State Electorate · Area profile
Mulka
13,206 km²
A huge proportion of the community in Mulka uses another language at home, with 63.1% of residents doing so. This is far above the national figure and reflects a strong Indigenous presence, as 62.7% of people are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. It is a remarkably young area where the typical resident is just 29, and children under 15 make up over a quarter of the population. These factors combine to create a place where large family households are the norm.
Despite high local incomes, the area's schools serve a less advantaged intake.
12 schools within reach make Mulka convenient for families.
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The population grew by 14% since 2011 to reach 9,478 people. It is far younger than the national average, with only 4.1% of residents aged 65 or over, a figure far below the Australian typical of 17.2%.
Most residents were born in Australia, accounting for 84.3% of the community. Those born overseas make up 6.5% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.
Language diversity is very high, with 63.1% of people using a language other than English at home. This is far above the Australian average, and the proportion of people who speak little or no English rose to 13.2% by 2021.
Religion is common here, as the 23% of people with no religion is far below the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the most common affiliation at 47.6%.
Educational attainment is lower than most areas, with only 36.5% of residents completing Year 12, though this rose by 19 points since 2011. Only 10% hold a bachelor degree or higher, far below the national average of 26.3%.
Typical personal weekly income is $366, which is far below the national figure of $805. However, typical household income is $2,069, slightly above the Australian average, and the share of households earning over $3,000 a week rose sharply to 24% since 2011.
Residents report better health than the national average, with only 15.5% having a long-term health condition compared to 27.7% across Australia. Mental health conditions are also well below the national figure at 3%.
Caring for others is a major part of local life, with 50.5% of people providing unpaid childcare, far above the national figure of 26.3%. Unpaid care for others is also much higher than most areas at 13.8%.
Homes are large, with an average of 4 people per home, far above the national figure of 2.5. One-parent families are also very common at 26.8%, which is far above the national average of 14.1%.
Rental is the dominant tenure, with 69.3% of households renting, far above the national figure of 30.6%. Most people live in separate houses, and the typical weekly rent is very low at $100.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, as 29.8% of homes have no motor vehicle, far above the national figure of 7.4%. There are no public transport routes or stops in the area.
The community is relatively stable, with only 25.6% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national figure of 40.7%.
The unemployment rate is 13.9%, well above the national figure of 5.1%. While 67.3% of the workforce is employed full-time, only 42.9% of adults are working or looking for work, far below the national average.
The area is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 3.0. While 78.7% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services, only 42.6% are within a similar distance of groceries.