Bundaberg Surrounds - South

The area is significantly older than most, with 29.2% of people aged 65 and over, a figure far above the national average. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 13.5% of the population, which is well below the national figure and has fallen since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a lower proportion of overseas-born people (13.4%) compared to the rest of the state. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, accounting for 42.0% and 39.5% respectively.

English is the dominant language here, with only 3.2% of people using another language at home, which is far below the national figure. Very few residents speak little or no English.

Nearly half of the population identifies as Christian (48.7%), while 38.2% report no religion. The proportion of people with no religion has risen by 17 points since 2011.

Educational attainment is among the lowest for similar areas, with only 34.2% of residents completing Year 12 and 8.6% holding a bachelor degree or higher, both of which are far below the national figures.

Typical incomes are far below the national average; the typical household earns $1,022 a week, and only 7.7% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly. These figures are among the lowest for this level of area.

Health needs are high in this community, with 37.5% of people living with a long-term health condition and 8.9% needing help with daily activities, both of which are well above national levels.

Unpaid care is common here, with 13.9% of people providing unpaid care, which is higher than most areas. This is consistent with the high proportion of seniors and those with health conditions.

First Nations residents in the area are noticeably older than those in the state or nation, with a typical age of 27. However, Year 12 completion (33.8%) and typical personal income ($487) are both well below national figures.

Homes tend to be smaller, with 2.3 people per home, and about a quarter of residents live alone. Couples without children are the most common family type at 45.0%.

Housing is dominated by separate houses (93.0%), and nearly half of all homes (49.0%) are owned outright, which is far above the national average. Renting is much less common here than in the rest of the state.

The area is heavily car-dependent, as there are no public transport stops or routes available. This is reflected in the fact that 62.0% of working residents commute by driving.

About 37.5% of the population moved house in the last five years, which is well below the national average. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 12.5% of the community.

The local workforce is smaller than in most similar areas, with only 45.3% of adults working or looking for work. Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the most common industry at 18.7%.

The area is ranked as having very low overall advantage compared to other areas, particularly in terms of job skills and access to resources.

The climate features an average annual rainfall of 778mm, which is far above the Queensland average, and maximum temperatures that are higher than most similar areas.

The area has very low walkability, with only 10.7% of homes within a 15-minute walk of basic amenities. This makes it a highly car-dependent environment.