# Gillen

Suburb / Locality · Area profile

Located in: Northern Territory › Rest of NT › Alice Springs › 0870, NT

Area: 3 km²

A huge amount of movement has shaped Gillen recently, with nearly half of all residents moving in within the last five years. This is a young and diverse community where the typical resident is just 33, and many are born overseas. It is a high-earning area with a large proportion of university-qualified professionals. The neighbourhood feels family-oriented, with many children and a high number of households with couples and kids.

## Demographics & Identity

The community is noticeably younger than the national average, with 22.8% of people under 15. It is also a diverse place where 19% of residents are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, which is far above the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 4,466 | +1.1% since 2011 |
| Median age | 33 yrs | +3.1% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 19.0% | +20.8% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 7.8% | +29.5% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 22.8% | -3.5% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 15.7% | -11.7% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Young adults (25–44) 35.1%, Children (0–14) 22.8%, Older adults (45–64) 22.2%, Youth (15–24) 11.9%, Seniors (65+) 7.8%

**Marital status** — Never married 48.3%, Married 37.9%, Divorced 7.3%, Separated 3.6%, Widowed 2.7%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

International roots are common here, as 28.5% of people were born overseas. The most frequent ancestries are Australian, English, Irish, Scottish, and Indian.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 28.5% | +16.7% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 64.7%, India 5.8%, New Zealand 3.8%, Philippines 2.7%, England 2.2%, Nepal 1.2%, China 0.7%, South Africa 0.7%, Vietnam 0.5%, Italy 0.2%

**Ancestry** — Australian 27.7%, English 25.5%, Irish 8.8%, Scottish 6.3%, Indian 6.0%, German 4.5%, Filipino 3.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.7%, Dutch 1.3%, Vietnamese 0.7%, Greek 0.4%

## Language

Many residents use a language other than English at home (26.9%), which is well above the national average. While English is most common, Punjabi, Hindi, and Tagalog are also spoken.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 26.9% | +80.9% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 2.7% | +14.0% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 65.5%, Punjabi 2.1%, Hindi 1.4%, Tagalog 1.3%, Mandarin 1.1%, Vietnamese 0.6%, Arabic 0.4%, Cantonese 0.3%, Italian 0.2%, Greek 0.2%

## Religion

Religious views are split almost evenly, with 41.1% of people reporting no religion and 40.3% identifying as Christian. Hinduism is the most common non-Christian faith at 3.9%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 41.1% | +65.3% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — No religion 41.1%, Christianity 40.3%, Not stated 8.9%, Hinduism 3.9%, Other religions 2.6%, Buddhism 1.9%, Islam 1.3%, Judaism 0.1%

## Education & Qualifications

This is a highly qualified area where 24.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher. School completion is also strong, with 56.7% of residents finishing Year 12, which is well above the Northern Territory average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 56.7% | +18.1% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 24.7% | +25.5% since 2011 |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 3.92 | — |
| Schools within 3 km | 17 | — |
| Average school size | 265 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 944 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 56.7%, Year 10 15.6%, Year 11 10.7%, Year 9 or below 8.5%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 27.9%, Bachelor degree 24.3%, Advanced diploma / diploma 13.8%, Postgraduate degree 9.8%, Graduate diploma / certificate 4.1%, Certificate I / II 2.1%

**Field of qualification** — Management & commerce 15.7%, Society & culture 15.3%, Health 14.0%, Engineering & related 11.4%, Education 8.4%, Food, hospitality & personal services 6.5%, Architecture & building 3.8%, Creative arts 2.3%, Information technology 2.3%, Agriculture & environment 1.9%, Natural & physical sciences 1.5%

## Income

Gillen is a high-income area where the typical weekly household earns $2,176, a little above the state figure. Personal incomes are also strong, with a typical weekly pay of $1,103.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $1,103 | +27.5% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $2,176 | +27.5% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $2,391 | +24.4% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 12.0% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 25.9% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $1,500–$2,999 34.8%, $650–$1,499 18.8%, $3,000–$3,999 13.3%, $4,000 or more 12.6%, Under $650 9.9%

**Personal income distribution** — $650–$1,499 37.3%, Under $650 26.6%, $1,500–$2,999 24.9%, $3,000 or more 2.8%

## Health & Disability

Residents are generally healthier than the national average, with only 21.2% having a long-term health condition. Those needing help with daily activities are also fewer here than in most other areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 21.2% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 5.6% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 3.1% | +27.8% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Asthma 6.8%, Other condition 5.7%, Mental health 5.6%, Arthritis 4.6%, Diabetes 4.2%, Heart disease 2.7%, Cancer 1.6%, Lung condition 1.1%, Stroke 0.6%, Dementia 0.2%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 69.0%, One condition 16.3%, Two conditions 3.5%, Three or more 1.5%

## Community Participation

Unpaid childcare is common here, with 28.3% of people caring for children. However, volunteering (15.6%) and unpaid housework are less frequent than in many other areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 15.6% | -29.8% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 9.3% | +35.4% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 28.3% | -7.5% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 2.3% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 17.3% | -7.9% since 2011 |

