1380.0.55.005 - Perspectives on Regional Australia: Population Turnover, 2006  
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STATISTICAL LOCAL AREAS IN AUSTRALIA


HIGH AND LOW TURNOVER STATISTICAL LOCAL AREAS

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Introduction

Characteristics of Statistical Local Areas with high population turnover

Characteristics of Statistical Local Areas with low population turnover


Introduction

The population turnover for Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) across Australia varied from 174.1% for City - Remainder (in Darwin, the capital city of the Northern Territory) to 7.5% in Angurugu (CGC), (on Groote Eylandt island off the coast of the Northern Territory, in the Gulf of Carpentaria). This chapter looks at the top twenty (referred to as high turnover) and bottom twenty (referred to as low turnover) SLAs in this range and uses data from the 2006 Census of Population and Housing to determine any similarities and/or differences in their characteristics. Most high turnover SLAs were either in the Northern Territory or the Australian Capital Territory (refer Table 1.1) and all low turnover SLAs were either in the Northern Territory or Queensland (refer Table 1.2).

To view images of the high turnover SLAs via Google Maps Australia please click on the following links:

TABLE 1.1. HIGH POPULATION TURNOVER , By SLA - Australia

2001 Census count(a)
2006 Census count
Census count change
Arrivals(b)
Departures(c)
Net migration(c)
Population flow(c)
Population turnover(c)
State SLA(d)
psns
psns
psns
psns
psns
psns
psns
%

NT City - Remainder
2 791
2 301
-490
1 440
1 532
-92
2 972
174.1
ACT Duntroon
1 258
1 683
425
1 518
769
749
2 287
147.8
NT Jabiru (T)
1 108
1 139
31
447
596
-149
1 043
146.9
NT Durack
2 393
2 687
294
1 595
1 579
16
3 174
145.5
NT City - Inner
2 196
2 482
286
1 317
1 269
48
2 586
143.4
ACT Acton
1 441
1 805
364
1 660
683
977
2 343
137.9
NT Gunn-Palmerston City
1 195
2 379
1 184
1 409
1 061
348
2 470
134.2
NT Litchfield (S) - Pt A
1 452
1 233
-219
769
696
73
1 465
129.3
ACT City
596
719
123
429
216
213
645
127.7
NT Larrakeyah
3 047
3 037
-10
1 723
1 422
301
3 145
126.3
ACT Kingston
1 839
2 454
615
1 666
1 000
666
2 666
123.9
WA Leonora (S)
1 929
1 409
-520
676
743
-67
1 419
122.6
NT Alice Springs (T) - Stuart
2 103
1 920
-183
903
827
76
1 730
122.1
ACT Phillip
1 654
1 912
258
1 146
857
289
2 003
121.5
ACT Belconnen Town Centre
2 738
3 055
317
1 803
1 250
553
3 053
121.2
NT The Gardens
698
567
-131
349
236
113
585
120.9
NT Driver
2 810
2 717
-93
1 279
1 341
-62
2 620
120.7
Qld Rosslea
1 582
1 447
-135
786
690
96
1 476
118.9
WA Meekatharra (S)
1 356
1 134
-222
319
566
-247
885
118.8
NT Nightcliff
3 257
3 357
100
1 453
1 715
-262
3 168
118.0

(a) Based on 2006 Census boundaries
(b) Excludes people aged 0-4 years and those who did not state where they lived 5 years ago
(c) Excludes people aged 0-4 years, those who did not state where they lived 5 years ago, and overseas departures, meaning these data are estimated on a different basis than the 2006 Census count (for further information about how Population turnover is calculated, refer to Explanatory Note 14)
(d) Excludes unincorporated areas and SLAs with a population of less than 500 people
Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2006 and Census of Population and Housing, 2001
Note: This table is based on place of usual residence. Cells in this table have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data.

