MEDIA RELEASE
25 August, 2010	Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	101/2010

As the population in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) grows, the younger population is decreasing according to a report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

At June 2009, the estimated resident population of the ACT Primary school age group (people aged 5 to 12) and the Secondary school age group (people aged 13 to 18) both decreased 3% since June 2004.

The Gungahlin-Hall region* had the highest average annual growth for the five years to June 2009 for both Primary (up 5%) and Secondary school age groups (up 8%).

Tuggeranong region had the largest proportion of both the primary (30%) and the secondary school age groups (33%) in the ACT.

With North Canberra region remaining steady, there are indications that younger families are moving in to more established areas.

The younger population of the Australian Capital Region, which includes regions from Southern Tablelands down to South Coast, had a similar trend.

Queanbeyan region had the highest average annual growth of 1% for the five years to June 2009 for the Primary school age group, while Snowy region, which includes from Cooma down to Thredbo, had the highest average annual growth of 2% for the Secondary school age group.

Media Note:

* Regions are discussed at the Statistical subdivision (SSD) level in this media release.