1,611
Higher than 65% of indigenous area areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Southern Downs · Indigenous Area
First Nations in Southern Downs
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities — how many people identify as First Nations, and how they fare on age, schooling, work, income and language. From the ABS 2021 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Profile; the ABS notes these counts are an undercount.
A gap in education and language use marks the First Nations experience in Southern Downs compared to state and national figures. While there are 1,611 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here, the community is noticeably younger than the national average. This young age profile is a standout feature of the local First Nations population.
1,611
- 1–1: 8 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–4: 1 area
- 4–6: 1 area
- 6–9: 0 areas
- 9–12: 3 areas
- 12–18: 0 areas
- 18–25: 1 area
- 25–36: 0 areas
- 36–52: 1 area
- 52–74: 0 areas
- 74–106: 0 areas
- 106–151: 5 areas
- 151–217: 5 areas
- 217–310: 9 areas
- 310–444: 33 areas
- 444–636: 49 areas
- 636–910: 60 areas
- 910–1,302: 78 areas
- 1,302–1,864: 44 areas
- 1,864–2,668: 53 areas
- 2,668–3,819: 28 areas
- 3,819–5,466: 23 areas
- 5,466–7,823: 15 areas
- 7,823–11,198: 6 areas
- 11,198–16,027: 6 areas
- 16,027–22,940: 1 area
All indigenous area areas, 2021. The marker is Southern Downs — higher than 65% of areas.
| Southern Downs | 1,611 |
|---|---|
| Queensland | 237,303 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident is just 21, which is noticeably younger than the Australian figure of 24 and a little younger than the Queensland average of 23.
21 yrs
Younger than 93% of indigenous area areas.
Median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — half are older, half younger.
Education
School completion among First Nations people.
Year 12 completion sits at 33.7% for First Nations residents, which is well below both the Queensland rate of 43.6% and the Australian figure of 37.0%.
33.7%
Higher than 54% of indigenous area areas.
Share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people whose highest year of school is Year 12 or equivalent.
Work
Engagement with the labour force.
The unemployment rate for First Nations people is 12.8%, which is about the same as the figures for Queensland and Australia.
12.8%
Higher than 51% of indigenous area areas.
Unemployed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a share of the First Nations labour force (aged 15+).
Income
Personal and household incomes.
Household income is $1,251, a little below the national figure of $1,507, though personal income of $523 is about the same as the state and national averages.
$523
Lower than 53% of indigenous area areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,251
Lower than 64% of indigenous area areas.
Median total weekly income for households with one or more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members.
Language & culture
Use of an Australian Indigenous language at home.
Only 3.1% of First Nations people here speak a First Nations language, which is well below the national figure of 12.3% and the Queensland rate of 11.6%.
3.1%
Lower than 81% of indigenous area areas.
Share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who use an Australian Indigenous language at home.
Sources
- Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
More for Southern Downs
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Southern Downs [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/iare/IARE306014/southern-downs/topic/first-nations