Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages

 

 

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Profile

Aboriginal
heritage

Within Banyule there are two main groups of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander (ATSI) people. The first group are the traditional
custodians, the Wurundjeri willam, who have lived on the lands of
Banyule for more than 35,000 years. The second group consists of
ATSI people from different cultural backgrounds from all over
Australia – who have come to live in Banyule.

In the 2011 Census, 619 Banyule residents identified as ATSI.
However the actual population is likely higher because the ATSI
community is historically under-represented in Census data.
According to the Banyule Community Health Centre, the number of
ATSI residents is at least double the Census count.
The proportion of ATSI residents in Banyule is about the same as
Greater Melbourne (0.5%).
Between 2006 to 2011 the ATSI population in Banyule increased by
101 persons.

ATSI population

0.52%

0.45%

Banyule

Greater Melb

Population





Location

In Banyule, the greatest number of ATSI residents live in the West
Precinct, in the suburbs of Heidelberg West / Bellfield and
Heidelberg Heights. The proportion of ATSI residents ranges from a
low of 0% in Eaglemont and Ivanhoe East, to a high of 1.8%
(124 persons) in Heidelberg West / Bellfield.

The darker red areas represent
neighbourhoods with a higher
number of ATSI residents.

ATSI status

The number of ATSI residents by ATSI status is:
◦ 577 Aboriginal
◦ 25 Torres Strait Islander (TSI)
◦ 17 Both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

In Banyule, around 9 out of every 10 ATSI residents are Aboriginal
(see chart). This is similar for Greater Melbourne and Australia
where 90% of ATSI residents are Aboriginal.

Age

Banyule’s ATSI population has a younger age profile than the
non-ATSI population. The median age of ATSI residents is 21 years
compared to 39 years for non-ATSI residents.

Age group
0-4 yrs
5-24 yrs
25-64 yrs
65+ yrs

ATSI
12%
43%
40%
5%

Non-ATSI
7%
24%
54%
16%

ATSI status

93%

Aboriginal

TSI

4%

3%

Both
Aboriginal
& TSI

Median age (years)

39

21

ATSI

Non-ATSI

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Profile

Gender

Banyule’s ATSI population has a slightly higher proportion of
females compared to the non-ATSI population.
ATSI women more often complete secondary education and obtain
a degree than ATSI males. However, they are more likely to be
disengaged from work or education, due largely to childbearing
responsibilities1.

Religion



In Banyule, the proportion of ATSI residents by religion is:
◦ 40% No religion
◦ 23%
Catholic
◦ 16% Anglican
◦ 21% Other

A small proportion of ATSI residents (1.4%) nominated Australian
Aboriginal Traditional Religions.

Disability 2



Need for
assistance

Education



Nationally, there are notable differences in the rates of disability of
ATSI people compared to non-ATSI people. In the 2012 Survey of
Disability, Ageing and Carers;
◦ ATSI people had higher rates of disability than non-ATSI people
across all age groups.
◦ ATSI children aged 0-14 years were more than twice as likely as
non-ATSI children to have a disability (15.2% compared with
6.6%).

In Banyule, the number of ATSI residents that indicate a need for
assistance with daily core activities (communication, mobility,
personal care), due to a severe disability, long term health condition
or old age is 38. This represents 6.1% of the ATSI population. In
comparison, a lower proportion of non-ATSI residents indicated a
need for assistance (4.8%).

ATSI residents were less likely to complete secondary education
than non-ATSI residents (see chart).
Although secondary school completion rates increased from 2006
to 2011, the increase was greater for non-ATSI residents.
ATSI residents were also less likely to complete a bachelor or higher
degree than non-ATSI residents (29.5% compared to 53.0%).
Data at the State level show that Aboriginal students were
approximately three times more likely to fall below the national
numeracy and literacy benchmark compared to other students.3

Proportion of females

53%

52%

ATSI

Non-ATSI

ATSI residents with
Aboriginal Traditional
Religions

1.4%

1.2%

1.4%

Banyule

Aust

Greater
Melb

National disability rate
(ages 0-14 years)

15%

7%

ATSI

Non-ATSI

Need for assistance

6.1%

4.8%

ATSI

Non-ATSI

Completed Year 12 or
equivalent

60%

33%

ATSI

Non-ATSI

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Profile

Employment

In the 2011 Census, the unemployment rate4 was considerably
higher for ATSI residents compared to non-ATSI residents.

