1367.5 - Western Australian Statistical Indicators, Sep 2005  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 19/10/2005   
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MEDIA RELEASE

October 19, 2005
Embargoed 11:30am (AEST)
113/2005

Latest analysis shows regional WA youth different to those in Perth

Youth in selected areas of regional Western Australia were less likely to be studying, more likely to be married or living together and more likely to be single parents than their Perth counterparts, according to the latest analysis released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The feature article, Youth in Regional Western Australia found that there were some clear differences between youth (15 to 24 years) in Perth and ten selected WA regional areas based on the 2001 census.

Selected regional areas were Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Busselton, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie/Boulder, Mandurah, Northam and Port Hedland. Highlights for these regions include:
  • Youth in selected regional areas were more likely be married or in a de facto relationship than Perth youth. In the selected regional areas, this figure ranged from 13% in Mandurah to 21% in Kalgoorlie/ Boulder. The Perth figure was 10%.
  • There were higher proportions of youth living as single parents in regional areas than in Perth. In the selected regional areas, this figure ranged from 2% in Busselton, Albany, Carnarvon and Kalgoorlie/ Boulder, to 4% in Geraldton. In Perth, the figure was 1%.
  • Youth in selected regional areas were less likely to be living with their parents than those in Perth. This figure varied from 58% in Mandurah to 32% in Broome, while 60% of Perth youth lived with their parents.
  • Carnarvon had the lowest proportion of youth studying (23%). More than one in two (53%) Perth youth were studying. In the selected regions, Albany and Northam (each 42%) had the highest percentages of youth studying.
  • Geraldton youth were least likely to be employed (49% of youth). Kalgoorlie/ Boulder and Busselton were equal highest (both 62%) overall. More than one in two Perth youth (56%) were working.
  • The proportion of 20-24 year olds working full-time was higher in selected regional areas than in Perth. In the selected regional areas figures varied from 62% in Broome to 76% in Kalgoorlie/Boulder. The Perth figure was 60%.
  • The proportion of youth born overseas was higher in Perth (23%) than in the selected regional areas. Of these, Northam had the lowest proportion (3%) and Port Hedland the highest (17%).
  • Busselton youth were most likely to have no religion (33%), while youth in Broome were least likely (22%). Nearly one in four youth (24%) in Perth indicated they had no religion.

Further information is in Western Australian Statistical Indicators (cat. no. 1367.5).