Socio-economic outcome area 9

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people secure appropriate, affordable housing that is aligned with their priorities and need

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Target 9A

By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) housing to 88 per cent.

Target 9B

By 2031, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households:
  1. within discrete Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities receive essential services that meet or exceed the relevant jurisdictional standard
  2. in or near to a town receive essential services that meet or exceed the same standard as applies generally within the town (including if the household might be classified for other purposes as a part of a discrete settlement such as a “town camp” or “town based reserve”).

Dashboard snapshot: The data below are the most recent at the time of preparing the July 2023 report. Please go to the dashboard to access the current data.

Nationally in 2021, 81.4 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) housing (figure CtG9.1).

This is an increase from 78.9 per cent in 2016 (the baseline year).

Nationally, based on progress from the baseline, target 9A shows improvement but is not on track to be met. However, this assessment should be used with caution as it is based on a limited number of data points. Please see the How to interpret the data page for more information.

Target 9B is not able to be reported against as there is no data source currently available which includes all required data elements.

Figure CtG9.1 shows people living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) dwellings. More details can be found within the text near this image.

The assessments below reflect progress from the baseline (improvement, worsening or no change). For the national assessment, the target 9A outcome shows improvement but is not on track to be met.

NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
Assessment of progress 2016 to 2021ImprovementImprovementImprovementImprovementImprovementWorseningWorseningImprovementImprovement but target not on track to be met

right arrow improvement rectangle no change left arrow worsening not applicable as required data not available. tick good improvement and target on track to be met. circle improvement but target not on track to be met.

Note: These assessments of progress should be used with caution as they are based on a limited number of data points.

Disaggregations

By sex

Nationally in 2021, a higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males were living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) housing (81.8 per cent) compared to females (81.1 per cent) (figure CtG9.2). The proportions increased by around 3 percentage points for males and around 2 percentage points for females since the 2016 baseline year.

Figure CtG9.2 shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) dwellings, Australia, by sex, by year. More details can be found within the text near this image.
Data in figure CtG9.2 (%)
Sex20162021
Males79.181.8
Females78.781.1

By age group

Nationally in 2021, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) housing was highest for people aged 65 years and over (91.8 per cent). The proportion was lower for younger age groups and was lowest for people aged 15-24 years (76.6 per cent) (figure CtG9.3). This follows a similar pattern to the 2016 baseline year. Nationally from 2016 to 2021, there was an increase of 2-3 percentage points for people living in appropriately sized housing across all age groups.

Figure CtG9.3 shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) dwellings, Australia, by age group, by year. More details can be found within the text near this image.
Data in figure CtG9.3 (%)
Age20162021
<5 years old77.579.3
5-14 years old75.978.1
15-24 years old73.976.6
25-34 years old78.982.3
35-44 years old80.682.8
45-54 years old84.085.9
55-64 years old87.889.6
65+ years old89.291.8

By remoteness area

Nationally in 2021, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) housing was highest in major cities (87.8 per cent) (figure CtG9.4). The proportions declined as remoteness increased, down to 45.0 per cent for people living in very remote areas. Since the 2016 baseline year, the proportions increased for people in major cities, outer regional areas and very remote areas, but did not change for people living in inner regional areas and decreased (less than one percentage point) for people living in remote areas.

Figure CtG9.4 shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) dwellings, Australia, by remoteness area, by year. More details can be found within the text near this image.
Data in figure CtG9.4 (%)
Remoteness20162021
Major cities86.487.8
Inner regional86.886.8
Outer regional81.382.0
Remote68.368.0
Very remote41.145.0

By Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage (IRSD) quintile

Nationally in 2021, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) housing was highest in the least disadvantaged socioeconomic areas of Australia (94.5 per cent) (figure CtG9.5). The proportion declined in more disadvantaged areas, down to 71.4 per cent for people living in the most disadvantaged socioeconomic areas of Australia. The proportions have increased in all socioeconomic areas since the 2016 baseline year.

