19,871
Higher than 88% of region (sa4) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Newcastle and Lake Macquarie · Region (SA4)
First Nations in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
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 higher typical weekly income for First Nations people sets Newcastle and Lake Macquarie apart from the rest of the country. The area is home to 19,871 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which is among the largest populations for a region of this size.
19,871
- 1–1: 7 areas
- 1–2: 0 areas
- 2–3: 0 areas
- 3–5: 1 area
- 5–7: 0 areas
- 7–10: 2 areas
- 10–15: 0 areas
- 15–21: 0 areas
- 21–31: 0 areas
- 31–46: 1 area
- 46–67: 0 areas
- 67–99: 0 areas
- 99–145: 0 areas
- 145–213: 1 area
- 213–312: 1 area
- 312–458: 1 area
- 458–671: 1 area
- 671–984: 2 areas
- 984–1,444: 4 areas
- 1,444–2,117: 4 areas
- 2,117–3,105: 9 areas
- 3,105–4,553: 13 areas
- 4,553–6,677: 16 areas
- 6,677–9,792: 13 areas
- 9,792–14,359: 13 areas
- 14,359–21,058: 11 areas
- 21,058–30,882: 6 areas
- 30,882–45,289: 1 area
All region (sa4) areas, 2021. The marker is Newcastle and Lake Macquarie — higher than 88% of areas.
| Newcastle and Lake Macquarie | 19,871 |
|---|---|
| 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 age for First Nations residents is 23 years. This is about the same as the New South Wales figure and a little younger than the national typical age of 24.
23 yrs
Younger than 71% of region (sa4) areas.
Median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — half are older, half younger.
Education
School completion among First Nations people.
Year 12 completion sits at 38.9% for First Nations people. This is well above the New South Wales figure of 35.0% and a little above the Australian average.
38.9%
Higher than 51% of region (sa4) 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 9.5%, which is lower than most other areas. This figure is about the same as the state average and a little below the national rate of 12.3%.
9.5%
Lower than 67% of region (sa4) 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 is $1,745, which is higher than most areas and a little above the national figure of $1,507. Personal incomes are also a little above the national typical amount of $540.
$627
Higher than 62% of region (sa4) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,745
Higher than 67% of region (sa4) 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 3.5% of First Nations people here speak a First Nations language. This is much lower than most areas and well below the Australian figure of 12.3%.
3.5%
Lower than 83% of region (sa4) 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 Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa4/111/newcastle-and-lake-macquarie/topic/first-nations