2,004
Higher than 62% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Great Lakes · Sub-region (SA3)
First Nations in Great Lakes
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.
Fewer than 25% of First Nations residents in Great Lakes have finished high school, which is among the lowest rates for similar areas. This reflects a community where First Nations people are noticeably older than the state and national averages, but face significant challenges with employment and income.
2,004
- 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 Great Lakes — higher than 62% of areas.
| Great Lakes | 2,004 |
|---|---|
| Rest of NSW | 185,873 |
| New South Wales | 278,043 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
There are 2,004 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the area. The typical resident is 27, which is noticeably older than the New South Wales figure of 23.
27 yrs
Older than 71% 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 24.8% of First Nations people have completed Year 12. This is far below the national figure of 37.0% and the state average of 35.0%.
24.8%
Lower than 90% 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 13.8%. This is much higher than most similar areas and well above the New South Wales rate of 9.8%.
13.8%
Higher than 75% 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 weekly household income for First Nations residents is $1,175, which is much lower than most areas. Personal income is also a little below the state and national figures, sitting at $488.
$488
Lower than 85% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,175
Lower than 90% 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 2.3% of First Nations people speak a traditional language. This is among the lowest rates for similar areas and well below the Australian average of 12.3%.
2.3%
Lower than 90% 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 Great Lakes
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Great Lakes [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/10801/great-lakes/topic/first-nations