Figure CtG9.5 shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) dwellings, Australia, by Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage quintile, by year. More details can be found within the text near this image.
Data in figure CtG9.5 (%)
Description520162021
Most disadvantaged68.771.4
Second most disadvantaged85.386.0
Middle 20 per cent88.189.6
Second least disadvantaged91.291.7
Least disadvantaged93.394.5

By disability status

Nationally in 2021, a higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a need for assistance with core activities were living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) housing (85.5 per cent) compared to people who do not have a need for assistance (81.4 per cent) (figure CtG9.6). The proportions increased by around 1 percentage point for people with a need for assistance with core activities and increased by around 3 percentage points for people who do not have a need for assistance, since the 2016 baseline year.

Figure CtG9.6 shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) dwellings, Australia, by disability status, by year. More details can be found within the text near this image.
Data in figure CtG9.6 (%)
Description520162021
Has need for assistance with core activities84.185.5
Does not have need for assistance with core activities78.981.4
Need for assistance with core activities not stated65.368.2

By number of extra bedrooms needed

Nationally in 2021, 18.6 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people lived in overcrowded dwellings (i.e. dwellings requiring one or more extra bedrooms), a decrease of around 3 percentage points since the 2016 baseline. Most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that lived in overcrowded dwellings in 2021 lived in a dwelling that required one extra bedroom (10.5 per cent of people), while 4.1 per cent of people required two extra bedrooms, 1.8 per cent required three extra bedrooms and 2.1 per cent lived in a dwelling that required four or more extra bedrooms (figure CtG9.7).

Figure CtG9.7 shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in overcrowded dwellings, Australia, by number of extra bedrooms needed, by year. More details can be found within the text near this image.
Data in figure CtG9.7 (%)
Description520162021
One extra bedroom needed11.610.5
Two extra bedrooms needed4.54.1
Three extra bedrooms needed2.01.8
Four or more extra bedrooms needed3.02.1

By tenure type

Nationally in 2021, a higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people lived in appropriately sized dwellings if they were owned outright or owned with a mortgage (88.9 per cent and 92.1 per cent, respectively) than if they lived in rented dwellings or other tenure types (75.5 per cent and 72.5 per cent, respectively). Since 2016, there was an increase in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized housing across all tenure types (figure CtG9.8).

Figure CtG9.8 shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) dwellings, Australia, by tenure type, by year. More details can be found within the text near this image.
Data in figure CtG9.8 (%)
Description520162021
Owned outright88.788.9
Owned with a mortgage/being purchased91.192.1
Rented72.875.5
All other tenure types70.472.7

Target data specifications

Target 9: Increase the proportion of people living in housing that is appropriately sized and with all households receiving essential services meeting or exceeding standards

Outcome:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people secure appropriate, affordable housing that is aligned with their priorities and need.

Target:

Target 9A: By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) housing to 88 per cent.

Target 9B: By 2031, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households:

  1. within discrete Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities receive essential services that meet or exceed the relevant jurisdictional standard
  2. in or near to a town receive essential services that meet or exceed the same standard as applies generally within the town (including if the household might be classified for other purposes as a part of a discrete settlement such as a “town camp” or “town based reserve”).

Indicator:

Target 9A

The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) housing.

Target 9B

The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households receiving essential services that meet or exceed standards

Measure:

Target 9A

The measure is defined as:

Numerator — number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) dwellings

Denominator — total number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

and is presented as a percentage.

Target 9B

The indicator has two measures.

Measure 1 is the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households within discrete Indigenous communities that meet or exceed the relevant jurisdictional standard

Numerator – number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households within discrete Indigenous communities that meet or exceed the relevant jurisdictional standard

Denominator – number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households within discrete Indigenous communities

and is presented as a percentage

Measure 2 is the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households in or near to a town that receive essential services that meet or exceed the same standard as applies generally within the town

Numerator – number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households in or near to a town that receive essential services that meet or exceed the same standard as applies generally within the town

Denominator – number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households in or near to a town

and is presented as a percentage

Target established:

National Agreement on Closing the Gap July 2020; target 9B added August 2022

Latest dashboard update:

15 June 2023

Indicator type:

Target

Interpretation of change:

For all measures, a high or increasing proportion is desirable. An increase from the baseline year is an improvement.

