Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Wacol
19 km²
A large proportion of First Nations people live in Wacol, where 16.4% of the population identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. This is a young community with a typical resident aged 34, and it has seen a 26% population increase since 2011. Many residents live in large households, often as one-parent families, and the area is marked by significantly lower typical incomes compared to the rest of the state. It is a residential hub where high rental rates and a strong connection to First Nations heritage shape the local character.
Plenty of schools here relative to how few children live in the area.
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The typical resident is 34, which is noticeably younger than the Queensland and national figure of 38. First Nations people make up 16.4% of the population, a figure that has risen by 5.0 points since 2011.
About 22.3% of people were born overseas, which is about the same as the state average. Australian and English ancestries are the most common, followed by Vietnamese at 4.2%.
Around 13.6% of residents use a language other than English at home. This is about the same as the state average, although 3.4% of people speak little or no English, which is a little above the Queensland figure.
Only 16.5% of the population reports having no religion, a figure far below the national average of 38.9%. Christianity is the most common affiliation at 19.3%.
Education levels are far below the state and national figures, with only 27.4% of people completing Year 12. Just 8.5% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, though this has risen by 6.1 points since 2011.
Typical weekly household income is $1,204, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 8.6% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, a result far below the Australian average.
Residents report fewer long-term health conditions than most areas, with only 14.6% having a long-term condition. Mental health conditions are reported by 5.7% of people, which is well below the national figure.
Participation in unpaid work is very low, with only 4.6% of people providing unpaid care. Similarly, volunteers make up just 3.6% of the community, far below the state average of 14.1%.
First Nations people are a significant group here, but they face high challenges with an unemployment rate of 23.9%. Typical personal income for First Nations residents is $334, which is far below the national figure.
Homes are larger than usual, with an average of 2.8 people per home. One-parent families make up 34.3% of households, which is far above the national figure of 14.1%.
Renters make up 56.4% of the market, far above the national average of 30.6%. While 90.8% of homes have three or more bedrooms, very few are owned outright at 18.4%.
Public transport use is much higher than in most areas, with 6.1% of people commuting this way. This is supported by a high number of public transport stops compared to the state average.
The community is very stable, as only 14.0% of people moved in the last five years, far below the national figure of 40.7%. Recent overseas arrivals are also much lower than most areas at 5.6%.
Unemployment is very high at 12.4%, well above the national average of 5.1%. Only 18.8% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the state figure.
Wacol ranks among the lowest for overall advantage, scoring 792 against a national average of 1,000. It is noted as being among the lowest for access to money, resources, and job skills.
The area receives an average annual rainfall of 994mm, which is far above the Queensland average of 379mm. Maximum temperatures average 27.9 degrees.
Most residents live within a 15-minute walk of a park or public transport, but only 1.2% can walk to health services. The overall walkability score is 4.4, which is a little below the state average.