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

 
BandSA2 NamePopulationLocationIn 2007 ListIn 2015 List
Most Disadvantaged Locations
1Bidwill - Hebersham - Emerton18,781Greater SydneyYY
1Bourke - Brewarrina3,968Rest of NSWYY
1Coonamble4,069Rest of NSWY
1Far West2,387Rest of NSWYY
1Kempsey15,373Rest of NSWYY
1Nambucca Heads6,841Rest of NSWYY
1Port Kembla - Warrawong10,068Rest of NSWYY
1Tamworth - West5,865Rest of NSW
1Tuncurry6,352Rest of NSWYY
1Walgett - Lightning Ridge6,145Rest of NSWYY
1Beresfield - Hexham8,416Rest of NSW
1Broken Hill17,269Rest of NSWYY
1Casino12,528Rest of NSWY
1Condobolin6,455Rest of NSW
1Lethbridge Park - Tregear22,665Greater SydneyYY
2Moree8,176Rest of NSWY
2Moree Region5,435Rest of NSWY
2Mount Hutton - Windale9,192Rest of NSWYY
2Taree20,909Rest of NSWYY
2Warilla20,832Rest of NSW
2Berkeley - Lake Heights - Cringila14,803Rest of NSWYY
2Cessnock23,875Rest of NSW
2Gilgandra4,390Rest of NSWY
2Grafton19,019Rest of NSW
2Inverell11,865Rest of NSWYY
3Inverell Region - East5,208Rest of NSWYY
3Mount Druitt - Whalan23,748Greater SydneyYY
3Tweed Heads South8,444Rest of NSWY
3Wellington9,413Rest of NSWY
3Wingham5,471Rest of NSW
3Cowra9,280Rest of NSW
3Glen Innes8,873Rest of NSW
3Lavington15,208Rest of NSW
3Muswellbrook12,364Rest of NSW
3Narrabri7,340Rest of NSW
4Narrandera6,048Rest of NSW
4Narromine6,533Rest of NSW
4Raymond Terrace13,995Rest of NSW
4Tenterfield6,470Rest of NSWYY
4Windang - Primbee4,346Rest of NSWYY
Least Disadvantaged Locations
Balgowlah - Clontarf - Seaforth21,614Greater Sydney
Berowra - Brooklyn - Cowan12,077Greater Sydney
Cremorne - Cammeray20,797Greater Sydney
Lilli Pilli - Port Hacking - Dolans Bay3,272Greater Sydney
Lindfield - Roseville25,691Greater Sydney
Pymble17,731Greater Sydney
St Ives22,042Greater Sydney
Wahroonga (East) - Warrawee18,498Greater Sydney
Willoughby - Castle Cove - Northbridge27,219Greater Sydney
Woronora Heights3,517Greater Sydney