TABLE 1.2. LOW POPULATION TURNOVER, By SLA - Australia

2001 Census count(a)
2006 Census count
Census count change
Arrivals(b)
Departures(c)
Net migration(c)
Population flow(c)
Population turnover(c)
State SLA(d)
psns
psns
psns
psns
psns
psns
psns
%

NT Angurugu (CGC)
800
816
16
32
21
11
53
7.5
NT East Arnhem - Bal
5 802
6 522
720
394
386
8
780
14.1
NT West Arnhem
3 066
3 337
271
243
190
53
433
15.3
Qld Yarrabah (S)
2 143
2 375
232
155
168
-13
323
16.2
NT Thamarrurr (CGC)
1 513
1 930
417
133
124
9
257
16.9
NT Yugul Mangi (CGC)
1 907
1 641
-266
123
109
14
232
17.2
Qld Aurukun (S)
1 033
1 046
13
73
91
-18
164
18.3
NT Numbulwar Numburindi (CGC)
721
684
-37
56
54
2
110
18.8
Qld Kowanyama (S)
974
1 023
49
71
105
-34
176
19.3
NT Kunbarllanjnja (CGC)
852
882
30
77
83
-6
160
20.6
Qld Palm Island (S)
2 133
1 981
-152
123
246
-123
369
22.4
NT Tiwi Islands (CGC)
2 228
2 129
-99
192
232
-40
424
22.7
Qld Mornington (S)
944
1 032
88
86
110
-24
196
22.9
Qld Napranum (S)
720
838
118
91
77
14
168
23.4
Qld Cherbourg (S)
1 133
1 131
-2
100
143
-43
243
25.7
Qld Pormpuraaw (S)
582
597
15
81
54
27
135
26.0
Qld Doomadgee (S)
1 133
1 084
-49
81
113
-32
194
26.5
NT Ltyentye Purte (CGC)
538
542
4
50
78
-28
128
27.4
NT Tanami
2 971
2 439
-532
337
257
80
594
28.5
NT Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre (CGC)
1 105
938
-167
104
125
-21
229
28.5

(a) Based on 2006 Census boundaries
(b) Excludes people aged 0-4 years and those who did not state where they lived 5 years ago
(c) Excludes people aged 0-4 years, those who did not state where they lived 5 years ago, and overseas departures, meaning these data are estimated on a different basis than the 2006 Census count (for further information about how Population turnover is calculated, refer to Explanatory Note 14)
(d) Excludes unincorporated areas and SLAs with a population of less than 500 people
Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2006 and Census of Population and Housing, 2001
Note: This table is based on place of usual residence. Cells in this table have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data.



Characteristics of Statistical Local Areas with high population turnover

High turnover SLAs were generally in urban areas of Australia and most were in either the Northern Territory (11 out of the 20) or the ACT (6). Almost three quarters of them recorded positive net migration (where arrivals outnumbered departures), with Acton, City and Duntroon (all in the ACT) recording the highest ratio of arrivals to departures in this group (2.43; 1.98; and 1.97 respectively).

Employment

Almost all high turnover SLAs had a high labour force participation rate. With the exception of Acton (with a labour force participation rate of 47.4%) high turnover SLAs had more than 70% of usual residents aged 15 years and over in the labour force, compared with 64.6% in Australia. Along with relatively high participation rates, most high turnover SLAs also had more than 70% of their labour force working full-time, compared to the average for Australia of 60.7%. The exceptions were:
  • Nightcliff (69.0%)
  • Meekatharra (S) (68.4%)
  • Rosslea (68.0%)
  • Belconnen Town Centre (60.7%)
  • Acton (6.1%).

The very low rate noted above for Acton, which contains the Australian National University, may be related to its very high proportion of residents attending University or other tertiary institutions (96.8%).

The industry division (using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006) that recorded the highest proportion of employed residents in fifteen of the twenty high turnover SLAs was Public administration and safety. In contrast this industry division employed the sixth highest proportion of employed residents in Australia (6.9%).

