Eacham vs Yarrabah

Eacham and Yarrabah are two Queensland areas with very different profiles for First Nations residents. In Yarrabah, nearly 80% of people speak a First Nations language, and the First Nations population is far larger with 2,402 people. Educational and employment outcomes vary widely between the two; Eacham has a far higher Year 12 completion rate at 42.2%, while the First Nations unemployment rate in Yarrabah is far higher at 38.4%. This is consistent with First Nations personal income being well higher in Eacham, where the typical person earns $518 compared to $331 in Yarrabah.

Both areas are almost identical when it comes to typical First Nations household income, which sits at $1,286 in Eacham and $1,246 in Yarrabah. Life in both places is largely car-dependent, and neither has any homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. While both are car-dependent, Eacham has more homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries and health services, whereas Yarrabah has a far higher share of homes within walking distance of a school.