Cooya Beach

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 11.8% of the population, which is well above the national figure and has risen nearly 10 points since 2011. The community is also younger than most areas, with 21.9% being children under 15.

People born overseas make up 18.3% of the population, which is much higher than most similar areas but well below the Australian average. English and Australian ancestries are the most common, and the proportion of overseas-born residents has risen since 2011.

While English is the main language, 8.7% of people use another language at home, a figure that is much higher than most similar areas. However, this is still far below the national average, and very few people speak little or no English.

A majority of residents, 51.9%, report having no religion, which is far above the figures for Queensland and Australia. This trend has grown significantly since 2011, rising by 23 percentage points.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher make up 10.6% of the population, which is far below the national average. On the other hand, 48.1% of residents have completed Year 12, a figure that is much higher than most similar areas.

Typical weekly household income is $1,391, which is higher than most similar areas but a little below the national figure. While incomes have risen since 2011, only 8.2% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

The community is healthier than most similar areas, with much lower rates of long-term health conditions (25.4%) and mental health conditions (7.5%). People needing help with daily activities are also much less common here than in most similar areas.

Unpaid care for children is much more common here than in most similar areas, with 30% of people providing this support. In contrast, volunteering is much lower than in most similar areas and has fallen since 2011.

Families with children are common, making up 51.3% of households, and there are more one-parent families here than in most similar areas. People living alone have also increased, now representing 23.3% of homes.

Detached houses are the norm for 89.1% of residents, far above the state average. While 24.3% of homes are rented, the typical weekly rent of $300 is well below the national figure.

The area is very car-reliant, with 72.7% of workers driving to work and only 0.8% using public transport. Very few homes are without a vehicle, though this figure has risen slightly since 2011.

The community has seen significant movement, with 43.8% of people moving in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas are far less common here than across the rest of Australia.

The unemployment rate is very low at 2.2%, which is much lower than most similar areas. Many residents work in accommodation and food services or healthcare, though full-time employment has fallen since 2011.

The area is strictly car-dependent, with no homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries, schools, or health services. Almost every home is within walking distance of a park, but the overall walkability score is far below the state average.