Occupation

Compared to non-ATSI residents, ATSI residents in employment
were more likely to be;
◦ labourers
◦ machine operators and drivers
◦ sales workers
◦ community and personal service workers.

ATSI residents were less likely to be managers and professionals
compared to non-ATSI residents.

Income

A higher proportion of ATSI residents earn a lower income
compared to non-ATSI residents (see chart). Conversely, a lower
proportion of ATSI residents earn a high income ($2000 or more per
week) than non-ATSI residents (2.8% compared to 7.5%).
The weekly median individual income for ATSI residents is $467
compared to $619 for non-ATSI residents.

A lower proportion of ATSI households fully own or are purchasing
their home compared to non-ATSI households (see chart).
Approximately 1 in 2 ATSI households are renting compared to 1 in
4 non-ATSI households, with many ATSI residents in social housing.

In Banyule, 35% of ATSI households are one parent families. In
comparison, 11% of non-ATSI households are one parent families.

Housing
tenure



Households



Unemployment rate

12.0%

ATSI

Non-ATSI

Proportion of managers
and professionals

4.4%

42%

23%

ATSI

Non-ATSI

Low income
(less than $600 p/w)

57%

49%

ATSI

Non-ATSI

Housing owned or being
purchased

75%

41%

35%

ATSI

Non-ATSI

One parent families

11%

ATSI

Non-ATSI

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Profile

In the 2011 Census, the proportion of ATSI households with internet
connection was a little lower than for non-ATSI households.

Internet
access



More
information



Summary

Homes with internet
connection

75%

82%

ATSI

Non-ATSI

Volunteering

17%

19%

ATSI

Non-ATSI

Volunteering

ATSI residents were slightly less likely to volunteer for an
organisation or group than non-ATSI residents.

This profile is part of a suite of resources produced by Banyule’s Community and Social Planning Unit.
More resources can be found at www.banyule.vic.gov.au/stats
This profile will be updated once 2016 Census data is available.

In the 2011 Census, 619 residents in Banyule identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (ATSI). Banyule’s ATSI
population is relatively young with a median age of 21 years compared to 39 years for the non-ATSI population.
The largest number of ATSI residents live in Banyule’s West Precinct (i.e. suburbs of Heidelberg West/Bellfield and Heidelberg
Heights), a culturally diverse area with socio-economic disadvantage. There are no ATSI residents in Banyule’s more affluent
suburbs of Eaglemont and Ivanhoe East. Across the municipality, the majority of ATSI households are renting whereas the majority
of non-ATSI households fully own or are purchasing their home.
The proportion of ATSI residents completing secondary education is increasing. However, ATSI residents were less likely to
complete their secondary education and less likely to complete a bachelor or higher degree than non-ATSI residents. They were
more likely to be unemployed and more likely to earn a lower income than non-ATSI residents.

National data show higher rates of disability for ATSI people compared to non-ATSI people across all age groups. In Banyule, the
proportion of ATSI residents in need of assistance with daily core activities, due to a severe disability, long term medical condition
or old age, was higher compared to the non-ATSI population.
Across the municipality, ATSI households were more likely to be renting whereas non-ATSI households were more likely to fully
own or be purchasing their home. A higher proportion of ATSI households are single parent families compared to non-ATSI
households.

This profile highlights the socio-economic disadvantage of Banyule’s ATSI population compared to the non-ATSI population.
Council is committed and continues to work in partnership to support the ATSI population to improve health and wellbeing,
education and employment outcomes and community and social participation.

Notes &
data source

Unless otherwise stated, data is source from id – compiled by id consultants using Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census
of Population and Housing 2011. Once 2016 Census data is available, this profile will be updated accordingly.

1

2

3

Trends in Education, Employment, Disability and Family Formation among Indigenous Residents, produced by City of
Greater Dandenong.
The prevalence of disability is not available by Local Government Area, therefore national data is included in this profile.

Data source: Department of Education and Training – https://www.data.vic.gov.au/data/dataset/vcams-percentage-of-
students-achieving-national-benchmark-in-literacy

4 The unemployment rate is based on the number of people that provided their employment stats and excludes not

applicable, not stated, and those not in the labour force.