9,212
Higher than 91% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Lower Hunter · Sub-region (SA3)
First Nations in Lower Hunter
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities — how many people identify as First Nations, and how they fare on age, schooling, work, income and language. From the ABS 2021 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Profile; the ABS notes these counts are an undercount.
A growing First Nations community of 9,212 people defines the Lower Hunter, which is one of the largest populations of this group for its area type. This community is notably young, with a typical age of just 22 years.
9,212
- 1–1: 10 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–4: 1 area
- 4–6: 1 area
- 6–8: 0 areas
- 8–11: 3 areas
- 11–16: 0 areas
- 16–23: 1 area
- 23–32: 1 area
- 32–45: 1 area
- 45–64: 0 areas
- 64–91: 0 areas
- 91–129: 3 areas
- 129–182: 3 areas
- 182–257: 9 areas
- 257–364: 15 areas
- 364–515: 23 areas
- 515–729: 30 areas
- 729–1,031: 45 areas
- 1,031–1,458: 40 areas
- 1,458–2,063: 37 areas
- 2,063–2,918: 44 areas
- 2,918–4,128: 33 areas
- 4,128–5,840: 29 areas
- 5,840–8,262: 17 areas
- 8,262–11,687: 6 areas
- 11,687–16,534: 6 areas
All sub-region (sa3) areas, 2021. The marker is Lower Hunter — higher than 91% of areas.
| Lower Hunter | 9,212 |
|---|---|
| Rest of NSW | 185,873 |
| New South Wales | 278,043 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The typical First Nations resident here is 22, making the population a little younger than the New South Wales figure of 23 and the Australian figure of 24.
22 yrs
Younger than 79% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — half are older, half younger.
Education
School completion among First Nations people.
School completion is a challenge, with only 27.4% of First Nations people finishing Year 12. This is well below the national figure of 37%.
27.4%
Lower than 87% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people whose highest year of school is Year 12 or equivalent.
Work
Engagement with the labour force.
The unemployment rate for First Nations people is 9.1%, which is lower than most similar areas and well below the Australian rate of 12.3%.
9.1%
Lower than 62% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Unemployed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a share of the First Nations labour force (aged 15+).
Income
Personal and household incomes.
Typical household incomes are $1,736, which is higher than most similar areas and a little above the New South Wales figure of $1,558. Personal incomes are around $601, which is about the same as the state figure.
$601
Lower than 53% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,736
Higher than 61% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Median total weekly income for households with one or more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members.
Language & culture
Use of an Australian Indigenous language at home.
Only 2.0% of First Nations people here speak a traditional language, a figure that is among the lowest for similar areas and far below the national average of 12.3%.
2.0%
Lower than 94% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Share of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who use an Australian Indigenous language at home.
Sources
- Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
More for Lower Hunter
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Lower Hunter [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/10601/lower-hunter/topic/first-nations