At the industry subdivision level, Defence recorded the highest proportion of employed residents in ten of those fifteen SLAs. These ten SLAs, eight of which are in the Northern Territory, were:
  • Duntroon (87.4% of employed residents employed in Defence)
  • Litchfield (S)-Pt A (65.0%)
  • City - Remainder (49.4%)
  • Durack (29.8%)
  • Gunn-Palmerston City (21.7%)
  • Larrakeyah (18.4%)
  • The Gardens (14.6%)
  • City - Inner (14.0%)
  • Driver (9.7%)
  • Rosslea (6.0%).

The other five SLAs (of the fifteen with Public administration and safety as the top industry division of employment) were City, Kingston, Phillip and Belconnen Town Centre in the Australian Capital Territory and Nightcliff in the Northern Territory. In these SLAs, the ANZSIC subdivision that recorded the highest proportion of employed residents was Public administration; in particular Central government administration or State government administration.

For the remaining high turnover SLAs, the top industries of employment were:
  • Mining: Leonora (S) (39.1%) and Jabiru (T) (37.2%)
  • Accommodation and food services: Acton (31.7%)
  • Health care and social assistance: Alice Springs (T) - Stuart (18.8%)
  • Mining and Education and training: Meekatharra (S) (both 16.3%).

Housing

Most high turnover SLAs had high proportions of rented dwellings, which is indicative of a mobile population. More than 90% of the dwellings in City - Remainder, Jabiru (T), Duntroon and Acton were rented. With the exception of Litchfield (S)-Pt A, more than 45% of dwellings in the remaining sixteen high turnover SLAs were rented. The proportion of rented dwellings in Litchfield (S)-Pt A (29.5%) was similar to that for Australia (29.0%).

When looking at the types of dwellings occupied in each of the SLAs, twelve of the twenty high turnover SLAs had a higher proportion of flats, units or apartments, than the Australia rate of 13.1%. More than 50% of occupied private dwellings in Phillip, Rosslea, Larrakeyah, Kingston, City and City-Inner were flats, units or apartments: for City-Inner, City and Kingston this proportion was above 85%.

Demography

While the high turnover SLAs differed in many demographic characteristics, they did share some similarities in their age and sex structures with most displaying relatively young age profiles and, contrary to the picture at the Australia level, having more males than females (refer Table 1.3).

GRAPH 1.1. AGE GROUP, Duntroon
Graph 1.1. Age group, Duntroon


GRAPH 1.2. AGE GROUP, Acton
Graph 1.2. Age group, Acton


Litchfield (S)-Pt A and Duntroon had particularly high proportions of males (72.8% and 72.6% respectively). These SLAs both have strong military influences; Litchfield (S)-Pt A contains Robertson Barracks; and Duntroon contains the Royal Military College and Australian Defence Force Academy. The following SLAs also had a high proportion of males; City (60.9%), City - Inner (59.6%) and Jabiru (T) and Leonora (S), both 58.9%.

As well as containing high proportions of males, Litchfield (S)-Pt A and Duntroon had a high proportion of young males aged 15-29 years (60.3% of males living in Litchfield (S)-Pt A and 82.2% of males living in Duntroon). Acton and Belconnen Town Centre also had high proportions of their total males in this age group (87.2% and 45.2% respectively).

The 15-29 year age group was the most common age group in just over half (11) of the high turnover SLAs and all twenty high turnover SLAs had a higher proportion of 15-29 year olds than Australia (20.1%).

Of the populations within each SLA, Duntroon and Acton had the highest proportions of 15-29 year olds (1,290 persons or 76.6% and 1,600 persons or 88.6% respectively - see Graphs 1.1 and 1.2). It should be noted that there are tertiary institutions in these SLAs; the Australian National University in Acton and the Royal Military College and Australian Defence Force Academy in Duntroon. Litchfield (S)-Pt A (51.2%) and Belconnen Town Centre (47.4%) also had very high proportions of 15-29 year olds.

