South-Western WA vs ACT

South-Western WA and ACT are very different environments, separated by nearly 3,000 kilometres. The ACT is very walkable, with a score of 6.9, while South-Western WA is mostly car-dependent with a score of 3.5. This difference is clear in daily access; 80% of ACT homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, compared to only 39.3% in South-Western WA. There are also stark gaps for First Nations people; those in the ACT have a far higher typical personal income of $1,004 compared to $497 in South-Western WA, and a far higher Year 12 completion rate of 58.8% against 30.2%.

While their walkability and income levels differ, both areas have a similar share of people who speak a First Nations language, sitting at 6.5% in South-Western WA and 7.5% in the ACT. The gap in First Nations unemployment remains wide, with the rate well higher in South-Western WA at 15.7% compared to 7.2% in the ACT. South-Western WA also has a far larger First Nations population, with 14,355 people compared to 8,908 in the ACT.