Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Aurukun
7,424 km²
Deep in the remote reaches of Queensland, Aurukun is a predominantly First Nations community where nearly 89% of the population identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. It is a remarkably young place, with a typical resident aged just 29 and a high proportion of children under 15. The community is defined by strong cultural ties and a shared language, with very few residents born overseas. Life here centers on family and kinship, reflected in the high number of people living in large households.
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The area is far younger than the national figure, with children under 15 making up 23.8% of the population. De facto relationships are very common here, at 36%, which is far above the Queensland figure of 12.9%.
This is a community with very few overseas arrivals, as only 1.5% of people were born outside Australia, far below the national figure of 27.7%.
Language diversity is very high, with 83.2% of people using another language at home—far above the national average of 22.3%. About 20% of residents speak little or no English.
The community is more likely to hold a religious affiliation than most areas, with 61.8% identifying as Christian and only 31% reporting no religion, well below the national figure.
Educational attainment is much lower than the state average, with only 13.8% of residents completing Year 12. Just 2.9% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, far below the 26.3% seen across Australia.
Incomes are among the lowest in the region, with a typical personal weekly income of $331, far below the national figure of $805. Most households earn under $1,500 a week.
Residents report far fewer long-term health conditions (7.0%) and mental health conditions (1.7%) than is typical for Queensland.
Unpaid care for children is very common, with 42.5% of people providing this support, far above the national figure of 26.3%. However, volunteering rates are among the lowest at 6.3%.
First Nations people make up the vast majority of the population, with 92.3% speaking a First Nations language. This group faces significant challenges, with an unemployment rate of 20.6%, well above the national figure.
Households are much larger than average, with 3.9 people per home. One-parent families are very common at 35.2%, far above the national figure of 14.1%.
Rentals are the norm, with 92.4% of homes rented and none owned outright. While rent is very low at $125 a week, crowding is high, with 1.2 people per bedroom.
The community is largely without cars, as 64.8% of homes have no motor vehicle. Consequently, 61.2% of people walk to work, and there are no public transport routes in the area.
Movement is slightly lower than in other parts of the state, with 37.1% of people having moved in the last five years, compared to 44.8% in Queensland.
Working or looking for work is much less common here than in the rest of the state, at only 21.7%. Those who are employed often work in public administration, education, or community services.
Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of schools, health services, and groceries. However, the overall walkability score is low at 3.8, meaning the area remains mostly car-dependent.