals occurring in naturally low numbers across remote seascapes. There is currently scant information on the abundance and habitat preferences of Australian snubfin dolphins (Orcaella heinsohni) throughout much of their geographical range, and especially within the Kimberley region of northern Western Australia. Such knowledge gaps curtail rigorous threat assessments on both local and regional scales. To address this and assist future conservation listings, we built the first comprehensive catalog of snubfin dolphin sightings for the Kimberley. We used these data to estimate the species’ extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) along the region’s 7,000 km coastline, following a simple Bootstrap bivariate kernel approach to combine datasets of varying quality and quantify uncertainty. Our catalog consists of 1,597 visual detections of snubfin dolphins made over a period of 17 years (2004–2020) and collated from multiple sources, including online biodiversity repositories, peer-reviewed scientific articles, citizen science programs, as well as dedicated marine wildlife surveys with local Indigenous communities and Ranger groups. Snubfin dolphins were consistently encountered in shallow waters (<21 m depth) close to (<15 km) freshwater inputs, with high detection rates in known hotspots (e.g., Roebuck Bay, Cygnet Bay) as well as in coastal habitats suspected to be suitable (e.g., Prince Regent River and surrounds, King Sound, Doubtful Bay, Napier Broome Bay and the upper Cambridge Gulf). Bootstrap estimates of EOO and AOO were 38,300 (95% CI: 25,451–42,437) km2 and 700 (656–736) km2 respectively, suggesting that snubfin dolphins in the Kimberley are likely Vulnerable under IUCN criteria B2 at a regional scale, in keeping with their global classification. Our study offers insights into the distribution of a vulnerable coastal cetacean species and demonstrates the value of integrating multiple data sources for informing conservation assessments in the face of uncertainty.

Aboriginal women’s experiences of strengths and challenges of antenatal care in the Kimberley: A qualitative study

BackgroundHigh-quality, culturally safe antenatal care has an important role in improving health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We sought to describe Aboriginal women’s experiences of antenatal care in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, to better understand current systems and opportunities for enhancing antenatal care. MethodsThroughout the Kimberley, 124 Aboriginal women who had accessed antenatal care in 2015–2018 were recruited. They provided qualitative data during a health assessment or standalone interview. Transcripts were descriptively coded and thematically analysed. FindingsMost women expressed that overall they had a positive antenatal care experience. Key themes were the importance of positive relationships with antenatal care providers, the valuable role of family support during the antenatal period, challenges travelling for care and limitations of the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme, communication of pregnancy related information, and the provision of services. Almost all antenatal care providers described were non-Aboriginal. A few women spoke about involvement of Aboriginal Health Workers in their antenatal care, including recommending expansion of these roles. ConclusionsThe experiences shared by these Aboriginal women in the Kimberley contribute to broader evidence of a need to improve culturally safe antenatal care delivery for Aboriginal Australian women. Although excellent care was provided by a number of dedicated midwives, there were few Aboriginal antenatal staff and significant staff turnover. To improve the quality of care more local Aboriginal antenatal care providers, and additional support for the large number of women and their families required to travel, are required.