AUSTRALIAN SOCIAL TRENDS 2008


A SNAPSHOT OF AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY'S KEY INDICATORS AT THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVEL

Release of Australian Social Trends, 2008

Australian Social Trends, 2008 (cat. no. 4102.0) was released on 23 July. This publication presents information on a wide range of social issues and areas of public policy concern. The publication covers topics including Family and community, Health, Education, Work and Housing. It also provides international comparisons and includes data cubes containing a ten-year time series of key indicators at both national and state/territory level.

We would like your views on the Australian Social Trends publication and how we can improve it. A website questionnaire is available for comment on the ABS website, www.abs.gov.au via the Australian Social Trends link.


Australian Social Trends - NSW data

Internet connections

In 2006-07, just under two-thirds (64%) of NSW homes had access to the Internet, with broadband out-numbering dial-up connections by a factor of two-to-one.

Risk taking

In 2004-05, around 11% of people in NSW aged 18-24 years regularly drank risky amounts of alcohol, compared with 15% of young people nationally.

First home buyers

In 2005-06, first home buyers in NSW had the highest average mortgages (along with the ACT) of around $250,000. This compares with the national average for first home buyers of $213,000.

Public transport

In 2006, around one in four (26%) people in Sydney used public transport to get to work or study. This was the highest rate of all Australian capital cities and up slightly from 1996 (23%). Just over two thirds (68%) of Sydneysiders travelled by private vehicle, while 5% either walked or rode a bike.

Education

More people in NSW now have qualifications such as a degree, diploma or certificate (61% of all people aged 25-64 years in 2007, up from 47% in 1997).

Volunteers

Around one in five people in NSW in 2006 were regular volunteers with women (21%) slightly more likely to volunteer than men (19%).

Adult kids living with their parents

One half of people (50%) aged 20-24 years in NSW live with their parents. This is second only to Victoria where 51% of people in this age group live with parents.

The Australian Social Trends Seminar is designed to give you an overview of Australian society and how it is changing over time. The seminar will draw on key trends and issues highlighted in articles and indicators in the 2008 edition of Australian Social Trends (cat. no. 4102.0).

The seminar will highlight trends in many areas of social concern, such as Population, Family and community, Health, Education and training, Work, Economic resources and Housing.

Our presenter, Linda Fardell, is Director of the Social and Progress Reporting Section. Linda has worked in the ABS for 15 years in a range of areas including Publishing, Information Consultancy, the Goods and Services National Statistics Centre and the Labour Market Statistics Section.

For further information contact Linda Fardell on (02) 6252 7187 or email nsw.statistics@abs.gov.au.