TABLE 1.3. HIGH POPULATION TURNOVER SLAs, By age (years) and sex - Australia

State SLA
0 - 14
15 - 29
30 - 44
45 - 59
60 - 74
75 and over
Total

NT City - Remainder
Males
355
418
289
103
35
5
1 205
Females
348
401
257
64
21
3
1 094
Persons
703
819
546
167
56
8
2 299
ACT Duntroon
Males
69
1 004
134
15
-
-
1 222
Females
81
287
83
11
-
-
462
Persons
150
1 291
217
26
-
-
1 684
NT Jabiru (T)
Males
166
117
207
146
29
4
669
Females
114
113
141
89
12
-
469
Persons
280
230
348
235
41
4
1 138
NT Durack
Males
452
276
406
157
35
9
1 335
Females
436
299
417
154
37
7
1 350
Persons
888
575
823
311
72
16
2 685
NT City - Inner
Males
90
441
404
335
167
43
1 480
Females
69
382
237
180
79
54
1 001
Persons
159
823
641
515
246
97
2 481
ACT Acton
Males
3
778
97
6
8
-
892
Females
3
821
77
8
-
3
912
Persons
6
1 599
174
14
8
3
1 804
NT Gunn-Palmerston City
Males
378
279
363
142
36
4
1 202
Females
361
278
351
156
24
8
1 178
Persons
739
557
714
298
60
12
2 380
NT Litchfield (S) - Pt A
Males
58
543
158
103
30
8
900
Females
76
89
71
81
13
4
334
Persons
134
632
229
184
43
12
1 234
ACT City
Males
6
169
138
93
17
15
438
Females
11
140
65
42
17
7
282
Persons
17
309
203
135
34
22
720
NT Larrakeyah
Males
229
448
465
355
123
37
1 657
Females
218
376
375
293
83
33
1 378
Persons
447
824
840
648
206
70
3 035
ACT Kingston
Males
66
468
363
184
72
46
1 199
Females
60
546
321
170
86
71
1 254
Persons
126
1 014
684
354
158
117
2 453
WA Leonora (S)
Males
176
187
266
137
55
8
829
Females
165
115
164
103
27
7
581
Persons
341
302
430
240
82
15
1 410
NT Alice Springs (T) - Stuart
Males
135
229
305
215
75
12
971
Females
164
312
228
172
58
13
947
Persons
299
541
533
387
133
25
1 918
ACT Phillip
Males
57
325
273
167
61
34
917
Females
60
369
282
149
89
43
992
Persons
117
694
555
316
150
77
1 909
ACT Belconnen Town Centre
Males
125
737
463
194
90
20
1 629
Females
116
710
286
191
88
35
1 426
Persons
241
1 447
749
385
178
55
3 055
NT The Gardens
Males
24
84
79
62
37
24
310
Females
26
55
71
56
22
27
257
Persons
50
139
150
118
59
51
567
NT Driver
Males
397
302
360
261
45
9
1 374
Females
384
319
353
223
53
11
1 343
Persons
781
621
713
484
98
20
2 717
Qld Rosslea
Males
105
232
180
125
70
30
742
Females
87
240
134
112
75
57
705
Persons
192
472
314
237
145
87
1 447
WA Meekatharra (S)
Males
150
118
128
124
60
10
590
Females
152
115
119
100
42
15
543
Persons
302
233
247
224
102
25
1 133
NT Nightcliff
Males
289
354
396
448
188
39
1 714
Females
290
364
430
387
149
24
1 644
Persons
579
718
826
835
337
63
3 358

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
Note: This table is based on place of usual residence. Cells in this table have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data.



Characteristics of Statistical Local Areas with low population turnover

All twenty low turnover SLAs were in rural areas in either the Northern Territory (11) or Queensland (9) (see Table 1.2). Nine of the eleven low turnover SLAs in the Northern Territory were located in the northern areas. Similarly, eight of the nine low turnover SLAs in Queensland were also in the northern half of the state.

Employment

All low turnover SLAs, except for Yarrabah (S) and Pormpuraaw (S), had a labour force participation rate lower than Australia. The labour force participation rates for Yarrabah (S) and Pormpuraaw (S) were 70.6% and 66.9% respectively, compared with 64.6% for Australia. The SLAs with the lowest labour force participation rate were Numbulwar Numburindi (CGC) (20.9%), Angurugu (CGC) (21.1%) and Thamarrurr (CGC) (24.5%).

