2902.0 - Census Update (Newsletter), Nov 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/11/2003   
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Australia in Profile

Australia in Profile - A Regional Analysis (cat. no. 2032.0) presents commentary and data from the 2001 Census on a number of key social indicators, with a focus on regional distribution and comparisons. This publication, to be released in December 2003, is a valuable resource for those involved in social policy, research, journalism, marketing and teaching, and anyone interested in the regional issues facing contemporary Australian society. Topics covered include:

  • Population distribution and growth, which looks at growth and decline in different areas, and traces the movement of people between different parts of the country over the last five years.
  • Cultural diversity, which looks at where the highest proportion of different groups of overseas-born live, and where people with different religions and ancestries are found.
  • Education, which focuses on the regions of Australia with the highest and lowest levels of educational participation and attainment.
  • Employment and unemployment, which examines regional well-being in terms of labour force participation, unemployment and working hours.
  • Income and living standards, which reports not only on the regions of Australia with the highest and lowest incomes, but also on other indicators of living standards and disadvantage, such as use of information technology at home.
  • Housing, in which regional variation is examined in terms of dwelling types, housing costs and overcrowding.

Each chapter of Australia in Profile - A Regional Analysis is supported by a summary table which shows at a glance how key social indicators differ between regions across the country. A new feature of this edition is the inclusion of regional case studies, which draw together a wide range of data to paint a comprehensive picture of the social characteristics of particular areas.

The publication also includes ranked tables, maps, graphs and data from Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) 2001, and provides easy-to-read discussion for the general user of census data.

Interesting facts:

Between 1996 and 2001, Gungahlin-Hall (SSD) in the Australian Capital Territory had the greatest population growth in Australia.

Around 20% of the population of Yorke and Lower North (SD) in South Australia were aged 65 years and over, compared with 13% of the population of Australia.

Sydney and Melbourne were the cities with the highest proportions of people born overseas.

The highest concentration of older lone person households (where the person was aged 65 years or over) was found in Redcliffe City (SSD) to the north of Brisbane.

Areas of Canberra and Brisbane had the highest proportions of people with a bachelor degree or above, while the Northern Beaches of Sydney had the highest proportion of people with an advanced diploma, a diploma or certificate.

Pilbara (SD) in Western Australia had one of the highest labour force participation rates in the country, and more than half of the families residing here were couple families with dependent children.

At almost 60% of all dwellings, the Far West (SD) region of New South Wales had the highest rate of outright home ownership in Australia.