Urban Centre · Area profile
Galiwinku
5 km²
A typical weekly personal income of $352 is far below the national figure in Galiwinku, where most residents face significant financial challenges. This East Arnhem community is overwhelmingly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, with a very young population and a typical age of just 25. Large households are the norm here, with many families sharing homes and a strong culture of caring for children. It is a place where traditional languages and identity remain central to daily life.
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The community is far younger than the rest of the country, with 26.6% of the population being children under 15. About 92.2% of residents identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, a figure that rose slightly since 2011.
Very few residents were born overseas, at just 1.9%, which is far below the national average. The vast majority of the population was born in Australia.
Language diversity is very high, with 91.5% of people using a language other than English at home. This is far above the national figure, and 26.5% of residents speak little or no English.
Religious affiliation is common here, with 62.9% identifying as Christian and 26.5% following other religions. Only 4.9% of people report having no religion, which is far below the national figure.
Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 4.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the proportion of people completing Year 12 rose to 31.6% since 2011.
Typical family incomes are far below the national figure at $902 per week. While typical household incomes are about the same as the Territory average, 77.2% of individuals earn under $650 a week.
Long-term health conditions are reported by 18.1% of residents, which is well below the national figure. About 4.7% of people need help with daily activities, a figure that has risen since 2011.
Caregiving is a major part of life here, with 68.5% of people caring for children unpaid—far above the national figure. Another 20.9% provide other forms of unpaid care.
Homes are much larger than average, with a typical 5.6 people per household. One-parent families are very common at 31.0%, while only 9.4% of people live alone.
Rental is the primary tenure with 86.4% of homes rented, and no homes are owned outright. Most residents live in separate houses, with typical weekly rents at $200, which is far below the national figure.
Most households do not own a car, with 64.2% having no motor vehicle. This means many people walk to work, accounting for 54.3% of all commutes.
The population is very stable, as only 12.4% of residents moved in the last five years, far below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals fell sharply from 48.5% in 2016 to 11.9% in 2021.
The unemployment rate is among the highest at this level at 32.5%, having risen 20 points since 2011. Many residents work in education, training, and health care.
While 100% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services, no homes are within walking distance of groceries. The area is considered mostly car-dependent overall.