STATISTICAL LOCAL AREAS IN AUSTRALIA


HIGH AND LOW TURNOVER STATISTICAL LOCAL AREAS

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Introduction

Characteristics of Statistical Local Areas with high population turnover

Characteristics of Statistical Local Areas with low population turnover


Introduction

The population turnover for Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) across Australia varied from 174.1% for City - Remainder (in Darwin, the capital city of the Northern Territory) to 7.5% in Angurugu (CGC), (on Groote Eylandt island off the coast of the Northern Territory, in the Gulf of Carpentaria). This chapter looks at the top twenty (referred to as high turnover) and bottom twenty (referred to as low turnover) SLAs in this range and uses data from the 2006 Census of Population and Housing to determine any similarities and/or differences in their characteristics. Most high turnover SLAs were either in the Northern Territory or the Australian Capital Territory (refer Table 1.1) and all low turnover SLAs were either in the Northern Territory or Queensland (refer Table 1.2).

To view images of the high turnover SLAs via Google Maps Australia please click on the following links:

City - Remainder (NT)
Duntroon (ACT)
Jabiru (T) (NT)
Durack (NT)
City - Inner (NT)
Acton (ACT)
Gunn-Palmerston City (NT)
Litchfield (S) - Pt A (NT)
City (ACT)
Larrakeyah (NT)
Kingston (ACT)
Leonora (S) (WA)
Alice Springs (T) - Stuart (NT)
Phillip (ACT)
Belconnen Town Centre (ACT)
The Gardens (NT)
Driver (NT)
Rosslea (Qld)
Meekatharra (S) (WA)
Nightcliff (NT)

TABLE 1.1. HIGH POPULATION TURNOVER , By SLA - Australia
		2001 Census count(a)	2006 Census count	Census count change	Arrivals(b)	Departures(c)	Net migration(c)	Population flow(c)	Population turnover(c)
State	SLA(d)	psns	psns	psns	psns	psns	psns	psns	%
NT	City - Remainder	2 791	2 301	-490	1 440	1 532	-92	2 972	174.1
ACT	Duntroon	1 258	1 683	425	1 518	769	749	2 287	147.8
NT	Jabiru (T)	1 108	1 139	31	447	596	-149	1 043	146.9
NT	Durack	2 393	2 687	294	1 595	1 579	16	3 174	145.5
NT	City - Inner	2 196	2 482	286	1 317	1 269	48	2 586	143.4
ACT	Acton	1 441	1 805	364	1 660	683	977	2 343	137.9
NT	Gunn-Palmerston City	1 195	2 379	1 184	1 409	1 061	348	2 470	134.2
NT	Litchfield (S) - Pt A	1 452	1 233	-219	769	696	73	1 465	129.3
ACT	City	596	719	123	429	216	213	645	127.7
NT	Larrakeyah	3 047	3 037	-10	1 723	1 422	301	3 145	126.3
ACT	Kingston	1 839	2 454	615	1 666	1 000	666	2 666	123.9
WA	Leonora (S)	1 929	1 409	-520	676	743	-67	1 419	122.6
NT	Alice Springs (T) - Stuart	2 103	1 920	-183	903	827	76	1 730	122.1
ACT	Phillip	1 654	1 912	258	1 146	857	289	2 003	121.5
ACT	Belconnen Town Centre	2 738	3 055	317	1 803	1 250	553	3 053	121.2
NT	The Gardens	698	567	-131	349	236	113	585	120.9
NT	Driver	2 810	2 717	-93	1 279	1 341	-62	2 620	120.7
Qld	Rosslea	1 582	1 447	-135	786	690	96	1 476	118.9
WA	Meekatharra (S)	1 356	1 134	-222	319	566	-247	885	118.8
NT	Nightcliff	3 257	3 357	100	1 453	1 715	-262	3 168	118.0
(a) Based on 2006 Census boundaries
(b) Excludes people aged 0-4 years and those who did not state where they lived 5 years ago
(c) Excludes people aged 0-4 years, those who did not state where they lived 5 years ago, and overseas departures, meaning these data are estimated on a different basis than the 2006 Census count (for further information about how Population turnover is calculated, refer to Explanatory Note 14)
(d) Excludes unincorporated areas and SLAs with a population of less than 500 people
Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2006 and Census of Population and Housing, 2001
Note: This table is based on place of usual residence. Cells in this table have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data.

