Social Indicators March 2019Released: 1 March 2019 | Next release 5 April 2019

Table of contents Page

Youth Detention Population in Australia, 2018

This publication presents information on the number and rates of young people aged 10 and over who were in youth detention in Australia due to their involvement, or alleged involvement, in crime.

Author: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

Date of release: 19 December 2018

2

Specialist Homelessness Services Annual Report, 2017-18

This annual publication presents data on the characteristics of clients of specialist homelessness services, the services required, outcomes achieved and unmet requests for services.

Author: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

Date of release: 13 February 2019

3

Crime Victimisation, Australia, 2017-18

Crime Victimisation is an annual publication that provides data about persons who experienced a selected range of personal offences and households that experienced a range of household offences in Australia.

Author: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

Date of release: 13 February 2019

4

Preschool Education, Australia, 2018

This publication provides information on children enrolled and attending preschool programs across Australia in 2018. The ABS has randomly adjusted some figures, due to the small numbers involved, to avoid releasing confidential information.

Author: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

Date of release: 13 February 2019

5

Northern Territory Crime Statistics, December quarter 2018

This quarterly publication provides statistics on criminal offences in the Northern Territory, extracted from the police records system.

Author: Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services (NTPFES)

Date of release: 15 February 2019

6

DisclaimerCaution is advised when using monthly data for the Territory, which is often derived from small samples and highly volatile. Although all due care has been exercised in the preparation of this material, no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omission.

More information:Intergovernmental Relations | Department of Treasury and Finance P: 08 8999 6801 | W: https://treasury.nt.gov.au/

DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY AND FINANCEPage 1 of 7

Social Indicators April 2018Child Protection, Australia, 2016-17

DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE Page 2 of 7

Social Indicators March 2019Youth Detention Population in Australia, 2018

The following is a summary of information on the youth detention population aged 10-17 in the Territory for the June quarter 2018, unless otherwise stated.

There were 41 people in youth detention on an average night during the June quarter 2018, compared with 45 in the June quarter 2017. This represents an 8.9 per cent decrease compared to a national increase of 3.1 per cent over the same period (Table 1).

Of the total number of people in youth detention on an average night, 92.7 per cent were male and 7.3 per cent were female. The national figure over the same period was 89.4 per cent for males and 10.6 per cent for females.

Of the total number of people in youth detention on an average night, 100.0 per cent were Aboriginal, this was the highest rate of all jurisdictions followed by Western Australia (78.3) and Queensland (69.8). Nationally, over the same period, 59.0 per cent were Aboriginal (Table 2).

The rate of young people in detention on an average night was 16.1 per 10 000 population, the highest rate of all jurisdictions and above the national rate of 3.47 (Figure 1).

Of the total number of young people in youth detention on an average night in the June quarter 2018, 34 or 82.9 per cent were unsentenced, this compares to 75.6 per cent in the June quarter 2017. Nationally 67.9 per cent were unsentenced in June quarter 2018 compared to 66.9 per cent in June quarter 2017.

Of the total number of Aboriginal people in youth detention on an average night in the June quarter 2018, 34 or 82.9 per cent were unsentenced, this compares to 74.4 per cent in the June quarter 2017. Nationally 68.4 per cent were unsentenced in June quarter 2018 compared to 63.9 per cent in June quarter 2017.

Table 1: Young people aged 10-17 in youth detention, June quarter, 2017 and 20181,2

June qtr 2017

June qtr 2018 Change

  No. No. %NSW 242 238 - 1.7Vic 119 115 - 3.4Qld 193 235 21.8WA 141 138 - 2.1SA 38 33 - 13.2Tas 12 11 - 8.3ACT 6 10 66.7NT 45 41 - 8.9Australia 795 820 3.11 Average nightly population with the exception of the

Northern Territory. The Northern Territory average is based on end-of-month population, three nights of data per quarter.

2 Figures may not add due to rounding.

Table 2: Young people aged 10-17 in youth detention, by Aboriginal status, June quarter 20183,4

  Total AboriginalNo. No. %

NSW 238 122 51.3Vic 115 20 17.4Qld 235 164 69.8WA 138 108 78.3SA 33 23 69.7Tas 11 4 36.4ACT 10 2 20.0NT 41 41 100.0Australia 820 484 59.03 Average nightly population with the exception of the

Northern Territory. The Northern Territory average is based on end-of-month population, three nights of data per quarter.

