Council (LGA) · Area profile
Torres Strait Island
490 km²
Surrounded by the sea in far north Queensland, Torres Strait Island is a remote community with a very strong First Nations identity. It is a remarkably young place where the typical resident is just 27, and over 32% of the population are children. Most residents are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and the community maintains a deep connection to traditional languages and kinship, which is reflected in the large average household size.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 90.6% of the population, a figure that has barely changed since 2011. The community is far younger than the national average, with only 7% of residents aged 65 or over.
The vast majority of residents were born in Australia, with only 3.3% born overseas. This is far below the national figure of 27.7%.
Language diversity is very high, as 86.2% of people use a language other than English at home. This is far above the national average, though 16.4% of residents still speak little or no English.
Christianity is the main faith here at 77.3%. Far fewer people report having no religion (12.2%) compared to the national figure of 38.9%.
Year 12 completion is at 47.7%, which is higher than in most similar areas but well below the state average. Only 3.9% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.
Incomes are among the lowest in the country, with a typical weekly household earning $976. This is far below the national figure of $1,746.
Long-term health conditions are reported by 16.5% of people, which is far below the national average of 27.7%. Mental health conditions are also reported at a very low rate of 0.8%.
Unpaid care for children is common, with 36% of people providing this support. About 17.7% of the community volunteer, and 6.7% have served in the Defence Force.
First Nations people make up the bulk of the population, and 92.8% speak a First Nations language. Typical personal income for this group is $406, which is much lower than the national figure.
Homes are large, with an average of 3.5 people per household. One-parent families are very common, making up 33.3% of households, which is far above the national rate of 14.1%.
The area is dominated by separate houses, and 89.4% of homes are rented. Rent is very affordable at a typical $130 per week, which is far below the national figure.
Most residents do not own a car, with 53.7% of homes having no vehicle. Because there are no public transport routes or stops, 45.7% of workers walk to their jobs.
The population is very stable, with only 20.1% of people moving in the last five years. This is far below the national figure of 40.7%.
Unemployment is high at 11.7%, well above the national figure of 5.1%. Many residents work in public administration and safety, education, or health care.
The area is ranked among the most disadvantaged in the country, with a low overall advantage score of 777. There are only 73 businesses in the region.
The climate is tropical and wet, with average annual rainfall of 1,461mm, which is far above the Queensland average. Minimum temperatures are also well above the state average.
Assault rates are much higher than in most areas, and the crime rate has risen by 40.1% over five years. However, theft and motor vehicle theft are much lower than usual.
The area is highly car-dependent with a walkability score of 1.0. Most homes are not within a 15-minute walk of schools, health services, or groceries.