TABLE 1.2. LOW POPULATION TURNOVER, By SLA - Australia
		2001 Census count(a)	2006 Census count	Census count change	Arrivals(b)	Departures(c)	Net migration(c)	Population flow(c)	Population turnover(c)
State	SLA(d)	psns	psns	psns	psns	psns	psns	psns	%
NT	Angurugu (CGC)	800	816	16	32	21	11	53	7.5
NT	East Arnhem - Bal	5 802	6 522	720	394	386	8	780	14.1
NT	West Arnhem	3 066	3 337	271	243	190	53	433	15.3
Qld	Yarrabah (S)	2 143	2 375	232	155	168	-13	323	16.2
NT	Thamarrurr (CGC)	1 513	1 930	417	133	124	9	257	16.9
NT	Yugul Mangi (CGC)	1 907	1 641	-266	123	109	14	232	17.2
Qld	Aurukun (S)	1 033	1 046	13	73	91	-18	164	18.3
NT	Numbulwar Numburindi (CGC)	721	684	-37	56	54	2	110	18.8
Qld	Kowanyama (S)	974	1 023	49	71	105	-34	176	19.3
NT	Kunbarllanjnja (CGC)	852	882	30	77	83	-6	160	20.6
Qld	Palm Island (S)	2 133	1 981	-152	123	246	-123	369	22.4
NT	Tiwi Islands (CGC)	2 228	2 129	-99	192	232	-40	424	22.7
Qld	Mornington (S)	944	1 032	88	86	110	-24	196	22.9
Qld	Napranum (S)	720	838	118	91	77	14	168	23.4
Qld	Cherbourg (S)	1 133	1 131	-2	100	143	-43	243	25.7
Qld	Pormpuraaw (S)	582	597	15	81	54	27	135	26.0
Qld	Doomadgee (S)	1 133	1 084	-49	81	113	-32	194	26.5
NT	Ltyentye Purte (CGC)	538	542	4	50	78	-28	128	27.4
NT	Tanami	2 971	2 439	-532	337	257	80	594	28.5
NT	Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre (CGC)	1 105	938	-167	104	125	-21	229	28.5
(a) Based on 2006 Census boundaries
(b) Excludes people aged 0-4 years and those who did not state where they lived 5 years ago
(c) Excludes people aged 0-4 years, those who did not state where they lived 5 years ago, and overseas departures, meaning these data are estimated on a different basis than the 2006 Census count (for further information about how Population turnover is calculated, refer to Explanatory Note 14)
(d) Excludes unincorporated areas and SLAs with a population of less than 500 people
Source: Census of Population and Housing, 2006 and Census of Population and Housing, 2001
Note: This table is based on place of usual residence. Cells in this table have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data.

Characteristics of Statistical Local Areas with high population turnover

High turnover SLAs were generally in urban areas of Australia and most were in either the Northern Territory (11 out of the 20) or the ACT (6). Almost three quarters of them recorded positive net migration (where arrivals outnumbered departures), with Acton, City and Duntroon (all in the ACT) recording the highest ratio of arrivals to departures in this group (2.43; 1.98; and 1.97 respectively).

Employment

Almost all high turnover SLAs had a high labour force participation rate. With the exception of Acton (with a labour force participation rate of 47.4%) high turnover SLAs had more than 70% of usual residents aged 15 years and over in the labour force, compared with 64.6% in Australia. Along with relatively high participation rates, most high turnover SLAs also had more than 70% of their labour force working full-time, compared to the average for Australia of 60.7%. The exceptions were:

• Nightcliff (69.0%)
• Meekatharra (S) (68.4%)
• Rosslea (68.0%)
• Belconnen Town Centre (60.7%)
• Acton (6.1%).

The very low rate noted above for Acton, which contains the Australian National University, may be related to its very high proportion of residents attending University or other tertiary institutions (96.8%).

The industry division (using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006) that recorded the highest proportion of employed residents in fifteen of the twenty high turnover SLAs was Public administration and safety. In contrast this industry division employed the sixth highest proportion of employed residents in Australia (6.9%).

