Morawa

The population is noticeably older than the national figure, with seniors aged 65 and over making up 24.1% of the community. First Nations people represent 10.9% of residents, which is well above the state average, while children under 15 account for 22.3%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up just 8.5% of the population, a figure far below the national average. English, Australian, and Scottish are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language here, with only 2.7% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure, and there are effectively no residents who speak little or no English.

About 38.8% of people report having no religion, which is about the same as the national figure. This represents a rise of 13 percentage points since 2011, while Christianity remains a significant affiliation at 35.6%.

Qualifications are generally lower than in most areas, with only 11.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Education, engineering, and management are the most common fields of study among graduates.

Typical weekly family income is $1,676, which is well below the state and national figures. However, 11.1% of people earn $2,000 or more a week, which is higher than in most similar areas.

Long-term health conditions affect 27.7% of residents, which is about the same as the national average. Mental health conditions are reported at 6.8%, a little below the national figure.

A striking 29.8% of residents are volunteers, far above the national figure of 14.1%. Conversely, fewer people provide unpaid childcare or housework compared to most other areas.

There are 72 First Nations people in the community, with a typical age of 27. Unemployment is very high at 45.8%, far above the state figure, and personal income is much lower than most areas.

Living alone is common here, with 34.1% of people in single-person homes, well above the national average. Typical households are slightly smaller than the national figure, with 2.3 people per home.

Home ownership is very high, with 48.6% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure. Housing is mostly separate houses, and typical weekly rent is much lower than most areas at $190.

No one in the area commutes by public transport, and 56.6% of workers drive to their jobs. Interestingly, 15.7% work from home, which is well above the state average.

The community is very stable, as only 24.6% of people moved in the last five years, far below the national figure. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing employ a third of the workforce, while 21.7% work in education. Full-time employment is much higher than most areas at 69.5%, though the overall number of adults working or looking for work is much lower than average.

The area has a low overall advantage score of 4 out of 10, reflecting limited access to money and resources. However, it has seen some recent population growth of 5.1% since 2021.

The area experiences an average maximum temperature of 29.1 degrees. Annual rainfall is among the lowest for its level, though it remains well above the state average at 257mm.

The town is somewhat walkable, with many residents living within a 15-minute walk of health services and groceries. However, access to parks and public transport on foot is far below the state average.