3,080
Lower than 70% of region (sa4) areas.
The number of people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Ballarat · Region (SA4)
First Nations in Ballarat
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 young First Nations community defines the cultural landscape of Ballarat, where the typical person is just 22 years old. This age is a little younger than the national figure and reflects a population that is notably more youthful than in most other similar areas.
3,080
- 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 Ballarat — lower than 70% of areas.
| Ballarat | 3,080 |
|---|---|
| Rest of Vic. | 32,234 |
| Victoria | 65,646 |
Population & age
How many people identify as First Nations, and the typical age.
There are 3,080 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living here. This population is smaller than in about 69% of similar areas.
22 yrs
Younger than 86% 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.
School completion is a strong point for the community, with 41.7% of First Nations people finishing Year 12. This is well above the national figure of 37.0%.
41.7%
Higher than 62% 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 10.5%. This is around the middle for similar areas and a little below the Australian figure of 12.3%.
10.5%
Lower than 54% 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.
Money coming into the home is lower than in most similar areas, with typical weekly household incomes at $1,387. Individual incomes are also lower than most areas at $539 a week.
$539
Lower than 72% of region (sa4) areas.
Median total personal income per week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15+.
$1,387
Lower than 71% 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.
About 5.0% of First Nations people speak a traditional language. This is about the same as the Victorian figure, though it is well below the Australian average of 12.3%.
5.0%
Lower than 56% 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 Ballarat
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). First Nations in Ballarat [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa4/201/ballarat/topic/first-nations