# Inner Regional Australia

Remoteness Area · Area profile

Area: 22,502 km²

An older population defines Inner Regional Australia, where the typical resident is 43 and seniors make up nearly 20% of the community. This is a place of large, mostly detached family homes and a population that has grown by 14% since 2011. It is a predominantly English-speaking area with a strong tradition of volunteering and a high proportion of residents who do not identify with a religion. Overall, it feels like a stable, car-dependent region with a focus on family life and home ownership.

## Demographics & Identity

Residents are noticeably older than the national figure, with the typical age being 43. The senior population has risen 6.3 points since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 has fallen by 2.4 points.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 231,450 | +13.7% since 2011 |
| Median age | 43 yrs | +10.3% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 3.2% | +27.4% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 19.8% | +46.4% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 18.6% | -11.5% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 13.1% | +7.4% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Older adults (45–64) 27.8%, Young adults (25–44) 23.4%, Seniors (65+) 19.8%, Children (0–14) 18.6%, Youth (15–24) 10.4%

**Marital status** — Married 49.2%, Never married 32.2%, Divorced 10.0%, Widowed 4.9%, Separated 3.7%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

English and Australian ancestries are most common, and 73.4% of people were born in Australia. The proportion of people born overseas is 19.8%, which is well below the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 19.8% | -2.2% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 73.4%, England 7.0%, New Zealand 2.7%, South Africa 1.3%, Philippines 0.9%, India 0.4%, Italy 0.4%, China 0.2%, Vietnam 0.2%, Nepal 0.0%

**Ancestry** — English 45.5%, Australian 38.4%, Scottish 9.9%, Irish 9.4%, Italian 5.0%, German 3.5%, Dutch 2.2%, Filipino 1.1%, Chinese 0.8%, Indian 0.6%, Greek 0.3%, Vietnamese 0.2%

## Language

English is the main language for 85.9% of the community. Only 6.2% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 6.2% | +22.0% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 0.6% | -6.7% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 85.9%, Italian 0.6%, Mandarin 0.4%, Tagalog 0.4%, Vietnamese 0.1%, Punjabi 0.1%, Arabic 0.1%, Cantonese 0.1%, Hindi 0.1%, Greek 0.1%

## Religion

Nearly half of the population (48.5%) reports no religion, a figure that is well above the national average and has risen 20 points since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 48.5% | +71.3% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — No religion 48.5%, Christianity 39.5%, Not stated 9.8%, Buddhism 0.8%, Islam 0.5%, Other religions 0.5%, Hinduism 0.3%, Judaism 0.0%

## Education & Qualifications

While 14.2% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, this is far below the national figure of 26.3%. However, the number of people who finished Year 12 rose 7.7 points since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 44.8% | +20.9% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 14.2% | +36.4% since 2011 |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 44.8%, Year 10 27.7%, Year 11 11.2%, Year 9 or below 7.8%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 38.1%, Bachelor degree 17.6%, Advanced diploma / diploma 14.2%, Certificate I / II 3.4%, Postgraduate degree 3.4%, Graduate diploma / certificate 2.9%

**Field of qualification** — Engineering & related 18.6%, Management & commerce 13.6%, Health 10.3%, Society & culture 9.5%, Education 9.2%, Architecture & building 5.9%, Food, hospitality & personal services 5.7%, Agriculture & environment 3.4%, Creative arts 2.5%, Natural & physical sciences 2.3%, Information technology 1.2%

## Income

Typical weekly household income is $1,525, which is a little below the national figure. The number of households earning $3,000 or more a week rose 8.8 points since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $744 | +29.2% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,525 | +24.5% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $1,927 | +30.6% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 11.7% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 17.2% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $1,500–$2,999 27.6%, $650–$1,499 26.9%, Under $650 16.8%, $3,000–$3,999 9.1%, $4,000 or more 8.1%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 40.7%, $650–$1,499 28.6%, $1,500–$2,999 16.9%, $3,000 or more 4.1%

## Health & Disability

A little more than the national average of people (29.3%) have a long-term health condition. Arthritis is the most common reported condition at 9.9%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 29.3% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 9.2% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 5.1% | +32.8% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Arthritis 9.9%, Mental health 9.2%, Asthma 8.0%, Other condition 7.4%, Diabetes 4.7%, Heart disease 4.0%, Cancer 3.3%, Lung condition 2.0%, Stroke 1.0%, Dementia 0.7%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 60.0%, One condition 19.7%, Two conditions 6.3%, Three or more 3.2%

## Community Participation

Volunteering is common here, with 18.4% of people helping out, which is well above the national figure. There is also a high rate of unpaid housework and childcare compared to other similar areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 18.4% | -8.8% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 11.5% | +17.0% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 27.2% | -8.1% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 3.6% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 24.0% | -10.7% since 2011 |