At the industry subdivision level, Defence recorded the highest proportion of employed residents in ten of those fifteen SLAs. These ten SLAs, eight of which are in the Northern Territory, were:

• Duntroon (87.4% of employed residents employed in Defence)
• Litchfield (S)-Pt A (65.0%)
• City - Remainder (49.4%)
• Durack (29.8%)
• Gunn-Palmerston City (21.7%)
• Larrakeyah (18.4%)
• The Gardens (14.6%)
• City - Inner (14.0%)
• Driver (9.7%)
• Rosslea (6.0%).

The other five SLAs (of the fifteen with Public administration and safety as the top industry division of employment) were City, Kingston, Phillip and Belconnen Town Centre in the Australian Capital Territory and Nightcliff in the Northern Territory. In these SLAs, the ANZSIC subdivision that recorded the highest proportion of employed residents was Public administration; in particular Central government administration or State government administration.

For the remaining high turnover SLAs, the top industries of employment were:

• Mining: Leonora (S) (39.1%) and Jabiru (T) (37.2%)
• Accommodation and food services: Acton (31.7%)
• Health care and social assistance: Alice Springs (T) - Stuart (18.8%)
• Mining and Education and training: Meekatharra (S) (both 16.3%).

Housing

Most high turnover SLAs had high proportions of rented dwellings, which is indicative of a mobile population. More than 90% of the dwellings in City - Remainder, Jabiru (T), Duntroon and Acton were rented. With the exception of Litchfield (S)-Pt A, more than 45% of dwellings in the remaining sixteen high turnover SLAs were rented. The proportion of rented dwellings in Litchfield (S)-Pt A (29.5%) was similar to that for Australia (29.0%).

When looking at the types of dwellings occupied in each of the SLAs, twelve of the twenty high turnover SLAs had a higher proportion of flats, units or apartments, than the Australia rate of 13.1%. More than 50% of occupied private dwellings in Phillip, Rosslea, Larrakeyah, Kingston, City and City-Inner were flats, units or apartments: for City-Inner, City and Kingston this proportion was above 85%.

Demography

While the high turnover SLAs differed in many demographic characteristics, they did share some similarities in their age and sex structures with most displaying relatively young age profiles and, contrary to the picture at the Australia level, having more males than females (refer Table 1.3).

Litchfield (S)-Pt A and Duntroon had particularly high proportions of males (72.8% and 72.6% respectively). These SLAs both have strong military influences; Litchfield (S)-Pt A contains Robertson Barracks; and Duntroon contains the Royal Military College and Australian Defence Force Academy. The following SLAs also had a high proportion of males; City (60.9%), City - Inner (59.6%) and Jabiru (T) and Leonora (S), both 58.9%.

As well as containing high proportions of males, Litchfield (S)-Pt A and Duntroon had a high proportion of young males aged 15-29 years (60.3% of males living in Litchfield (S)-Pt A and 82.2% of males living in Duntroon). Acton and Belconnen Town Centre also had high proportions of their total males in this age group (87.2% and 45.2% respectively).

The 15-29 year age group was the most common age group in just over half (11) of the high turnover SLAs and all twenty high turnover SLAs had a higher proportion of 15-29 year olds than Australia (20.1%).

Of the populations within each SLA, Duntroon and Acton had the highest proportions of 15-29 year olds (1,290 persons or 76.6% and 1,600 persons or 88.6% respectively - see Graphs 1.1 and 1.2). It should be noted that there are tertiary institutions in these SLAs; the Australian National University in Acton and the Royal Military College and Australian Defence Force Academy in Duntroon. Litchfield (S)-Pt A (51.2%) and Belconnen Town Centre (47.4%) also had very high proportions of 15-29 year olds.

