New south Wales
Dropping off the Edge 2021 finds disadvantage is disproportionately located in a small number of communities in largely regional NSW, which experience high and persistent rates of intergenerational unemployment, family violence, and youth unemployment.
Key Findings
Disadvantage is concentrated in a small number of communities within NSW, with 13% of locations accounting for 55% of the most disadvantaged rank positions across all indicators.
These communities experience a complex web of disadvantage that make it challenging to improve life opportunities.
Almost every location experiencing the greatest disadvantage is located outside Sydney — 37 of the 40 most disadvantaged areas are outside Sydney, and nine of the 10 areas suffering extreme disadvantaged are outside Sydney.
A small number of communities have experienced entrenched disadvantage on multiple fronts for long periods of time. Nine of the top 10 most disadvantaged areas in NSW were also ranked highly disadvantaged in 2015, and eight of the top 10 were also ranked highly disadvantaged in 2007.
The most common forms of severe disadvantage in places ranking highly on indicators of disadvantage were intergenerational unemployment; family violence; and young people leaving school early, without engaging in subsequent employment or learning.
NINE OF THE 10 AREAS experiencing the most extreme disadvantage were located outside Sydney.
Locational disadvantage is concentrated
A limited number of communities in NSW disproportionately occupy the most disadvantaged positions across the various indicators:
Just seven areas, about 1% of locations, account for 11% of the most disadvantaged rank positions across all indicators. This is an eleven-fold overrepresentation, and a stark indication of the heavy burden of disadvantage borne by a limited section of the community.
26 areas, about 5% of locations, account for 29% of the most disadvantaged rank positions across all indicators. Overall, 106 areas (19% of locations) occupy 95% of the most disadvantaged rank positions.
The disproportionate distribution of disadvantage within NSW is seen most clearly in comparing the most 3% of most disadvantaged communities with the rest of the state. Those living in the 3% most disadvantaged areas (16 locations) are:
More than four times more likely to be living in public housing (4.4 times).
Four times more likely to be exposed to family violence, or have a juvenile criminal conviction.
More than three times more likely to have high levels of prison admissions (3.3 times).
Almost three times as likely to be dealing with heat vulnerability.
The 3% most disadvantaged areas have at least twice the rate of jobless parents, child maltreatment, unemployment and disability.
26 AREAS (5 per cent OF THE TOTAL) ACCOUNTED FOR 29 per cent OF THE DISADVANTAGE.
Locational disadvantage is persistent…
We can compare findings of this 2021 study with previous Dropping off the Edge studies undertaken in 2007 and 2015 to see the persistent nature of locational disadvantage.
Many of the NSW locations identified as disadvantaged in 2021 were also disadvantaged in the 2015 report. Of those in the top 10 most disadvantaged locations in 2021, nine were also in the 2015 list of 40 most disadvantaged locations, and eight were listed as disadvantaged in both 2007 and 2015. This trend shows the entrenched nature of disadvantage in these communities.
… and occurs on multiple fronts
Disadvantage is difficult to shift when it occurs across multiple areas of life. These challenges combine to create what can seem to be insurmountable hurdles.
In NSW, 5% of locations (26 areas) have at least eight indicators in the top 5% most disadvantaged rank positions. This trend highlights the disproportionate burden of disadvantage borne by some areas.
THERE IS IMMENSE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COST TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AS A RESULT OF SUSTAINED DISADVANTAGE.
MOST DISADVANTAGED Locations IN NSW - COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS YEARS
| Band | SA2 Name | Population | Location | In 2007 List | In 2015 List |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most Disadvantaged Locations | |||||
| 1 | Bidwill - Hebersham - Emerton | 18,781 | Greater Sydney | Y | Y |
| 1 | Bourke - Brewarrina | 3,968 | Rest of NSW | Y | Y |
| 1 | Coonamble | 4,069 | Rest of NSW | Y | |
| 1 | Far West | 2,387 | Rest of NSW | Y | Y |
| 1 | Kempsey | 15,373 | Rest of NSW | Y | Y |
| 1 | Nambucca Heads | 6,841 | Rest of NSW | Y | Y |
| 1 | Port Kembla - Warrawong | 10,068 | Rest of NSW | Y | Y |
| 1 | Tamworth - West | 5,865 | Rest of NSW | ||
| 1 | Tuncurry | 6,352 | Rest of NSW | Y | Y |
| 1 | Walgett - Lightning Ridge | 6,145 | Rest of NSW | Y | Y |
| 1 | Beresfield - Hexham | 8,416 | Rest of NSW | ||
| 1 | Broken Hill | 17,269 | Rest of NSW | Y | Y |
| 1 | Casino | 12,528 | Rest of NSW | Y | |
| 1 | Condobolin | 6,455 | Rest of NSW | ||
| 1 | Lethbridge Park - Tregear | 22,665 | Greater Sydney | Y | Y |
| 2 | Moree | 8,176 | Rest of NSW | Y | |
| 2 | Moree Region | 5,435 | Rest of NSW | Y | |
| 2 | Mount Hutton - Windale | 9,192 | Rest of NSW | Y | Y |
| 2 | Taree | 20,909 | Rest of NSW | Y | Y |
| 2 | Warilla | 20,832 | Rest of NSW | ||
| 2 | Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila | 14,803 | Rest of NSW | Y | Y |
| 2 | Cessnock | 23,875 | Rest of NSW | ||
| 2 | Gilgandra | 4,390 | Rest of NSW | Y | |
| 2 | Grafton | 19,019 | Rest of NSW | ||
| 2 | Inverell | 11,865 | Rest of NSW | Y | Y |
| 3 | Inverell Region - East | 5,208 | Rest of NSW | Y | Y |
| 3 | Mount Druitt - Whalan | 23,748 | Greater Sydney | Y | Y |
| 3 | Tweed Heads South | 8,444 | Rest of NSW | Y | |
| 3 | Wellington | 9,413 | Rest of NSW | Y | |
| 3 | Wingham | 5,471 | Rest of NSW | ||
| 3 | Cowra | 9,280 | Rest of NSW | ||
| 3 | Glen Innes | 8,873 | Rest of NSW | ||
| 3 | Lavington | 15,208 | Rest of NSW | ||
| 3 | Muswellbrook | 12,364 | Rest of NSW | ||
| 3 | Narrabri | 7,340 | Rest of NSW | ||
| 4 | Narrandera | 6,048 | Rest of NSW | ||
| 4 | Narromine | 6,533 | Rest of NSW | ||
| 4 | Raymond Terrace | 13,995 | Rest of NSW | ||
| 4 | Tenterfield | 6,470 | Rest of NSW | Y | Y |
| 4 | Windang - Primbee | 4,346 | Rest of NSW | Y | Y |
| Least Disadvantaged Locations | |||||
| Balgowlah - Clontarf - Seaforth | 21,614 | Greater Sydney | |||
| Berowra - Brooklyn - Cowan | 12,077 | Greater Sydney | |||
| Cremorne - Cammeray | 20,797 | Greater Sydney | |||
| Lilli Pilli - Port Hacking - Dolans Bay | 3,272 | Greater Sydney | |||
| Lindfield - Roseville | 25,691 | Greater Sydney | |||
| Pymble | 17,731 | Greater Sydney | |||
| St Ives | 22,042 | Greater Sydney | |||
| Wahroonga (East) - Warrawee | 18,498 | Greater Sydney | |||
| Willoughby - Castle Cove - Northbridge | 27,219 | Greater Sydney | |||
| Woronora Heights | 3,517 | Greater Sydney |