4 Figures may not add due to rounding.

Figure 1: Young people aged 10-17 in youth detention, June quarter, 2018 (rate per 10 000 relevant population)5

NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust 0

5

10

15

5 Average nightly population with the exception of the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory average is based on end-of-month population, three nights of data per quarter.

Source data in Youth Detention Population in Australia, 2018: Department of Treasury and Finance, AIHW

DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE Page 3 of 7

Social Indicators March 2019Specialist Homelessness Services Annual Report 2017-18

The following is a summary of information on homelessness services in the Northern Territory in 2017-18, unless otherwise stated. The Territory had a total of 9285 clients,

representing 3.2 per cent of national clients.

The Territory’s total clients were made up of 3306 or 35.6 per cent male and 5979 or 64.4 per cent female clients. Nationally, male clients accounted for 39.2 per cent of total clients and female clients accounted for 60.8 per cent (Table 3).

There were 377.3 clients per 10 000 estimated resident population (ERP), the highest of all jurisdictions and above the national rate of 117.4 per 10 000 ERP.

Remote and very remote clients represented the largest proportion of total Territory clients at 61.9 per cent.

Of the total number of clients, 80.6 per cent were Aboriginal, the highest rate of all jurisdictions and above the national average of 22.6 per cent.

In 2017-18 there were 14 121 support periods in the Territory, representing 2.8 per cent of national support periods.

Of the total support periods categorised by age, the 0-9 age group represented the largest share of clients at 23.3 per cent, followed by 25-34 and 35-44 at 18.1 and 15.4 per cent, respectively. Nationally, the age group of 25-34 was the largest share of clients (Table 3).

The majority of clients who presented at the beginning of support were alone/not part of family at 46.3 per cent, followed by single with child/ren at 41.7 per cent and couple with child/ren at 6.7 per cent (Figure 2).

The main source of referral for clients at the beginning of support, excluding no formal referral, was other agency (government or non-government) at 19.0 per cent, followed by police at 10.9 per cent.

The most common reason for seeking specialist homelessness services was domestic and family violence, at 25.6 per cent, followed by financial difficulties, at 14.1 per cent, and inadequate or inappropriate dwelling conditions, at 13.1 per cent. Nationally, domestic and family violence was the main reason for clients seeking assistance at 18.8 per cent (Table 4).

Table 3: Total clients and support periods by characteristics, 2017-186,7

NT AustraliaNo. % No. %

ClientsMale 3 306 35.6 113 163 39.2Female 5 979 64.4 175 632 60.8Total 9 285 100.0 288 795 100.0Support periods by age group0-9 3 187 23.3 66 601 13.310-14 1 155 8.4 24 445 4.915-17 759 5.6 28 807 5.718-24 1 753 12.8 76 886 15.325-34 2 480 18.1 102 976 20.535-44 2 105 15.4 100 981 20.145-54 1 348 9.9 63 462 12.655-64 645 4.7 25 337 5.065+ 240 1.8 12 356 2.5Total 13 672 100.0 501 851 100.06 Support period totals exclude clients with missing age or sex

information. 7 Figures may not add due to rounding.

Figure 2: Clients by presenting unit type at the beginning of support, Northern Territory, 2017-18, per cent

Alone/not part of family

Couple with

child/ren

Single with

child/ren

Couple without children

Other family group

Other group

0

10

20

30

40

50

Table 4: Clients by reasons for seeking assistance, 2017-188,9

  NT Australia No. % No. %

ReasonsDomestic and family

violence4 477 25.6 112 965 18.8

Financial difficulties 2 457 14.1 111 250 18.5Inadequate or

inappropriate living conditions

2 289 13.1 69 344 11.6

Lack of family and/or community support

1 951 11.2 53 300 8.9

Other 6 272 35.9 251 416 41.9Not stated 40 0.2 1 571 0.3Total 17 486 100.0 599 846 100.08 Total exceeds total clients as clients can state multiple reasons.9 Other includes housing affordability stress, health, housing crisis and

time out from family/other situation.

Source data in Specialist Homelessness Services Annual Report 2017-18: Department of Treasury and Finance, AIHW

DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE Page 4 of 7

Social Indicators March 2019Crime Victimisation, Australia, 2017-18

The following summarises crime victimisation in the Northern Territory in 2017-18, unless otherwise stated. In 2017-18, it was estimated that 5400 persons

experienced physical assault, compared with 7000 in 2016-17, a decrease of 22.9 per cent (Figure 3). Nationally, estimated physical assault increased by 3.9 per cent.

