Urban Centre · Area profile
Coominya
5 km²
A shrinking population has transformed Coominya (L) into a much older community since 2011. The area has lost 71% of its residents over the last decade, and the typical person is now 50 years old. It is a place where many residents live in their own homes and have deep roots in the area, though it faces significant challenges with health and low incomes. This rural setting is defined by a small, ageing population and a strong presence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
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The community is far older than the national figure, with 23.4% of people aged 65 or over. It also has a much higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at 9.6%, a figure that has risen sharply since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, though 13.6% were born overseas. People of Australian and English ancestry are the most common, followed by Irish, Scottish, and German heritage.
English is the main language here, with only 2.3% of people using another language at home, which is far below the national figure. Very few people speak little or no English.
About half of the population identifies as Christian, while 42.3% report no religion. The number of people with no religion has risen by 16 percentage points since 2011.
Educational qualifications are much lower than in most other areas, with only 6.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 31.1% of residents completed Year 12, far below the national typical figure.
Incomes are much lower than usual, with a typical weekly household earning $1,138. Very few households earn $3,000 or more a week, and 58.2% of individuals earn less than $650 weekly.
Health challenges are very high here; 45% of people have a long-term health condition, and 11.9% need help with daily activities. Mental health conditions are also well above the national average.
Unpaid care is common, as 17% of people provide unpaid support, which is among the highest for this level. The area also has a high number of former Defence Force members.
One-parent families are much more common than in most areas, making up 21.5% of households. Family sizes are typical, with an average of 2.5 people per home.
Everyone here lives in a separate house, and 43.1% own their home outright. Renting is very uncommon, occurring in only 11.8% of households.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, as no one commutes by public transport. Most homes have at least one vehicle, and 33.7% have two.
The community is relatively stable, as fewer people have moved in the last five years compared to the state average. No recent arrivals from overseas were recorded.
While full-time employment is steady, the unemployment rate is 12%, which is well above the national figure. Many residents work as labourers or in health care and manufacturing.
The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score. Most homes are far from health services, and fewer than half are within a 15-minute walk of a park or groceries.