Toowoomba - Roma vs Port Augusta

Toowoomba - Roma in Queensland and Port Augusta in South Australia are both vast regional areas, but they differ sharply in their First Nations profiles. Toowoomba - Roma has a far larger First Nations population, with 22,881 people, and typical household incomes for this group are well higher than those in Port Augusta. Educational outcomes also differ, with Year 12 completion for First Nations students far higher in Toowoomba - Roma at 36.8%, compared to 21.9% in Port Augusta.

These differences in First Nations outcomes are stark, while the gap in access to local services is widening. Port Augusta is generally more walkable, with a higher share of homes within a 15-minute walk of schools, health services, and groceries. This is most evident in public transport, where the share of homes within a 10-minute walk is far higher in Port Augusta at 52.4%, compared to 27.7% in Toowoomba - Roma. Both areas remain mostly car-dependent overall.