Around 77.8 per cent of physical assault victims believed alcohol or another substance contributed to the assault. This is the highest of all jurisdictions and above the national average of 55.0 per cent (Figure 4).

Of the total 5400 persons who experienced physical assault, 50.0 per cent experienced one incident of assault and 31.5 per cent experienced three or more incidents of assault. It should be noted that Territory estimates have a standard error of 25 to 50 per cent and should be used with caution. Nationally, 47.3 per cent of physical assault victims experienced one incident, while 29.1 per cent experienced three or more incidents.

In 2017-18, an estimated 5700 persons experienced face-to-face threatened assault, an increase of 32.6 per cent from 2016-17. Nationally, the estimated rate of face-to-face threatened assault increased by 1.0 per cent.

Around 87.0 per cent of Territory victims of face-to-face threatened assault believed alcohol or any other substance was a contributing factor. This compares to 49.4 per cent nationally.

In 2017-18, there were 18 000 cases of household crime in the Territory, an increase of 3.4 per cent compared to 2016-17. This compares to an increase of 3.5 per cent nationally over the same period.

The most common type of household crime in the Territory was malicious property damage with 4800 incidents, this was followed by break-ins and attempted break-ins with 4100 and 3100 incidents respectively (Table 5).

Figure 3: Estimated Northern Territory physical assault victims, 2008-09 to 2017-18, thousands10

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

10 Year ending June

Figure 4: Proportion of physical assault victims who believe alcohol or any other substance contributed to the assault, 2017-18, per cent11

NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust 0

20

40

60

80

100

11 The ACT estimate has a relative standard error of 25 to 50 per cent and should be used with caution.

Table 5: Households which experienced selected household crimes, 2016-1712,13,14

NT AustraliaNo. % No. %

Malicious property damage

4 800 26.7 477 700 32.0

Break-in 4 100 22.8 231 100 15.5Attempted

break-in3 100 17.2 205 400 13.8

Theft from a motor vehicle

2 800 15.6 287 200 19.2

Motor vehicle theft 800 4.4 54 500 3.7Other theft 2 400 13.3 236 500 15.8Total 18 000 100.00 1 492 400 100.012 Figures rounded to the nearest 100. 13 Northern Territory motor vehicle theft has a relative standard error

of 25 to 50 per cent and should be used with caution.14 Other theft includes property stolen from a yard, as well as

property stolen in other situations/locations.

Source data in Crime Victimisation, Australia, 2017-18: Department of Treasury and Finance, ABS Cat. No 4530.0

DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE Page 5 of 7

Social Indicators March 2019Preschool Education, Australia, 2018

The following is a summary of information on preschool programs in the Northern Territory in 2018, unless otherwise stated. In 2018, there were 3543 children enrolled in a

preschool program in the Territory. Of these, 1185 children or 33.4 per cent were Aboriginal, the highest proportion of Aboriginal enrolments across Australia. Nationally, Aboriginal enrolments accounted for 5.3 per cent of total enrolments.

Of the total number of preschool enrolments in the Territory, 2098 were located in inner/outer regional areas and Aboriginal children accounted for 16.3 per cent of these enrolments. There were 1443 enrolments in remote/very remote areas, of which 58.4 per cent or 843 were Aboriginal.

Of the total children enrolled in preschool programs, 72.2 per cent attended for at least 600 hours annually. This was the second lowest attendance rate of all jurisdictions and compares to the national attendance rate of 85.8 per cent (Figure 5).

The Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage ranks disadvantage through a comparison with other areas in Australia. Quintile 1 (Q1) represents 20 per cent of the population experiencing the highest level of disadvantage, while Q5 represents the 20 per cent of the population experiencing the lowest level of disadvantage. Of the children enrolled in the Territory, 886 were from Q1, followed by 472 in Q2, 701 in Q3, 725 in Q4 and 757 in Q5.

Of the total number of children enrolled in preschool programs for 600 hours or more annually from Q1, 33.8 per cent attended. This compares with 80.4 per cent of children in Q2, 83.9 per cent in Q3, 86.1 per cent in Q4 and 87.5 per cent in Q5 (Figure 6).

The attendance rate of Aboriginal children enrolled in a preschool program for 600 hours or more in inner/outer regional areas of the Territory was 69.2 per cent, compared to 76.6 per cent nationally.

