Balgo vs Mulan

Balgo and Mulan are two nearby areas in Western Australia with very different scales. Balgo is far larger, with 430 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people compared to 111 in Mulan. First Nations household income is far higher in Balgo at $1,014, while Mulan is among the lowest in the country at $525. A far higher share of people in Balgo speak a First Nations language (94.4%) than in Mulan (73.9%), though Mulan has a well higher rate of First Nations Year 12 completion at 21.3%.

Everyday life is very similar in both places, as every home is within a 15-minute walk of a school, health services, and groceries. Both are mostly car-dependent and have no homes within walking distance of public transport or parks. While Balgo has a far higher unemployment rate for First Nations people at 66.7%, Mulan is even higher at 85.3%, which is far above the national figure.