TABLE 1.3. HIGH POPULATION TURNOVER SLAs, By age (years) and sex - Australia
State	SLA		0 - 14	15 - 29	30 - 44	45 - 59	60 - 74	75 and over	Total
NT	City - Remainder
		Males	355	418	289	103	35	5	1 205
		Females	348	401	257	64	21	3	1 094
		Persons	703	819	546	167	56	8	2 299
ACT	Duntroon
		Males	69	1 004	134	15	-	-	1 222
		Females	81	287	83	11	-	-	462
		Persons	150	1 291	217	26	-	-	1 684
NT	Jabiru (T)
		Males	166	117	207	146	29	4	669
		Females	114	113	141	89	12	-	469
		Persons	280	230	348	235	41	4	1 138
NT	Durack
		Males	452	276	406	157	35	9	1 335
		Females	436	299	417	154	37	7	1 350
		Persons	888	575	823	311	72	16	2 685
NT	City - Inner
		Males	90	441	404	335	167	43	1 480
		Females	69	382	237	180	79	54	1 001
		Persons	159	823	641	515	246	97	2 481
ACT	Acton
		Males	3	778	97	6	8	-	892
		Females	3	821	77	8	-	3	912
		Persons	6	1 599	174	14	8	3	1 804
NT	Gunn-Palmerston City
		Males	378	279	363	142	36	4	1 202
		Females	361	278	351	156	24	8	1 178
		Persons	739	557	714	298	60	12	2 380
NT	Litchfield (S) - Pt A
		Males	58	543	158	103	30	8	900
		Females	76	89	71	81	13	4	334
		Persons	134	632	229	184	43	12	1 234
ACT	City
		Males	6	169	138	93	17	15	438
		Females	11	140	65	42	17	7	282
		Persons	17	309	203	135	34	22	720
NT	Larrakeyah
		Males	229	448	465	355	123	37	1 657
		Females	218	376	375	293	83	33	1 378
		Persons	447	824	840	648	206	70	3 035
ACT	Kingston
		Males	66	468	363	184	72	46	1 199
		Females	60	546	321	170	86	71	1 254
		Persons	126	1 014	684	354	158	117	2 453
WA	Leonora (S)
		Males	176	187	266	137	55	8	829
		Females	165	115	164	103	27	7	581
		Persons	341	302	430	240	82	15	1 410
NT	Alice Springs (T) - Stuart
		Males	135	229	305	215	75	12	971
		Females	164	312	228	172	58	13	947
		Persons	299	541	533	387	133	25	1 918
ACT	Phillip
		Males	57	325	273	167	61	34	917
		Females	60	369	282	149	89	43	992
		Persons	117	694	555	316	150	77	1 909
ACT	Belconnen Town Centre
		Males	125	737	463	194	90	20	1 629
		Females	116	710	286	191	88	35	1 426
		Persons	241	1 447	749	385	178	55	3 055
NT	The Gardens
		Males	24	84	79	62	37	24	310
		Females	26	55	71	56	22	27	257
		Persons	50	139	150	118	59	51	567
NT	Driver
		Males	397	302	360	261	45	9	1 374
		Females	384	319	353	223	53	11	1 343
		Persons	781	621	713	484	98	20	2 717
Qld	Rosslea
		Males	105	232	180	125	70	30	742
		Females	87	240	134	112	75	57	705
		Persons	192	472	314	237	145	87	1 447
WA	Meekatharra (S)
		Males	150	118	128	124	60	10	590
		Females	152	115	119	100	42	15	543
		Persons	302	233	247	224	102	25	1 133
NT	Nightcliff
		Males	289	354	396	448	188	39	1 714
		Females	290	364	430	387	149	24	1 644
		Persons	579	718	826	835	337	63	3 358
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
Note: This table is based on place of usual residence. Cells in this table have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data.

Characteristics of Statistical Local Areas with low population turnover

All twenty low turnover SLAs were in rural areas in either the Northern Territory (11) or Queensland (9) (see Table 1.2). Nine of the eleven low turnover SLAs in the Northern Territory were located in the northern areas. Similarly, eight of the nine low turnover SLAs in Queensland were also in the northern half of the state.

Employment

All low turnover SLAs, except for Yarrabah (S) and Pormpuraaw (S), had a labour force participation rate lower than Australia. The labour force participation rates for Yarrabah (S) and Pormpuraaw (S) were 70.6% and 66.9% respectively, compared with 64.6% for Australia. The SLAs with the lowest labour force participation rate were Numbulwar Numburindi (CGC) (20.9%), Angurugu (CGC) (21.1%) and Thamarrurr (CGC) (24.5%).

