7,739
Higher than 90% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Toowoomba · Sub-region (SA3)
First Nations in Toowoomba
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 7,739 people now calls Toowoomba home. This population is noticeably younger than the state and national averages, with a typical age of just 20 years. While educational outcomes are strong, there are ongoing challenges with unemployment.
7,739
- 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 Toowoomba — higher than 90% of areas.
| Toowoomba | 7,739 |
|---|---|
| Rest of Qld | 159,179 |
| Queensland | 237,303 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
Toowoomba has one of the largest First Nations populations at this level. The typical age is 20, which is noticeably younger than the Queensland figure of 23 and the national figure of 24.
20 yrs
Younger than 99% 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 strength here, with 45.1% of First Nations residents finishing Year 12. This is a little above the Queensland figure and well above the national average of 37%.
45.1%
Higher than 60% 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 12.6%, which is higher than most similar areas. This figure is about the same as both the state and national rates.
12.6%
Higher than 68% 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 personal income is $595, which is a little above the national figure of $540. Household income sits at $1,492, which is about the same as the state and national averages.
$595
Lower than 55% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,492
Lower than 60% 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 4.3% of First Nations people here speak a First Nations language. This is well below the Queensland figure of 11.6% and the national figure of 12.3%.
4.3%
Lower than 65% 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 Toowoomba
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Toowoomba [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/31701/toowoomba/topic/first-nations