The Desert Knowledge CRC has undertaken a range of demographic work in the past 5 years. This paper will discuss the outputs from that research and describe the pathway forward as we see it for understanding resident and transitory desert populations, their mobility and aspirations around mobility. In particular the presentation will focus on the research methodology developed for the population study of the Alice Springs town camps which has demonstrated what can be achieved when Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal researchers collaborate on equal terms, linking local knowledge with science. The study found that research that is initiated and driven by those most effected produces more relevant data than research that is not. The study found in particular that during 2004/05 up to 2,065 people lived in town camps at any one time, more than double the 973 occupants reported in the 2002 census and that during peak times the service population could be much higher. This approach will form the basis of a future research project that will assess the volume, pattern and duration of movement of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in desert Australia; determine key drivers for mobility both historical and current; and gather information about peoples' aspirations with respect to mobility in and around desert Australia. The resulting predictive spatial demographic model will be of value for assessing the service requirements of visiting populations to desert population centres; identifying service delivery breakdowns and the flow-on effect on mobility; and assist in labour market planning.