Notes on the data: Aboriginal families

Aboriginal low income families, 2016

Policy context: The use of low income as a measure of poverty is compromised to an extent by the fact that it is influenced by differences in family size, age structure and housing tenure and costs. While the variable will normally capture most welfare-dependent families, it will also include sizeable numbers of families for which low incomes are linked to their retirement status. However, the concentrations of low income families in areas with high proportions of people who are dependent on unemployment benefits, supporting parents' benefits, age or disability pensions suggests that many families in these areas are clearly suffering severe financial hardship. Those in outer suburban or country areas face additional hardship associated with accessing services. Income is among the most important individual-level determinants of wellbeing. People with a higher income generally enjoy better health and longer lives than people with a lower income.

The income used in this indicator for the 2011 Census was for annual family incomes below $20,800 (12.9% of the 157,021 Aboriginal families were in this income category); for this Census it is below $26,000 (13.1% of the 224,655 Aboriginal families were in this income category).

Notes: Aboriginal low income family: Family with at least one Aboriginal person counted at home on Census night and with an income under $26,000 p.a.

The numerator excludes the 12.6% of families for which income was not stated or was partially stated: however, these records are included in the denominator.

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

Numerator: Aboriginal families with incomes under $26,000 p.a.

Denominator: All Aboriginal families

Detail of analysis: Percent

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