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

 
BandSA2 NamePopulationLocationIn 2007In 2015
Most Disadvantaged Locations
1Christie Downs9,758Greater AdelaideYY
1Coober Pedy1,820Rest of SAYY
1Davoren Park18,291Greater AdelaideYY
1Hackham West - Huntfield Heights7,674Greater AdelaideYY
1Murray Bridge19,414Rest of SAY
1Port Augusta13,397Rest of SAYY
1Port Pirie14,086Rest of SAYY
1Renmark4,806Rest of SAY
1Salisbury18,579Greater AdelaideY
1Wallaroo4,301Rest of SAY
2Berri4,230Rest of SAY
2Ceduna2,550Rest of SAYY
2Elizabeth East13,449Greater AdelaideYY
2Enfield - Blair Athol24,758Greater AdelaideYY
2Mannum6,529Rest of SAY
2Moonta5,194Rest of SAY
2Outback2,484Rest of SA
2Salisbury North18,149Greater AdelaideY
2The Parks19,341Greater AdelaideY
2Whyalla21,478Rest of SAYY
Least Disadvantaged Locations
Aldgate - Stirling18,064Greater Adelaide
Belair4,665Greater Adelaide
Blackwood12,885Greater Adelaide
Burnside - Wattle Park19,415Greater Adelaide
Clarendon2,754Greater Adelaide
Coromandel Valley4,490Greater Adelaide
Flagstaff Hill10,884Greater Adelaide
Glenside - Beaumont10,187Greater Adelaide
Mitcham (SA)16,638Greater Adelaide
Uraidla - Summertown5,745Greater Adelaide