Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Morwell
45 km²
Older adults and retirees make up a large part of the population in Morwell. The typical resident is 43, which is noticeably older than the national figure. This is a community where many people live alone or in single-parent families, and there is a significant amount of need for health support. It is a place defined by a high proportion of detached houses and a population that is generally older and less wealthy than the state average.
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The community is older than the state average, with 22.8% of people aged 65 and over. About 3.1% of residents are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which is a little above the Victorian figure.
Most people in Morwell were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 16.0% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language, but 10.6% of people use another language at home, which is much higher than in similar areas. However, this is still far below the Victorian average of 27.6%.
A large number of residents have no religion, at 44.7%, which is well above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 38.8%.
Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 32.5% of people completing Year 12, far below the Victorian figure of 61.8%. Only 7.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.
Incomes are much lower than the national average, with a typical household earning $942 a week compared to the Australian figure of $1,746. Only 7.2% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Health challenges are common here; 38.7% of people have a long-term health condition, which is far above the national figure. This is consistent with the fact that 11.1% of people need help with daily activities.
Volunteer rates are lower than in most areas, at 10.6%. Around 13.6% of people provide unpaid care, which is about the same as the state average.
There are 442 First Nations people in the area, with a typical age of 20, which is noticeably younger than the state average. The unemployment rate for this group is among the highest at this level, at 28.3%.
Single-person households are very common at 37.7%, far above the national figure. One-parent families also make up a high proportion of the community at 25.2%.
Detached houses are very common, making up 85.9% of homes. Renting is more common than in most areas at 33.7%, though typical weekly rent of $215 is far below the state average.
Most people drive to work, and 10.3% of homes have no motor vehicle. While few people use public transport to commute, the area has a high number of stops and routes.
Migration is lower than the national trend, with 32.2% of people moving in the last five years, compared to 40.7% across Australia.
The unemployment rate is 11.0%, which is well above the national figure of 5.1%. Only 44.4% of adults are working or looking for work, far below the state average of 62.4%.
The area is somewhat walkable, and 90.6% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport. However, access to groceries and health services within a 15-minute walk is well below the state average.