South Hedland vs South-Western WA

South Hedland and South-Western WA are two vastly different regions of Western Australia, separated by over 1,200 kilometres. South Hedland has a much higher proportion of people who speak a First Nations language, at 29.3%, compared to 6.5% in South-Western WA. This is reflected in the typical First Nations household income, which is well higher in South Hedland at $2,034, while the usual income in South-Western WA is $1,359. South Hedland also provides better local access to essential services, with 67.9% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a school compared to 45.8% in South-Western WA.

Both areas sit near the national figure for typical First Nations personal income, which is around $500. They are also alike in that they are both mostly car-dependent, making them difficult to get around without a vehicle. While South-Western WA has a far larger number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the gap in First Nations unemployment rates between the two areas is small, with South-Western WA being only a little higher at 15.7%.