South Australia
Dropping off the Edge 2021 finds disadvantage is located in a small number of communities in South Australia, which have experienced disadvantage on multiple fronts, including environmental disadvantaged as measured for the first time in this report.
Key findings
Disadvantage is concentrated in a small number of communities within South Australia.
Just four areas (2% of total locations) account for close to a quarter (24%) of the most disadvantaged rankings across the indicators examined. This is a twelve-fold overrepresentation.
These communities experience a complex web of disadvantage that make it challenging to improve life opportunities.
Of the top 20 most disadvantaged areas in South Australia, eight were in Adelaide and 12 were outside Adelaide. Disadvantage is centred in the remote north of the state, and north-west of Adelaide.
Several communities have remained disadvantaged for long periods. Of the top 20 most disadvantaged areas, 19 were also highly disadvantaged in 2015. Many of these communities were experiencing disadvantage on multiple fronts.
Many disadvantaged communities were affected by air pollution — this is likely a reflection of the remoteness of many of the disadvantaged locations, with both dust and mining activity potentially contributing to particles in the atmosphere.
2 per cent OF TOTAL LOCATIONS ACCOUNTED FOR CLOSE TO A QUARTER per cent OF THE MOST DISADVANTAGED RANKINGS ACROSS THE INDICATORS.
Locational disadvantage is concentrated…
A limited number of communities disproportionately occupy the most disadvantaged positions across the various indicators:
Four areas, about 2% of locations, account for 24% of the most disadvantaged rank positions across all indicators.
This is a twelve-fold overrepresentation, and a stark indication of the heavy burden of disadvantage born by a limited section of the community.
17 areas, about 10% of locations, account for 57% of most disadvantaged rank positions across all indicators.
…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.
Dropping off the Edge finds a number of communities in South Australia were considered significantly disadvantaged in both 2015 and 2021.
Of the top 20 most disadvantaged areas, 19 were also highly disadvantaged in 2015; 10 were also disadvantaged in 2007. Many of these communities were experiencing disadvantage on multiple fronts.
Different areas rank highly on different indicators. This highlights the diversity of disadvantage between communities, and the need to explicitly consider the individual community context when addressing disadvantage.
THERE IS IMMENSE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COST TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AS A RESULT OF SUSTAINED DISADVANTAGE.
Most disadvantaged Locations in South Australia - comparison with previous years
| Band | SA2 Name | Population | Location | In 2007 | In 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most Disadvantaged Locations | |||||
| 1 | Christie Downs | 9,758 | Greater Adelaide | Y | Y |
| 1 | Coober Pedy | 1,820 | Rest of SA | Y | Y |
| 1 | Davoren Park | 18,291 | Greater Adelaide | Y | Y |
| 1 | Hackham West - Huntfield Heights | 7,674 | Greater Adelaide | Y | Y |
| 1 | Murray Bridge | 19,414 | Rest of SA | Y | |
| 1 | Port Augusta | 13,397 | Rest of SA | Y | Y |
| 1 | Port Pirie | 14,086 | Rest of SA | Y | Y |
| 1 | Renmark | 4,806 | Rest of SA | Y | |
| 1 | Salisbury | 18,579 | Greater Adelaide | Y | |
| 1 | Wallaroo | 4,301 | Rest of SA | Y | |
| 2 | Berri | 4,230 | Rest of SA | Y | |
| 2 | Ceduna | 2,550 | Rest of SA | Y | Y |
| 2 | Elizabeth East | 13,449 | Greater Adelaide | Y | Y |
| 2 | Enfield - Blair Athol | 24,758 | Greater Adelaide | Y | Y |
| 2 | Mannum | 6,529 | Rest of SA | Y | |
| 2 | Moonta | 5,194 | Rest of SA | Y | |
| 2 | Outback | 2,484 | Rest of SA | ||
| 2 | Salisbury North | 18,149 | Greater Adelaide | Y | |
| 2 | The Parks | 19,341 | Greater Adelaide | Y | |
| 2 | Whyalla | 21,478 | Rest of SA | Y | Y |
| Least Disadvantaged Locations | |||||
| Aldgate - Stirling | 18,064 | Greater Adelaide | |||
| Belair | 4,665 | Greater Adelaide | |||
| Blackwood | 12,885 | Greater Adelaide | |||
| Burnside - Wattle Park | 19,415 | Greater Adelaide | |||
| Clarendon | 2,754 | Greater Adelaide | |||
| Coromandel Valley | 4,490 | Greater Adelaide | |||
| Flagstaff Hill | 10,884 | Greater Adelaide | |||
| Glenside - Beaumont | 10,187 | Greater Adelaide | |||
| Mitcham (SA) | 16,638 | Greater Adelaide | |||
| Uraidla - Summertown | 5,745 | Greater Adelaide |