## First Nations

There are 850 First Nations people in the area, and 25.9% speak a First Nations language. This group is younger than the general population, with a typical age of 24.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 850 | — |
| First Nations median age | 24 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 28.5% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 14.7% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $540 | — |
| First Nations household income | $1,443 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 25.9% | — |

## Family & Households

Families are larger than usual, with 2.7 people per home. One-parent families are much more common here (19.2%) than in most other areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.7 | +0.0% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 19.2% | +22.0% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 22.8% | +7.3% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 55.5%, Couples without children 23.4%, One-parent families 19.2%, Other families 1.9%

**Household size** — 2 people 29.2%, 1 person 22.8%, 3 people 19.0%, 4 people 16.8%, 5 people 7.2%, 6 or more 5.0%

## Housing & Dwellings

Renting is very common at 41%, and typical weekly rents are a little above the state figure at $400. Very few people own their homes outright (14.4%) compared to the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $400 | +14.3% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,733 | -11.1% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 1.00 | -16.7% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 41.0% | -0.8% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 14.4% | +10.9% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 69.6% | +0.9% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 70.1% | -1.1% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned with a mortgage 42.1%, Rented 41.0%, Owned outright 14.4%, Not stated 2.2%, Other tenure 0.4%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 69.6%, Townhouse / semi-detached 27.2%, Flat or apartment 2.4%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 47.9%, 2 bedrooms 22.8%, 4 bedrooms 18.4%, 1 bedroom 4.8%, 5 or more 3.8%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $350–$549 46.4%, $200–$349 17.5%, Under $200 13.1%, $550–$749 13.1%, $750 or more 0.5%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,000–$1,799 39.3%, $1,800–$2,999 35.4%, Under $1,000 12.4%, $3,000 or more 7.2%

## Transport & Vehicles

Most people drive to work, but the area has more public transport stops than most similar places. Very few residents work from home (2.5%), which is far below the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 8.3% | -5.8% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 2.5% | +40.9% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 1.1% | -69.7% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 12 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 2.69 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 121.6 | — |
| Public transport routes | 3 | — |
| Walk to nearest stop (min) | 3 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 68.9%, Car (passenger) 8.7%, Walked 4.2%, Bicycle 3.2%, Worked at home 2.5%, Bus 1.1%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 36.8%, 1 vehicle 34.2%, 3 vehicles 14.4%, No vehicle 8.3%, 4 or more 6.2%

## Migration & Movement

The population is highly mobile, with 49.5% of people moving in the last five years. This includes a high number of recent overseas arrivals (23.2%).

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 49.5% | -2.8% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 23.2% | -47.9% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

Employment is strong, with 72.1% of adults working or looking for work. Many residents are professionals working in health care, social assistance, or public administration.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | +6.5% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 72.1% | -0.6% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 71.4% | -2.5% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Health care & social assistance 21.8%, Public administration & safety 16.3%, Retail trade 9.6%, Education & training 9.4%, Construction 7.4%, Accommodation & food 6.6%, Professional & technical 4.6%, Other services 4.3%, Transport & warehousing 3.8%, Administrative & support 2.6%, Arts & recreation 2.3%, Manufacturing 2.3%, Wholesale trade 1.6%, Electricity, gas & water 1.3%, Rental & real estate 0.8%, Media & telecommunications 0.6%, Mining 0.5%, Finance & insurance 0.5%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 0.3%

**Occupations people work in** — Professionals 20.4%, Community & personal service 19.2%, Technicians & trades 14.3%, Clerical & administrative 12.7%, Managers 11.2%, Labourers 8.1%, Sales workers 8.1%, Machinery operators & drivers 3.7%

## Walkability

The area is very walkable, with 100% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport and a park. Almost all residents can reach groceries and health services on foot within 15 minutes.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 6.1 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 5.9 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 90.5% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 91.6% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 100.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 92.6% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 100.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 82.4% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 9.2 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 66 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 1.9% | — |

## Schools serving Gillen

17 schools, 4,497 students, average ICSEA 944.

By sector: Government 10, Independent 5, Catholic 2

By type: Primary 7, Combined 6, Secondary 4

Nearest 10 shown:

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Centralian Middle School | Government | Secondary | 0.2 km | 338 |
| Gillen Primary School | Government | Primary | 0.4 km | 230 |
| Bradshaw Primary School | Government | Primary | 0.7 km | 381 |
| St Joseph's Catholic Flexible School | Catholic | Secondary | 1.1 km | 82 |
| Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College | Catholic | Combined | 1.2 km | 823 |
| Araluen Christian College | Independent | Combined | 1.4 km | 104 |
| Yipirinya School | Independent | Combined | 1.7 km | 186 |
| St Philip's College | Independent | Secondary | 2.9 km | 502 |
| Ross Park Primary School | Government | Primary | 3.3 km | 413 |
| Centralian Senior College | Government | Secondary | 3.3 km | 351 |

## Nearby areas

[The Gap](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL70253/the-gap) · [Ciccone](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL70056/ciccone) · [Alice Springs](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL70005/alice-springs) · [Araluen](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL70015/araluen) · [Desert Springs](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL70078/desert-springs) · [Flynn](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL70104/flynn) · [Braitling](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL70039/braitling) · [Sadadeen](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL70237/sadadeen)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL70109/gillen