3496, VIC

The typical resident is 41, which is noticeably older than the national figure. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 4.0% of the population, a figure that has risen since 2011 and is higher than most other areas.

Most residents were born in Australia, and only 9.0% were born overseas, which is far below the national average of 27.7%. Australian and English are the most common ancestries, though recent arrivals from overseas have increased significantly since 2011.

English is the main language for 84.7% of the community. While the 7.5% who use another language at home is far below the national figure, the proportion of people who speak little or no English is actually much higher than in most similar areas.

A large portion of the community does not follow a religion. At 47.4%, this is well above the national average and has risen by 18 points since 2011.

Educational attainment is much lower than most areas, with only 34.7% of residents completing Year 12 and 9.3% holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, there are more schools per child here than in most similar regions.

Household incomes are well below the national figure, with the typical family earning $1,684 a week. Only 10.3% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is much lower than most other areas.

Health challenges are more common here, as 32.5% of people have a long-term health condition. This is well above the national average, and 8.0% of residents need help with daily activities, which is much higher than most areas.

Unpaid care is a common part of life, with 13.8% of people providing unpaid care, a figure higher than most areas. Volunteer rates are lower than in most similar places and have fallen since 2011.

Families tend to be larger here, with 2.5 people per home. One-parent families are slightly more common than in the rest of the state, making up 15.0% of households.

Separate houses are the norm for 92.4% of residents, with 79.1% of homes having three or more bedrooms. Rent is well below the national average at $235 a week, and typical mortgage payments are also much lower than in most areas.

Cars are essential, as 67.9% of people drive to work and only 0.7% use public transport. Working from home is far less common here at 10.1% compared to the national figure of 21.0%.

The area has seen a significant increase in recent overseas arrivals, which now stands at 24.7%. Conversely, the percentage of people who have moved in the last five years is well below the national average.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing are major employers for 17.8% of the workforce. While full-time employment is around the national average, the number of adults working or looking for work is well below the national figure.

The community faces significant challenges, ranking in the bottom 20% of areas for overall advantage, education and job skills, as well as access to money and resources.

The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 3.9. Most residents live far from basic needs, with fewer than half the homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services.