Shortland

The community is much younger than most areas, with children under 15 making up 15.6% of the population. There is a high proportion of people in de facto relationships (14.7%) and a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of 6.5%, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, though 14.3% were born overseas, which is higher than most similar areas. The most common ancestries are Australian and English, both at 39.9%, followed by Scottish and Irish.

English is the main language for 83.6% of residents, but 11.0% use another language at home, which is much higher than in most similar areas. However, this is still far below the New South Wales average of 26.6%.

About 41.8% of people report having no religion, a figure that is a little above the national average of 38.9%. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 46.7%.

The area has a higher share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher (17.5%) than most similar areas, though this is well below the state average of 27.8%. Many residents hold a Certificate III or IV, and the area is well-served by 27 schools within 3 km.

Typical incomes are lower than most areas and the state average, with the typical household earning $1,344 a week. Only 10.2% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is far below the New South Wales figure of 25.2%.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 36.9% of people reporting a long-term health condition. This includes 14.6% with a mental health condition, which is among the highest for its level and well above the national average.

Volunteering is much lower here than in other areas, with only 11.1% of people participating. However, there is a slightly higher rate of former Defence Force members (3.6%) compared to the state average.

Shortland has one of the largest First Nations populations at this level, with 293 people. This group is noticeably younger than the national average, with a typical age of 21.

Homes are smaller than usual, with 2.3 people per home. There is a much higher rate of one-parent families (19.3%) and people living alone (29.5%) compared to both the state and national figures.

Renting is much more common here than in most areas, at 36.0%. While separate houses make up 69.7% of the stock, only 24.7% of homes are owned outright, which is well below the national figure of 31.0%.

The area is very well connected, with 36 public transport stops and a typical 3-minute walk to the nearest stop. Despite this, only 1.2% of people commute using public transport, and most rely on cars.

Shortland is a highly mobile community, with 48.9% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are among the highest at this level, at 31.4%.

The unemployment rate is 6.4%, which is a little above the national average of 5.1%. Many residents work in health care and social assistance (18.6%) or retail trade (11.5%).

The area is very walkable, with a score of 6.1. Most homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport (86.9%) and a 15-minute walk of health services (61.8%), which is well above the state average.