In seventeen of the twenty low turnover SLAs, the largest industry division of employment was Public administration and safety. In contrast, Public administration and safety was the sixth largest employing industry of employed residents in Australia (6.9%). The seventeen low turnover SLAs where this was the largest industry of employment were:

• Kowanyama (S) (78.4%)
• Yarrabah (S) (77.0%)
• Napranum (S) (70.7%)
• Cherbourg (S) (70.5%)
• Pormpuraaw (S) (68.2%)
• Aurukun (S) (65.5%)
• Angurugu (CGC) (60.4%)
• East Arnhem - Bal (54.4%)
• Kunbarllanjnja (CGC) (53.2%)
• Numbulwar Numburindi (CGC) (52.6%)
• Mornington (S) (52.0%)
• Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre (CGC) (45.7%)
• West Arnhem (45.0%)
• Tanami (44.6%)
• Tiwi Islands (CGC) (44.2%)
• Yugul Mangi (CGC) (43.1%)
• Thamarrurr (CGC) (39.8%)

For the remaining three low turnover SLAs, the industry division that recorded the highest proportion of employed residents was Health care and social assistance. These SLAs were Doomadgee (S) (37.8%), Palm Island (S) (32.7%) and Ltyentye Purte (CGC) (29.1%).

Interestingly, with the exception of Palm Island (S), the top industry subdivision for all twenty low turnover SLAs was Public administration. The top industry subdivision for Palm Island (S) was Social assistance services, followed by Public administration.

The major group occupation category (using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), 2006) that recorded the largest proportion of employed residents in nineteen of the twenty low turnover SLAs was Labourers. The proportions varied from 23.7% in Thamarrurr (CGC) to 61.6% in Yarrabah (S), compared with 10.7% for Australia. The exception was Numbulwar Numburindi (CGC) where the occupation category that recorded the highest proportion of residents was Professionals (29.7%), followed closely by Labourers (27.0%).

Income

Less than 10% of residents aged 15 years and over in all twenty low turnover SLAs earned $1,000 or more per week, compared with 19.7% of residents aged 15 years and over in Australia.

Housing

Most of the twenty low turnover SLAs had high proportions of rented dwellings. With the exception of Aurukun (S), more than 89% of occupied private dwellings in all twenty low turnover SLAs were rented, compared with 29.0% of occupied private dwellings in Australia. Just over 60% of occupied private dwellings in Aurukun (S) were rented. Of the rented dwellings in each of the twenty low turnover SLAs, most were being rented from a Housing co-operative, the community or a church group (the proportion varied from 59.5% to 94.7%). The high proportions of rented dwellings in the twenty low turnover SLAs may reflect the types of tenure available on traditional Indigenous lands.

Demography

All twenty SLAs with the lowest turnover had high proportions of Indigenous people. These proportions varied from 89.2% in Tanami to 97.8% in Yarrabah (S), compared with 2.4% in Australia.

Generally the demographic characteristics of age and sex for most low turnover SLAs were similar. The most common age group in all low turnover SLAs was 0-14 years and each of the low turnover SLAs had higher proportions of people in this age group than Australia (19.8%). In general, within each of the low turnover SLAs, there were only small differences in the number of males and females (see Table 1.4).

Although the demographics of each SLA in the low turnover group were similar (see Table 1.4), some notable differences were observed:

• Kowanyama (S) had the lowest proportion of males (46.5%) of all low turnover SLAs.
• A very high proportion of residents in Cherbourg (S) and Thamarrurr (CGC) were aged 0-14 years (41.6% and 39.3% respectively).