In remote/very remote areas, the attendance rate for Aboriginal children in the Territory enrolled in a preschool program for 600 hours or more was 31.8 per cent, compared to the national rate of 53.1 per cent (Figure 7).

Figure 5: Attendance of children enrolled in 600 hours or more annually, 2018, per cent

NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust 0

20

40

60

80

100

Figure 6: Attendance of Territory children enrolled in 600 hours or more of preschool annually, by socioeconomic status, 2018, per cent

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 0

20

40

60

80

100

Figure 7: Attendance of Aboriginal children enrolled in 600 hours annually or more by remoteness area, 2018, per cent

NT Regional NT Remote Aust Regional Aust Remote 0

20

40

60

80

Source data in Preschool Education, Australia, 2018: Department of Treasury and Finance, ABS Cat. No 4240.0

DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE Page 6 of 7

Social Indicators March 2019Northern Territory Crime Statistics, December Quarter 2018

The following is a summary of information on offence counts in the Territory in the December quarter 2018 compared to the December quarter 2017.

Recorded offences against property increased by 13, or 0.2 per cent, to 5405 (Table 6).

The number of house break-ins increased by 110, or 21.6 per cent, to 619. The increase was primarily driven by increases in Alice Springs (110), Katherine (17) and Tennant Creek (16) (Table 7).

Commercial break-ins increased by 43, or 7.9 per cent, to 585. This increase was primarily driven by increases in Katherine (73) and Alice Springs (22), partially offset by decreases in Darwin (-16) and Nhulunbuy (-13).

Motor Vehicle theft increased by 7, or 1.6 per cent, to 437 (Table 6).

The number of offences against persons decreased by 394 to 2029, a decrease of 16.3 per cent (Table 6).

Sexual assault and related offences decreased by 25, or 22.5 per cent, to 86 (Table 6).

There were six recorded homicide or related offences, compared to zero recorded in the December quarter 2017 (Table 6).

The number of acts intended to cause injury (assault) decreased by 391 to, 1757 (or 18.2 per cent). The decrease in assaults was primarily driven by decreases in Alice Springs (-216), Darwin (-66) and Palmerston (-39), partially offset by an increase in Tennant Creek (6).

Of the total number of assaults recorded in the December quarter 2018, 50.6 per cent involved alcohol, 62.5 per cent involved domestic violence and 34.7 per cent involved both alcohol and domestic violence.

In the year ending December 2018, there were 2401 house break-ins and 2620 commercial break-ins, an increase of 855 and 975 respectively, since year ended December 2013 (Figure 8).

The Northern Territory crime statistics are prepared by the Department of Attorney-General and Justice using data recorded by the Northern Territory Police.

Table 6: Selected recorded offences against property and persons, Northern Territory, December quarter, 2017 and 201815,16

Dec qtr 2017

Dec qtr 2018

Annualchange

No. No. %Offences against propertyHouse break-ins 509 619 21.6Commercial break-ins 542 585 7.9Motor vehicle theft and

related offences430 437 1.6

Theft 1 997 1 892 - 5.3Property damage 1 914 1 872 - 2.2Total 5 392 5 405 0.2Offences against personsSexual assault and related

offences111 86 - 22.5

Homicide and related offences

0 6 n.a.

Assault 2 148 1 757 - 18.2Other 164 180 9.8Total 2 423 2 029 - 16.315 Break-ins include actual and attempted break-ins.16 Other includes other dangerous or negligent acts endangering

persons, abduction, harassment and other offences, robbery, extortion and related offences.

Table 7: Recorded house break-ins by region, Northern Territory, December quarter, 2017 and 2018

 Dec qtr 2017

Dec qtr 2018

Annual change

No. No. %Darwin 129 135 4.7Palmerston 100 97 - 3.0Alice Springs 92 202 119.6Katherine 20 37 85.0Tennant Creek 26 42 61.5Nhulunbuy 6 2 - 66.7NT Balance 134 104 - 23.5Total 509 619 21.617 Figures may not add due to rounding.

Figure 8: House and Commercial break-ins, 2013 to 2018

Source data in Northern Territory Crime Statistics, December Quarter 2018: Department of Treasury and Finance, NTPFES

DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY AND FINANCE Page 7 of 7

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 0

500

1 000

1 500

2 000

2 500

House Break-ins Commercial Break-ins