Notes on the data: Housing, and rent assistance

Privately rented dwellings: Aboriginal persons living in privately rented dwellings and privately rented dwellings with Aboriginal households, 2021

Policy context: Housing is a fundamental requirement for one’s health and well-being [1].

From 2001 to 2016, Indigenous home ownership as a proportion of Indigenous households steadily increased from 32% in 2001 to 38% in 2016; and while Indigenous households remain twice as likely to rent compared to non-Indigenous households, the data show an increase in the proportion of Indigenous households renting privately and a decrease in social housing rentals [2].

Although the proportion of Indigenous households renting privately increased from 27% in 2001 to 37% in 2021, issues relating to poverty, discrimination, unemployment and a lack of suitable housing stock continue to limit access to the private rental market [2, 3].

References

Bailie R. and Wayte, K. Housing and health in Indigenous communities: Key issues for housing and health improvement in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Australian Journal of Rural Health 2006; 14:178-183.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: a focus report on housing and homelessness 2019. Cat. no. HOU 301. Canberra: AIHW; 2019. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/1654e011-dccb-49d4-bf5b-09c4607eecc8/aihw-hou-301.pdf.aspx?inline=true; last accessed 16 December 2019.
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples Profile, ABS 2021, accessed 3 February 2023. Available from: https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/community-profiles/2021/AUS.

Notes: Privately-owned dwellings comprise private dwellings rented from a real estate agent, person not in the same household, other landlord type and landlord type not stated.

The data include households in private dwellings only. 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.

Geography: Data available by Indigenous Area, Primary Health Network, Quintile of socioeconomic outcomes (based on IRSEO) and Remoteness Area

Numerator: Aboriginal households renting privately-owned houses; and Aboriginal persons renting privately-owned dwellings (counting persons)

Denominator: All private dwellings with Aboriginal households; and Aboriginal persons living in private dwellings

Detail of analysis: Per cent

Source: Compiled by PHIDU based on the ABS Census of Population and Housing, August 2021