Aurukun

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 88.7% of the population, which is far above the national figure. The community is very young, with 23.8% of residents under 15 and only 4.5% aged 65 or over.

The vast majority of residents were born in Australia, and very few—just 1.5%—were born overseas, which is far below the state and national averages.

Cultural heritage is reflected in the fact that 83.2% of people use another language at home, far above the national figure. However, 20.0% of residents speak little or no English, a figure that rose 12 points since 2016.

Christianity is the most common religion at 61.8%, while 31.0% of people report no religion, which is well below the national average.

Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 13.8% of residents completing Year 12 and 2.9% holding a bachelor degree or higher.

Incomes are among the lowest in the country; the typical weekly household income is just $1,069, which is far below the national figure of $1,746.

Reported long-term health conditions are far below the national average at 7.0%, and only 1.7% of residents have a mental health condition.

Many people provide unpaid care for children—42.5%—which is far above the national figure. However, volunteering has fallen 11 points since 2011 to 6.3%.

First Nations identity is central to the area, with 92.3% of people speaking a First Nations language. However, the unemployment rate for First Nations people is 20.6%, which is well above the national average.

Homes are much larger than usual, with an average of 3.9 people per dwelling. One-parent families are also very common, making up 35.2% of households.

Renting is the norm for 92.4% of households, and no homes are owned outright. While 76.7% of homes have three or more bedrooms, typical weekly rent is very low at $125.

The community is heavily car-dependent but many lack vehicles; 64.8% of homes have no motor vehicle. There are no public transport routes or stops in the area.

Movement into the area has increased significantly, with 37.1% of people moving in the last five years, up from 8.3% in 2011.

Only 21.7% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national figure. The unemployment rate is 17.1%, among the highest at this level.

The area ranks among the most disadvantaged in the country, scoring a 1 out of 10 for overall advantage and access to resources.

The climate is hot and wet, with an average annual rainfall of 1,634mm and an average minimum temperature of 22.0°C, both far above the state average.

Recorded offences are among the highest at this level, with assault and related crimes making up 28.7% of the total.

Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services, groceries, and schools, although the overall walkability score is low due to a lack of public transport.