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ECU Tax Clinic Helps Return Nearly Half a Million Dollars to Remote Kimberley Communities

Monday, 10 August 2026

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  • Group of people standing in front on the Broome Circle building

    The ECU Tax Clinic helped 222 clients and lodged 341 tax returns.

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The Edith Cowan University (ECU) Tax Clinic has delivered nearly half a million dollars back into the hands of remote Aboriginal communities following a week-long outreach trip across the Kimberley region.

Between 26 July and 1 August, a team of ECU academics and students visited Broome and Fitzroy Crossing to offer free, professional tax assistance. Supported remotely by co-staff in Perth, the group helped 222 clients and lodged 341 tax returns.

In total, the effort generated $477,928.63 in tax refunds and unclaimed government entitlements for local residents.

Professor Joshua Aston, who led the trip alongside Dr Clare Tai, said the initiative bridges a crucial gap for geographically isolated Australians.

"The ECU Tax Clinic is about much more than preparing tax returns," Professor Aston said. "It is about improving access to justice and ensuring that people living in remote and regional Australia receive the financial entitlements they deserve."

To reach outlying communities, including Bidyadanga, Beagle Bay, Yakanarra, and Wangkatjungka, the clinic partnered with local organisations Broome Circle and the Marra Worra Worra Aboriginal Corporation. These collaborations ensured residents received trusted, culturally appropriate support close to home.

The initiative also drew federal attention. Duy Dam, Deputy Inspector-General of Taxation, joined the team on-site to observe how the ECU Tax Clinic improves service access for vulnerable populations.

For the four participating ECU students, the trip provided hands-on professional training and a deeper understanding of the unique challenges facing remote communities.

Funded by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), the ECU Tax Clinic plans to continue expanding its outreach programs across Western Australia to boost financial inclusion and support disadvantaged taxpayers.

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