Notes on the data: Aboriginal housing

Dwellings rented by Aboriginal households from a housing co-operative, community or church group, 2016

Policy context: Social housing is a very significant tenure for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders (Indigenous people) in Australia with three in ten Indigenous households living in social housing. Demand for social housing from Indigenous applicants is also high due to population and household growth, the lower average incomes in this group, the significant numbers of homeless Indigenous people, and barriers faced by many Indigenous people in accessing private rental and home ownership, including affordability and discrimination [1].

Fewer dwellings were rented by Aboriginal households from a housing co-operative, community or church group at the 2016 Census than in 2011 (2.9% in 2016 and 4.7% in 2011). This relatively large drop in the proportion is a result both of fewer dwellings being rented from a housing co-operative, community or church group (down by 22.5%) and more dwellings with Aboriginal households (up by 25.8%).

See also the indicator Dwellings rented by Aboriginal households from the government housing authority.

Reference

Milligan, V. et al. (2011) Urban social housing for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders: respecting culture and adapting services, AHURI Final Report No.172. Melbourne: Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.

Notes: The data include Aboriginal households in private dwellings only.

Private dwelling: A private dwelling can be a house, flat or even a room. It can also be a caravan, houseboat, tent, or a house attached to an office, or rooms above a shop.

Aboriginal household: If a household has at least one Indigenous person who is a usual resident and who was present on Census Night it will be classified as a Household with Indigenous persons

The numerator excludes the 3.9% of dwellings for which tenure type was not stated: however, these records are included in the denominator.

Geography: Data available by Indigenous Area, Primary Health Networks, Indigenous Quintiles and Remoteness Areas

Numerator: Private dwellings rented by Aboriginal households from a housing co-operative, community or church group

Denominator: All private dwellings with Aboriginal households

Detail of analysis: Percent

Source: Compiled by PHIDU based on the ABS Census of Population and Housing, August 2016