TABLE 1.4. LOW POPULATION TURNOVER SLAs, By age (years) and sex - Australia
State	SLA		0 - 14	15 - 29	30 - 44	45 - 59	60 - 74	75 and over	Total
NT	Angurugu (CGC)
		Males	144	95	102	30	11	6	388
		Females	144	125	92	50	13	-	424
		Persons	288	220	194	80	24	6	812
NT	East Arnhem - Bal
		Males	1 090	946	670	417	110	14	3 247
		Females	973	942	752	421	159	28	3 275
		Persons	2 063	1 888	1 422	838	269	42	6 522
NT	West Arnhem
		Males	606	429	394	190	60	19	1 698
		Females	560	472	340	189	58	17	1 636
		Persons	1 166	901	734	379	118	36	3 334
Qld	Yarrabah (S)
		Males	443	307	232	138	33	10	1 163
		Females	445	311	265	129	48	12	1 210
		Persons	888	618	497	267	81	22	2 373
NT	Thamarrurr (CGC)
		Males	382	256	157	89	32	4	920
		Females	378	319	173	82	37	20	1 009
		Persons	760	575	330	171	69	24	1 929
NT	Yugul Mangi (CGC)
		Males	311	235	150	93	29	10	828
		Females	295	233	182	73	26	3	812
		Persons	606	468	332	166	55	13	1 640
Qld	Aurukun (S)
		Males	173	121	125	67	15	3	504
		Females	169	131	139	70	29	3	541
		Persons	342	252	264	137	44	6	1 045
NT	Numbulwar Numburindi (CGC)
		Males	125	84	75	40	16	3	343
		Females	91	93	88	34	27	5	338
		Persons	216	177	163	74	43	8	681
Qld	Kowanyama (S)
		Males	139	107	119	74	26	11	476
		Females	149	140	143	79	25	9	545
		Persons	288	247	262	153	51	20	1 021
NT	Kunbarllanjnja (CGC)
		Males	136	125	110	61	12	-	444
		Females	126	132	111	46	19	3	437
		Persons	262	257	221	107	31	3	881
Qld	Palm Island (S)
		Males	364	236	239	111	33	6	989
		Females	345	261	225	134	22	4	991
		Persons	709	497	464	245	55	10	1 980
NT	Tiwi Islands (CGC)
		Males	328	316	258	146	42	4	1 094
		Females	305	271	251	167	31	9	1 034
		Persons	633	587	509	313	73	13	2 128
Qld	Mornington (S)
		Males	174	113	115	80	35	6	523
		Females	152	133	114	66	33	10	508
		Persons	326	246	229	146	68	16	1 031
Qld	Napranum (S)
		Males	155	97	87	66	20	-	425
		Females	130	114	91	53	21	5	414
		Persons	285	211	178	119	41	5	839
Qld	Cherbourg (S)
		Males	237	132	84	66	27	3	549
		Females	234	146	105	69	23	3	580
		Persons	471	278	189	135	50	6	1 129
Qld	Pormpuraaw (S)
		Males	83	47	89	64	25	3	311
		Females	79	70	69	51	16	3	288
		Persons	162	117	158	115	41	6	599
Qld	Doomadgee (S)
		Males	232	132	105	60	16	3	548
		Females	178	159	110	55	23	9	534
		Persons	410	291	215	115	39	12	1 082
NT	Ltyentye Purte (CGC)
		Males	97	79	53	21	9	-	259
		Females	96	80	54	35	14	3	282
		Persons	193	159	107	56	23	3	541
NT	Tanami
		Males	384	364	241	164	42	6	1 201
		Females	363	365	259	168	72	12	1 239
		Persons	747	729	500	332	114	18	2 440
NT	Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre (CGC)
		Males	140	134	114	63	12	-	463
		Females	155	140	101	58	15	6	475
		Persons	295	274	215	121	27	6	938
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
Note: This table is based on place of usual residence. Cells in this table have been have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data.

Please note: All data presented in this publication relate to person or dwelling characteristics at the time of the 2006 Census. As arrivals and departures may have moved at any time in the five years to the 2006 Census their characteristics could have been different at the time of their migration. The data presented also only captures a person's place of usual residence at the 2006 Census and five years prior to the Census. People could have moved residence numerous times between these time periods. Arrivals estimates exclude people who did not state where they lived five years ago, and those who were under the age of 5 at the time of the 2006 Census. In addition to those exclusions, estimates of departures also exclude overseas departures (as these people were not enumerated in the Census). To be consistent with the conceptual basis of the arrivals and departures estimates, the adjusted Census count used in calculating population turnover also excludes 0-4 year olds and people who did not state where they lived five years ago.