Urban Centre · Area profile
Barunga
7 km²
A predominantly Aboriginal community with a very young population, Barunga (L) stands out for its high proportion of children and young adults. The typical resident is just 26, and nearly 95% of the 337 people identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. This youthful character is reflected in the large household sizes and a high number of one-parent families. It is a small, remote settlement where most people speak a language other than English at home.
Explore Barunga by topic
The population is far younger than the national average, with 34.4% being children under 15. Seniors make up only 3% of the community, which is far below the 17.2% seen across Australia.
Almost everyone here was born in Australia, with 97.6% of residents born in the country. Only 1.2% of the population were born overseas, a figure far below the national average.
Language diversity is very high, with 83.7% of people using another language at home. This is far above the national figure of 22.3%, and 12.5% of residents speak little or no English.
Most residents identify as Christian, at 65.6%. Those with no religion make up 25.2% of the community, which is far below the national figure of 38.9%.
Educational qualifications are much lower than in most areas; only 14.4% of people completed Year 12. This is far below the national average of 58.8%, and just 5.9% hold a bachelor degree or higher.
Incomes are among the lowest in the country, with a typical weekly family income of $706. This is far below the national figure of $2,120, and no households earn $3,000 or more per week.
The community has a relatively low rate of long-term health conditions at 21.7%, which is well below the national figure of 27.7%. Only 0.9% of people reported a mental health condition.
Unpaid care is common here, with 50.7% of people caring for children, far above the national average of 26.3%. However, only 7.8% of residents volunteer, which is well below the national figure.
Homes are typically large, averaging 3.8 people, which is well above the national average of 2.5. This is consistent with the high number of one-parent families, who make up 39.2% of households.
Rental is the primary tenure, with 86.3% of households renting, far above the national average. No one owns their home outright, and typical weekly rent is very low at $100.
Car ownership is very low, with 65% of homes having no motor vehicle. Consequently, 69.1% of people walk to work, while no one uses public transport for commuting.
The population is relatively stable, with only 26.5% of people moving in the last five years. This is far below the national figure of 40.7%.
Job participation is low, with only 32.4% of adults working or looking for work, far below the national average of 61.1%. The unemployment rate is 11.3%, which is well above the national figure.
Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school, health service, or park. However, no homes are within walking distance of groceries or public transport, making the area mostly car-dependent.