Western Australia
Dropping off the Edge 2021 finds disadvantage is disproportionately located in a small number of communities in largely regional WA, which experience high and persistent rates of intergenerational unemployment, low household income, and high rates of youth unemployment.
Key findings
Disadvantage is concentrated in a small number of communities within WA, with 10% of locations accounting for more than half (56%) of the most disadvantaged rank positions across all indicators measured.
These communities experience a complex web of disadvantage that make it challenging to improve life opportunities.
Most of the disadvantaged areas in WA are in the remote areas in the north and east of the state. Of the 40 most disadvantaged areas, 26 are outside Perth.
The most common forms of disadvantage facing disadvantaged locations in WA are jobless parents; low income; and youth not in employment, education or training.
ABOUT 10 per cent OF LOCATIONS ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN HALF (56 per cent) OF THE MOST DISADVANTAGED RANK POSITIONS ACROSS ALL INDICATORS.
Locational disadvantage is concentrated
A limited number of communities disproportionately occupy the most disadvantaged positions across the various indicators:
Five areas, about 2% of locations, account for 22% of the most disadvantaged rank positions across all indicators. This is a eleven-fold overrepresentation, and a stark indication of the heavy burden of disadvantage born by a limited section of the community.
24 areas, about 10% of locations, account for 56% of the most disadvantaged rank positions. This is a more than five-fold overrepresentation.
Locational disadvantage is persistent
We can compare findings of this 2021 study with previous Dropping off the Edge studies to see the persistent nature of locational disadvantage.
Dropping off the Edge 2021 finds a small number of communities in WA showed significant disadvantage on a number of indicators in both 2015 and 2021. Three remote communities ranked in the most disadvantaged 5% on five or more indicators in both 2015 and 2021.
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 WA
| Band | SA2 Name | Population | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Disadvantaged Locations | |||
| 1 | Carnarvon | 4,758 | Rest of WA |
| 1 | Derby - West Kimberley | 8,233 | Rest of WA |
| 1 | East Pilbara | 6,537 | Rest of WA |
| 1 | Halls Creek | 3,537 | Rest of WA |
| 1 | Kununurra | 7,303 | Rest of WA |
| 1 | Leinster - Leonora | 5,056 | Rest of WA |
| 1 | Mandurah | 8,832 | Greater Perth |
| 1 | Meekatharra | 2,833 | Rest of WA |
| 1 | Roebuck | 2,578 | Rest of WA |
| 1 | Withers - Usher | 4,976 | Rest of WA |
| 2 | Armadale - Wungong - Brookdale | 22,390 | Greater Perth |
| 2 | Balga - Mirrabooka | 20,887 | Greater Perth |
| 2 | Boulder | 6,965 | Rest of WA |
| 2 | Calista | 7,565 | Greater Perth |
| 2 | College Grove - Carey Park | 6,843 | Rest of WA |
| 2 | Geraldton | 10,682 | Rest of WA |
| 2 | Geraldton - East | 7,961 | Rest of WA |
| 2 | Katanning | 4,476 | Rest of WA |
| 2 | South Hedland | 10,298 | Rest of WA |
| 2 | York - Beverley | 5,391 | Rest of WA |
| 3 | Collie | 8,601 | Rest of WA |
| 3 | Cooloongup | 8,689 | Greater Perth |
| 3 | Cunderdin | 3,974 | Rest of WA |
| 3 | Girrawheen | 8,572 | Greater Perth |
| 3 | Gosnells | 20,742 | Greater Perth |
| 3 | Irwin | 3,594 | Rest of WA |
| 3 | Mandurah - South | 10,600 | Greater Perth |
| 3 | Northam | 11,013 | Rest of WA |
| 3 | Parmelia - Orelia | 11,394 | Greater Perth |
| 3 | Willagee | 5,146 | Greater Perth |
| 4 | Brookton | 3,665 | Rest of WA |
| 4 | Broome | 14,403 | Rest of WA |
| 4 | Greenfields | 9,860 | Greater Perth |
| 4 | Hamilton Hill | 11,343 | Greater Perth |
| 4 | Kambalda - Coolgardie - Norseman | 4,203 | Rest of WA |
| 4 | Midland - Guildford | 10,765 | Greater Perth |
| 4 | Narrogin | 4,457 | Rest of WA |
| 4 | Nollamara - Westminster | 19,393 | Greater Perth |
| 4 | Plantagenet | 5,262 | Rest of WA |
| 4 | Roebourne | 5,737 | Rest of WA |
| Least Disadvantaged Locations | |||
| Busselton Region | 11,919 | Rest of WA | |
| City Beach | 6,909 | Greater Perth | |
| Cottesloe | 8,109 | Greater Perth | |
| Duncraig | 15,635 | Greater Perth | |
| Glen Forrest - Darlington | 7,290 | Greater Perth | |
| Karrinyup - Gwelup - Carine | 22,012 | Greater Perth | |
| Lesmurdie - Bickley - Carmel | 11,972 | Greater Perth | |
| Nedlands - Dalkeith - Crawley | 19,678 | Greater Perth | |
| Swanbourne - Mount Claremont | 9,942 | Greater Perth | |
| Wembley Downs - Churchlands - Woodlands | 14,905 | Greater Perth |