Broke

The community has a strong Indigenous presence, with 12.1% of people identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, a figure that rose nearly 10 points since 2011. While the typical resident is 42, the area has many children and a high proportion of de facto relationships compared to other similar places.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas roots are far fewer than the state average. English, Irish, and Scottish ancestries are the most common among the 11.7% born abroad.

English is the dominant language here, with only 1.7% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure and has remained steady since 2011.

Over half the population identifies as Christian, while 39.4% report no religion. This latter group has grown significantly, rising 27 points since 2011.

Educational qualifications are much lower than the national average, with only 5.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Most residents hold a Certificate III or IV, and about 35% completed Year 12.

Typical family incomes are higher than in most similar areas, and 20.2% of households earn $3,000 or more a week. However, typical household incomes have actually fallen by $198 since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 10% of people needing help with daily activities. Long-term health conditions are also more frequent, particularly arthritis and mental health issues.

Unpaid care is a major part of local life, as the proportion of people caring for children, doing housework, or providing other unpaid care is much higher than the state average. Additionally, 7.3% of residents have served in the Defence Force.

Families with children are common, making up 56.3% of households. While people per home has dipped slightly to 2.6, this remains higher than in many similar areas.

The area is almost exclusively made up of separate houses, with 92.9% having three or more bedrooms. Renting is very rare at just 8.3%, and 35.7% of homes are owned outright.

Residents are entirely dependent on cars, as 0% of people commute via public transport and every single home has at least one motor vehicle. Working from home is less common here than across the state.

The population is relatively stable, with fewer people moving in the last five years compared to most areas. Interestingly, recent arrivals from overseas rose to 14.8% by 2021.

Mining is a major employer for nearly 30% of the workforce, with many residents working as machinery operators or labourers. Full-time employment fell by 15 points since 2011, though the unemployment rate is lower than the national figure.

While everyone lives within walking distance of a park or school, the area is mostly car-dependent. There are no grocery stores or health services within a 15-minute walk.