Remoteness Area · Area profile
Inner Regional Australia
2,283 km²
Nearly half of the population in Inner Regional Australia report having no religion, a figure far above the national average. This is a growing area of 345,491 people where a highly qualified workforce is becoming more common. It is a place of contrasts, with a rising number of university graduates and overseas arrivals living alongside a population that faces higher rates of long-term health conditions. Overall, the community is slightly older than the national typical, with a significant increase in seniors since 2011.
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The typical resident is 39 years old, and the area has seen a rise in seniors, who now make up 19.1% of the population. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 4.3% of the community, which is a little above the national figure.
People born overseas make up 17.9% of the population, a figure that has risen since 2011. While this is higher than in similar areas, it remains well below the national average of 27.7%.
Language diversity is growing, with 11.9% of people using a language other than English at home. This is far below the national figure, and only 1.3% of residents speak little or no English.
A striking 49.8% of residents claim no religion, which is among the highest for this level of area. This figure has jumped 21 points since 2011.
The area is highly qualified, with 26.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Both university degrees and Year 12 completions have risen significantly since 2011, making this area much more qualified than most similar places.
Typical weekly household income is $1,481, which is a little below the national figure of $1,746. However, incomes have risen across the board since 2011, with more households now earning $3,000 or more per week.
Health challenges are more common here than in most similar areas, with 32.4% of people living with a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are also more frequent, affecting 11.6% of residents.
This is a generous community where 18% of people volunteer, which is well above the national figure. It also has a higher rate of people who have served in the Defence Force compared to similar areas.
First Nations people in this area have a Year 12 completion rate of 38.6%, which is much higher than in similar areas. Their typical personal income of $590 is also a little above the national figure.
One-parent families are much more common here than in most similar areas, making up 16.5% of households. About 28.3% of people live alone, which is slightly above the national average.
Separate houses are very common, making up 84.3% of all homes. While typical weekly rents of $320 are a little below the national figure, they are much higher than in most similar regional areas.
Most people rely on cars, with 62.5% driving to work. Only 7.5% of the workforce works from home, which is far below the national figure of 21%.
The area is seeing significant movement, with 39% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are much more common here than in similar areas.
More adults are working or looking for work here than in most similar areas, though the unemployment rate of 6.1% is a little above the national average. Health care and education are the most common industries for local workers.
The area is somewhat walkable, with a score of 5.7. Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park or public transport, though fewer have easy access to health services.