Ben, Nikki and Martin

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA

POPULATION• The indigenous population was 517200 people or 2.5% of the total Australian population.

This population is estimated to increase by 13%

Percentage of the total indigenous population living in a state or territory

Percentage of the state or territory’s total population that is indigenous.

NSW 28.7 2.2

Victoria 6.0 0.6

Queensland 28.3 3.6

South Australia 5.0 1.7

Western Australia 15.1 3.8

Tasmania 3.3 3.4

Northern Territory 12.9 31.6

ACT 0.8 1.2

This table shows the percentage of total indigenous population living in a state or territory.

Location of indigenous peoples by remotenessMajor Cities 32%

Inner-regional 21%

Outer-regional 22%

Remote 9%

Very Remote 15%

The majority of indigenous people live in major cities and inner or outer regional areas of Australia. However, the proportion of indigenous people that live in remote or very remote areas is much higher than for the non indigenous population.

HEALTH

• In 1996, Indigenous life expectation was estimated to be 59.4 years for male, 64.8 years for female.

• In the year 2000, the life expectancy raised to 76.6 years for male and 82 years for female.

• Research has demonstrated associations between an Aboriginal’s social and economic status and their health. For example,- Poor education and literacy are linked to health status. - Poorer income reduces the accessibility of health care services.- Overcrowded and run down housing is associated with poverty and contributes to the spread of communicable disease.- Poor infant diet is associated with poverty and chronic diseases later in life.- Smoking and high risk behavior is associated with lower socio-economic status.

EDUCATION• In 2006, 47% of indigenous Australians over the age of 15 reported having a non-school

qualification compared with 74% of non-Indigenous Australians.

• This table represents the table and percentage of indigenous and non-indigenous people who complete their high school education.

Highest level of schooling completed for over 18s, 2006

Indigenous % Non-Indigenous %Year 9 or below 34 16

Year 10 or 11 42 35

Year 12 24 49

HIGHEST NON-SCHOOL QUALIFICATION, PERCENTAGE OF PERSONS AGED 25 AND OVER, 2006

Indigenous peoples % Non-Indigenous population %

Bachelor degree of above 6 23

Diploma 5 10

Certificate 18 21

Total with non-school qualification

30 55

Indigenous people are less likely to have a post graduate degree, bachelor degree, advanced diploma or diploma, than the non indigenous population.

INCOME AND EMPLOYMENT• In 2006, the unemployment rate for Indigenous people was 16% which was a drop from

the 2001 rate of 20%. This rate is still 3 times higher than the rate for non-Indigenous Population which is 5%.

• In the 2006 census, the mean household income for indigenous persons was 460 per week, which is 62% of the rate for non-Indigenous persons, which is 740 per week.