APY Lands

The population is markedly young, with 23.8% of people under 15 and only 3.8% aged 65 and over, which is far below the state and national figures. The total population is small and shrank by about 107 people between 2011 and 2021.

Almost everyone was born in Australia, with 93.4% of the population born here. Only 2.6% of residents were born overseas, which is far below the state and national averages.

Language diversity is very high, with 84.8% of people using a language other than English at home, far above the national figure of 22.3%. About 10.6% of residents speak little or no English.

Christianity is the most common affiliation at 42.3%. Those reporting no religion make up 29.2% of the community, which is well below the national figure and has risen by 12 points since 2011.

Education levels are among the lowest in the country, with only 21.8% of residents completing Year 12, far below the national figure of 58.8%. Only 7.3% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Typical weekly personal incomes are far below the national figure, sitting at $324. Typical weekly family income is also very low at $739, though this has risen by $46 since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are reported by 19.0% of people, which is well below the national figure of 27.7%. Diabetes is the most common reported condition at 9.1%.

Unpaid care is a major part of life here, with 57.4% of people caring for children, a figure far above the national average. This is consistent with the very high number of children in the area.

The community is overwhelmingly First Nations, with 89.4% of people speaking a First Nations language. However, challenges are high, including an unemployment rate of 39.1%, far above the national figure.

Homes are much larger than usual, with an average of 4.0 people per home and 29.4% of households containing six or more people. One-parent families are also common, making up 26.9% of the community.

Most people rent their homes, with 75.5% of households renting, far above the national figure of 30.6%. Typical weekly rent is very low at $85, and only 2.5% of homes are owned outright.

Car dependence is high, though 41.8% of homes have no motor vehicle, far above the state and national figures. There are no public transport stops or routes in the area.

The community is relatively stable, as only 23.3% of people moved in the last five years, far below the national figure of 40.7%. Recent overseas arrivals rose to 19.7% by 2021.

The unemployment rate is very high at 29.3%, far above the national figure of 5.1%. Many of those who do work are employed in education and training (30.3%) or health and social assistance (16.0%).

The area is ranked among the most disadvantaged in the country, scoring 1 out of 10 for overall advantage, access to resources, and job skills.

The climate is hot and dry, with an average maximum temperature of 29.2 degrees. Annual rainfall is 182mm, which is well above the South Australian average.

The area is heavily car-dependent with a very low walkability score of 1.5. Most residents are far from health services and groceries, though 65.1% live within a 15-minute walk of a school.