2,893
Higher than 73% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Upper Hunter · Sub-region (SA3)
First Nations in Upper 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 significant gap in school completion marks the First Nations experience in Upper Hunter, where Year 12 finish rates are well below the state and national figures. Despite this, the area is home to 2,893 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which is more than three quarters of similar regions.
2,893
- 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 Upper Hunter — higher than 73% of areas.
| Upper Hunter | 2,893 |
|---|---|
| Rest of NSW | 185,873 |
| New South Wales | 278,043 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
The First Nations population here is quite young, with a typical age of 22. This is a little younger than the typical age across New South Wales and Australia.
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.
Only 28.1% of First Nations people have finished Year 12. This is much lower than most similar areas and sits well below the national figure of 37.0%.
28.1%
Lower than 86% 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 10.4%, which is around the middle for its level and about the same as the New South Wales figure.
10.4%
Lower than 51% 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 income is $1,619 and personal income is $596. Both figures are around the middle for this level and generally align with state and national totals.
$596
Lower than 55% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,619
Higher than 51% 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.
Just 2.2% of First Nations people speak a traditional language. This is among the lowest rates for this level and is far below the Australian figure of 12.3%.
2.2%
Lower than 92% 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 Upper Hunter
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Upper Hunter [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/10604/upper-hunter/topic/first-nations