This paper examines the systemic barriers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face in proving their identity and advocates for culturally appropriate, transformative digital solutions, to address these challenges. The paper draws primarily on the experience of the WUNA® team who are developing a secure, quick-access ID platform that empowers users to manage their personal information and share it with the organisations that need it, and the ConnectID® team at Australian Payments Plus who are responsible for building a digital identity network for Australia. We also draw on the insights of other observers and gratefully acknowledge their direct and indirect contributions.

ConnectID is an initiative of Australian Payments Plus (AP+). AP+ brings together eftpos, BPAY and NPP Australia as one organisation, and plays a key role in building trust in the digital economy. Mr Jason-Urranndulla Davis, the Founder of WUNA, is a Traditional Owner of the Waanyi (Native Title Holder),
East Aranda (Stolen Generation) and Kalkadoon (Native Title Holder) Nations with more than 30 years dedicated to working across all levels of Indigenous Affairs in Australia. The company leading WUNA is Hold Access, a fully Aboriginal owned and controlled RegTech company of Australia.

This paper has been developed on the lands of the Larrakia Nation and the Eora Nation, and the authors pay their respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples past and present across this country. This paper further acknowledges the unique cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia and will refer to these communities unless specifically referencing work which uses ‘Indigenous’ terminology. The content provided by WUNA is based on the perspectives, experiences and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from their own regions and communities and has been compiled with cultural safeguards. WUNA asserts and acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the leading and rightful experts of their own knowledge, identity and experiences.

Warning: This document may contain names and images of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples.

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