Tasmania
Dropping off the Edge 2021 finds disadvantage is disproportionately located in a small number of communities in Tasmania, which experience high and persistent rates of family violence, prison contact, a lack of internet at home, and low incomes.
Key findings
Disadvantage is concentrated in a small number of communities within Tasmania. Six areas (6% of locations) account for 36% of the most disadvantaged ranks across all indicators. This is a six-fold overrepresentation.
These communities experience a complex web of disadvantage that make it challenging to improve life opportunities.
Most of the disadvantaged communities in Tasmania (six of the 10 most disadvantaged areas) are located in Hobart, despite just one-third of the state’s population living in the city.
The most common forms of disadvantage are low income, family violence, prison admissions and no internet at home.
6 OF THE 10 MOST DISADVANTAGED AREAS ARE
IN HOBART.
Locational disadvantage is concentrated
A limited number of communities disproportionately occupy the most disadvantaged positions across the various indicators:
Just two areas (2% of all locations) accounted for close to a quarter (23%) of the most disadvantaged positions, an elevenfold overrepresentation.
These two locations each rank in the top 5% of disadvantage against 19 of the 37 indicators ranked.
Six areas, about 6% of locations, account for 36% of the most disadvantaged rank positions across all indicators. This is a six-fold overrepresentation.
Disadvantage 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.
Two areas in Tasmania are dealing with particularly deep or multilayered disadvantage. These two locations have 19 indicators in the top 5% most disadvantaged ranks across all indicators.
A further four areas rank in the 5% most disadvantaged on at least five indicators.
Different areas rank highly on different indicators, highlighting 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 Tasmania
| Band | SA2 Name | Population | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Disadvantaged Locations | |||
| 1 | Acton - Upper Burnie | 3,379 | Rest of Tas. |
| 1 | Bridgewater - Gagebrook | 7,543 | Greater Hobart |
| 1 | East Devonport | 4,816 | Rest of Tas. |
| 1 | Glenorchy | 11,646 | Greater Hobart |
| 1 | Mornington - Warrane | 4,812 | Greater Hobart |
| 1 | New Norfolk | 6,949 | Greater Hobart |
| 1 | Newnham - Mayfield | 10,038 | Rest of Tas. |
| 1 | Ravenswood | 3,560 | Rest of Tas. |
| 1 | Risdon Vale | 3,432 | Greater Hobart |
| 1 | Rokeby | 6,971 | Greater Hobart |
| Least Disadvantaged Locations | |||
| Bellerive - Rosny | 6,092 | Greater Hobart | |
| Cambridge | 8,367 | Greater Hobart | |
| Hadspen - Carrick | 3,560 | Rest of Tas. | |
| Howrah - Tranmere | 11,295 | Greater Hobart | |
| Legana | 4,491 | Rest of Tas. | |
| Sandy Bay | 12,905 | Greater Hobart | |
| South Arm | 4,570 | Greater Hobart | |
| Trevallyn | 4,729 | Rest of Tas. | |
| Turners Beach - Forth | 3,365 | Rest of Tas. | |
| West Hobart | 6,320 | Greater Hobart |