In seventeen of the twenty low turnover SLAs, the largest industry division of employment was Public administration and safety. In contrast, Public administration and safety was the sixth largest employing industry of employed residents in Australia (6.9%). The seventeen low turnover SLAs where this was the largest industry of employment were:
  • Kowanyama (S) (78.4%)
  • Yarrabah (S) (77.0%)
  • Napranum (S) (70.7%)
  • Cherbourg (S) (70.5%)
  • Pormpuraaw (S) (68.2%)
  • Aurukun (S) (65.5%)
  • Angurugu (CGC) (60.4%)
  • East Arnhem - Bal (54.4%)
  • Kunbarllanjnja (CGC) (53.2%)
  • Numbulwar Numburindi (CGC) (52.6%)
  • Mornington (S) (52.0%)
  • Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre (CGC) (45.7%)
  • West Arnhem (45.0%)
  • Tanami (44.6%)
  • Tiwi Islands (CGC) (44.2%)
  • Yugul Mangi (CGC) (43.1%)
  • Thamarrurr (CGC) (39.8%)

For the remaining three low turnover SLAs, the industry division that recorded the highest proportion of employed residents was Health care and social assistance. These SLAs were Doomadgee (S) (37.8%), Palm Island (S) (32.7%) and Ltyentye Purte (CGC) (29.1%).

Interestingly, with the exception of Palm Island (S), the top industry subdivision for all twenty low turnover SLAs was Public administration. The top industry subdivision for Palm Island (S) was Social assistance services, followed by Public administration.

The major group occupation category (using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), 2006) that recorded the largest proportion of employed residents in nineteen of the twenty low turnover SLAs was Labourers. The proportions varied from 23.7% in Thamarrurr (CGC) to 61.6% in Yarrabah (S), compared with 10.7% for Australia. The exception was Numbulwar Numburindi (CGC) where the occupation category that recorded the highest proportion of residents was Professionals (29.7%), followed closely by Labourers (27.0%).

Income

Less than 10% of residents aged 15 years and over in all twenty low turnover SLAs earned $1,000 or more per week, compared with 19.7% of residents aged 15 years and over in Australia.

Housing

Most of the twenty low turnover SLAs had high proportions of rented dwellings. With the exception of Aurukun (S), more than 89% of occupied private dwellings in all twenty low turnover SLAs were rented, compared with 29.0% of occupied private dwellings in Australia. Just over 60% of occupied private dwellings in Aurukun (S) were rented. Of the rented dwellings in each of the twenty low turnover SLAs, most were being rented from a Housing co-operative, the community or a church group (the proportion varied from 59.5% to 94.7%). The high proportions of rented dwellings in the twenty low turnover SLAs may reflect the types of tenure available on traditional Indigenous lands.

Demography

All twenty SLAs with the lowest turnover had high proportions of Indigenous people. These proportions varied from 89.2% in Tanami to 97.8% in Yarrabah (S), compared with 2.4% in Australia.

Generally the demographic characteristics of age and sex for most low turnover SLAs were similar. The most common age group in all low turnover SLAs was 0-14 years and each of the low turnover SLAs had higher proportions of people in this age group than Australia (19.8%). In general, within each of the low turnover SLAs, there were only small differences in the number of males and females (see Table 1.4).

Although the demographics of each SLA in the low turnover group were similar (see Table 1.4), some notable differences were observed:
  • Kowanyama (S) had the lowest proportion of males (46.5%) of all low turnover SLAs.
  • A very high proportion of residents in Cherbourg (S) and Thamarrurr (CGC) were aged 0-14 years (41.6% and 39.3% respectively).

