Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Roebourne
162 km²
Very few people are working or looking for work in Roebourne, where the unemployment rate is far above the national figure. This is a young community with a typical age of 34, and it is shaped by a very strong First Nations presence. With nearly 74% of residents identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, the town has a distinctive cultural character that is reflected in its high use of indigenous languages.
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The community is noticeably younger than the state and national averages, with the typical resident aged 34. De facto relationships are far more common here than in most other areas, though only 9.7% of the population are seniors.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a far lower proportion of overseas-born people than the rest of the state.
Language diversity is very high, with 35.8% of people using another language at home, which is far above the national figure.
People with no religion are far fewer here than in the state or national averages, where the figure is around 39% to 43%.
Education levels are among the lowest in the region, with only 20.4% of residents completing Year 12 and very few holding a bachelor degree.
Typical incomes are among the lowest at this level, with the usual weekly household income of $1,062 sitting far below the national figure of $1,746.
Long-term health conditions and mental health conditions are both well below the state and national averages.
Volunteer rates are much lower than most areas, and the proportion of people providing unpaid care is also lower than typical.
A strong First Nations presence is evident, with 46.9% of people speaking a First Nations language, though unemployment for this group is far above the national figure at 27.9%.
Households tend to be larger than usual, with one-parent families being far more common here than in the rest of the state.
Renting is far more common than owning, with 63.9% of homes rented and typical weekly rents being much lower than the national figure.
Car dependence is high, yet 22.7% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is far above the national average.
The area has seen significant movement, with 39.4% of people moving in the last five years, though there are almost no recent arrivals from overseas.
Joblessness is a major theme, as the unemployment rate is far above the national figure and full-time employment is much lower than most areas.
The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score, as many homes are far from groceries and health services.