Surf Coast - Bellarine Peninsula

The area is noticeably older than the national figure, with a typical resident aged 45 and over a quarter of the population aged 65 or more. This senior presence has grown significantly, rising 5.0 percentage points since 2011.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 81.7% born here. Consequently, the proportion of overseas-born residents is far below the state and national figures.

English is the primary language for 90.3% of the population. The share of people using another language at home is far below the national figure, though it has risen slightly since 2011.

Nearly half of residents (49.7%) report having no religion, a figure far above the national average. This is a significant shift, as the number has risen 20 percentage points since 2011.

The area is well-qualified, with 29.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is well above the national figure and has increased by 8.6 percentage points since 2011.

Typical incomes are higher than most areas, with family income sitting at $2,176 per week. High earners are common, as the share of households earning $3,000 or more weekly rose 16 percentage points since 2011.

While the rate of people needing daily help is lower than most areas, 30.7% of residents have a long-term health condition, which is well above the state figure.

Local residents are much more likely to volunteer and provide unpaid care than people in other areas. A high proportion of the community also cares for children unpaid.

First Nations residents in this area have a much higher Year 12 completion rate (51.9%) and a much lower unemployment rate (6.0%) than most other similar areas.

Families with children make up 55.9% of households. Homes here tend to be larger than usual, with 2.5 people per home and a lower-than-average number of one-parent families.

The landscape is dominated by separate houses, which make up 92.9% of dwellings. Home ownership is very strong, with 41.7% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure.

Car reliance is very high, with only 0.6% of people commuting by public transport. However, working from home has become common, rising from 6.0% in 2011 to 24.8% in 2021.

The area has seen a high churn of residents, with 46.3% moving in the last five years. This is well above the national figure and suggests a highly mobile population.

Unemployment is very low at 3.3%, though full-time employment is well below the national figure. Many locals work in health care, construction, and education.

The region continues to expand rapidly, with a population growth rate of 11.9% since 2021, which is well above the Victorian average.

The area is cooler than the state average and receives significantly more rainfall, with an average of 675mm annually.

While almost everyone lives within a 15-minute walk of a park, the area is generally less walkable than most of Victoria. Many homes are far from groceries, health services, and schools.