TABLE 1.4. LOW POPULATION TURNOVER SLAs, By age (years) and sex - Australia

State SLA
0 - 14
15 - 29
30 - 44
45 - 59
60 - 74
75 and over
Total

NT Angurugu (CGC)
Males
144
95
102
30
11
6
388
Females
144
125
92
50
13
-
424
Persons
288
220
194
80
24
6
812
NT East Arnhem - Bal
Males
1 090
946
670
417
110
14
3 247
Females
973
942
752
421
159
28
3 275
Persons
2 063
1 888
1 422
838
269
42
6 522
NT West Arnhem
Males
606
429
394
190
60
19
1 698
Females
560
472
340
189
58
17
1 636
Persons
1 166
901
734
379
118
36
3 334
Qld Yarrabah (S)
Males
443
307
232
138
33
10
1 163
Females
445
311
265
129
48
12
1 210
Persons
888
618
497
267
81
22
2 373
NT Thamarrurr (CGC)
Males
382
256
157
89
32
4
920
Females
378
319
173
82
37
20
1 009
Persons
760
575
330
171
69
24
1 929
NT Yugul Mangi (CGC)
Males
311
235
150
93
29
10
828
Females
295
233
182
73
26
3
812
Persons
606
468
332
166
55
13
1 640
Qld Aurukun (S)
Males
173
121
125
67
15
3
504
Females
169
131
139
70
29
3
541
Persons
342
252
264
137
44
6
1 045
NT Numbulwar Numburindi (CGC)
Males
125
84
75
40
16
3
343
Females
91
93
88
34
27
5
338
Persons
216
177
163
74
43
8
681
Qld Kowanyama (S)
Males
139
107
119
74
26
11
476
Females
149
140
143
79
25
9
545
Persons
288
247
262
153
51
20
1 021
NT Kunbarllanjnja (CGC)
Males
136
125
110
61
12
-
444
Females
126
132
111
46
19
3
437
Persons
262
257
221
107
31
3
881
Qld Palm Island (S)
Males
364
236
239
111
33
6
989
Females
345
261
225
134
22
4
991
Persons
709
497
464
245
55
10
1 980
NT Tiwi Islands (CGC)
Males
328
316
258
146
42
4
1 094
Females
305
271
251
167
31
9
1 034
Persons
633
587
509
313
73
13
2 128
Qld Mornington (S)
Males
174
113
115
80
35
6
523
Females
152
133
114
66
33
10
508
Persons
326
246
229
146
68
16
1 031
Qld Napranum (S)
Males
155
97
87
66
20
-
425
Females
130
114
91
53
21
5
414
Persons
285
211
178
119
41
5
839
Qld Cherbourg (S)
Males
237
132
84
66
27
3
549
Females
234
146
105
69
23
3
580
Persons
471
278
189
135
50
6
1 129
Qld Pormpuraaw (S)
Males
83
47
89
64
25
3
311
Females
79
70
69
51
16
3
288
Persons
162
117
158
115
41
6
599
Qld Doomadgee (S)
Males
232
132
105
60
16
3
548
Females
178
159
110
55
23
9
534
Persons
410
291
215
115
39
12
1 082
NT Ltyentye Purte (CGC)
Males
97
79
53
21
9
-
259
Females
96
80
54
35
14
3
282
Persons
193
159
107
56
23
3
541
NT Tanami
Males
384
364
241
164
42
6
1 201
Females
363
365
259
168
72
12
1 239
Persons
747
729
500
332
114
18
2 440
NT Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre (CGC)
Males
140
134
114
63
12
-
463
Females
155
140
101
58
15
6
475
Persons
295
274
215
121
27
6
938

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
Note: This table is based on place of usual residence. Cells in this table have been have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data.


Please note: All data presented in this publication relate to person or dwelling characteristics at the time of the 2006 Census. As arrivals and departures may have moved at any time in the five years to the 2006 Census their characteristics could have been different at the time of their migration. The data presented also only captures a person's place of usual residence at the 2006 Census and five years prior to the Census. People could have moved residence numerous times between these time periods. Arrivals estimates exclude people who did not state where they lived five years ago, and those who were under the age of 5 at the time of the 2006 Census. In addition to those exclusions, estimates of departures also exclude overseas departures (as these people were not enumerated in the Census). To be consistent with the conceptual basis of the arrivals and departures estimates, the adjusted Census count used in calculating population turnover also excludes 0-4 year olds and people who did not state where they lived five years ago.