## First Nations

First Nations people make up 3.2% of the population. The typical personal income for this group is $545, and the unemployment rate is 13.8%, which is a little above the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 7,426 | — |
| First Nations median age | 24 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 28.7% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 13.8% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $545 | — |
| First Nations household income | $1,534 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 6.2% | — |

## Family & Households

Families with children are common, making up 54.2% of households. People living alone account for 24.9%, which is much lower than in most similar areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.5 | -3.8% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 13.7% | +4.9% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 24.9% | +11.2% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 54.2%, Couples without children 31.3%, One-parent families 13.7%, Other families 0.8%

**Household size** — 2 people 37.6%, 1 person 24.9%, 3 people 14.2%, 4 people 14.2%, 5 people 6.2%, 6 or more 2.9%

## Housing & Dwellings

The area is dominated by separate houses (90.6%) and large homes, with 85% having three or more bedrooms. Renting is much less common here than nationally, at just 21.9%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $310 | +24.0% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,712 | -1.2% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.70 | -36.4% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 21.9% | -16.9% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 34.1% | +7.0% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 90.6% | -0.1% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 85.0% | +1.2% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned with a mortgage 40.0%, Owned outright 34.1%, Rented 21.9%, Other tenure 2.3%, Not stated 1.7%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 90.6%, Townhouse / semi-detached 6.8%, Other dwelling 1.2%, Flat or apartment 1.1%

**Bedrooms per home** — 4 bedrooms 41.9%, 3 bedrooms 36.6%, 2 bedrooms 10.3%, 5 or more 6.6%, 1 bedroom 2.7%, Studio / none 0.4%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $200–$349 42.7%, $350–$549 34.8%, Under $200 15.1%, $550–$749 2.6%, $750 or more 0.5%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,000–$1,799 36.5%, $1,800–$2,999 30.9%, Under $1,000 16.4%, $3,000 or more 10.7%

## Transport & Vehicles

Car use is essential, as 64.2% of people drive to work and only 3.3% of homes have no motor vehicle. Working from home is far less common here than in the rest of Australia.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 3.3% | -24.5% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 7.5% | +36.1% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 1.6% | -34.8% since 2011 |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 64.2%, Worked at home 7.5%, Car (passenger) 5.1%, Walked 2.5%, Bus 1.5%, Bicycle 0.6%, Train 0.1%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 39.7%, 1 vehicle 30.8%, 3 vehicles 16.1%, 4 or more 10.1%, No vehicle 3.3%

## Migration & Movement

The area is relatively stable, with 36.1% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas have fallen sharply, from 16.1% in 2011 to 7.1% in 2021.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 36.1% | -12.5% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 7.1% | -55.8% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

Health care, construction, and retail are the main industries, with 57% of the workforce in full-time jobs. The unemployment rate is 4.4%, which is lower than in most similar areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | -8.4% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 58.8% | -4.0% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 57.0% | -5.9% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Health care & social assistance 12.1%, Construction 10.6%, Retail trade 9.2%, Mining 8.5%, Education & training 8.1%, Manufacturing 7.9%, Accommodation & food 7.2%, Public administration & safety 5.3%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 4.9%, Other services 3.9%, Transport & warehousing 3.7%, Professional & technical 3.6%, Administrative & support 3.1%, Wholesale trade 1.9%, Electricity, gas & water 1.7%, Rental & real estate 1.3%, Arts & recreation 1.2%, Finance & insurance 1.1%, Media & telecommunications 0.5%

**Occupations people work in** — Technicians & trades 18.6%, Professionals 14.9%, Labourers 12.7%, Managers 11.9%, Community & personal service 11.6%, Clerical & administrative 10.6%, Machinery operators & drivers 9.9%, Sales workers 8.1%

## Walkability

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.3. While 66.9% of homes are near a park, only 34.6% are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 3.3 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 3.3 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 33.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 34.6% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 48.1% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 43.3% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 66.9% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 23.9% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 14.1 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 2 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 5.4% | — |

## Nearby areas

[Major Cities of Australia](https://censusatlas.au/region/ra/RA50/major-cities-of-australia) · [Outer Regional Australia](https://censusatlas.au/region/ra/RA52/outer-regional-australia) · [Remote Australia](https://censusatlas.au/region/ra/RA53/remote-australia) · [Very Remote Australia](https://censusatlas.au/region/ra/RA54/very-remote-australia) · [Very Remote Australia](https://censusatlas.au/region/ra/RA44/very-remote-australia) · [Very Remote Australia](https://censusatlas.au/region/ra/RA74/very-remote-australia) · [Major Cities of Australia](https://censusatlas.au/region/ra/RA40/major-cities-of-australia) · [Outer Regional Australia](https://censusatlas.au/region/ra/RA42/outer-regional-australia)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/ra/RA51/inner-regional-australia