Data source(s):

Target 9A

Name: Census of Population and Housing

Frequency: Five-yearly

Documentation (links): https://www.abs.gov.au/census

Target 9B

To be confirmed.

There is no data source currently available which includes all required data elements to enable reporting against this target.

Data provider:

Target 9A

Provider name: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

Provider area: Census

Target 9B

To be confirmed.

Baseline year:

Target 9A

2016

Target 9B

To be confirmed.

Latest reporting period:

Target 9A

2021

Target 9B

To be confirmed.

Target year:

Targets 9A and 9B

2031

Disaggregations:

Target 9A

State and territory and Australia, by Indigenous status.

State and territory and Australia, by Indigenous status, by sex.

State and territory and Australia, by Indigenous status, by remoteness area

State and territory and Australia, by Indigenous status, by Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage (IRSD) quintile

State and territory and Australia, by Indigenous status, by disability status

State and territory and Australia, by age

State and territory and Australia, by Indigenous status, by number of extra bedrooms needed

State and territory and Australia, by Indigenous status, by tenure type

Target 9B

To be confirmed.

Computation:

Target 9A

Numerator divided by Denominator multiplied by 100

Counting rules

Data are for people enumerated in private dwellings who reported being ‘at home’ on Census night.

Geographical variables are based on a person's Place of Enumeration (location on Census night).

Numerator

Appropriately sized dwellings are those where no extra bedrooms are required to adequately house the usual residents, using the criteria of the Canadian National Occupancy Standard (CNOS). The CNOS specifies that:

  • there should be no more than two people per bedroom
  • a household of one unattached individual may reasonably occupy a bed–sit (i.e. have no bedroom)
  • couples and parents should have a separate bedroom
  • children less than five years of age, of different sexes, may reasonably share a bedroom
  • children five years of age or over, of the opposite sex, should not share a bedroom
  • children less than 18 years of age and of the same sex may reasonably share a bedroom; and
  • single household members aged 18 years or over should have a separate bedroom.

The CNOS requires knowledge of the age, sex and relationship status of all tenants within a household, as well as the number of bedrooms in the dwelling. Households for which complete dwelling utilisation information is not available are excluded from this measure.

Includes (numerator and denominator):

  • Australian total includes Other Territories.

Excludes (numerator and denominator):

  • people in dwellings with Housing Suitability not stated or unable to be determined (Data on the number of people whose Housing Suitability was not stated or unable to be determined is provided for context.)
  • people in non-private dwellings; migratory, off-shore and shipping areas; or visitor only and non-classifiable households
  • overseas visitors
  • people whose Indigenous status was not stated. (Data on the number of people whose Indigenous status was not stated is provided for context.)

Disaggregations:

Sex refers to a person’s biological characteristics. The 2021 Census allowed all respondents to select from three response options for the sex question: male, female and non-binary sex. Where a respondent has provided a male or female response and a non-binary sex response, the male or female response was used to determine a binary sex variable. Otherwise, sex was derived by a statistical process using random allocation.).

Remoteness area is classified according to the ABS Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) using SA1 as the building block. For people with incomplete/invalid or missing address information, the ABS imputes the place of usual residence (The non-response rate at the SA1 level was 4.4 per cent in 2021.) Remoteness area disaggregations exclude ‘Migratory – Offshore – Shipping’ and ‘No usual address’. Please see the How to interpret the data page for more information.

Socioeconomic status of the locality is classified according to the ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA): Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD), using SA1 as the building block. For people with incomplete/invalid or missing address information, the ABS will impute the place of usual residence. Data are reported by IRSD quintile that are determined at the Australian level and exclude persons with unknown or unavailable SEIFA score and exclude persons with unknown or unavailable SEIFA score. Some individual geographic areas were excluded from SEIFA for various reasons, such as low population or high non-response to certain Census questions. Please see the How to interpret the data page for more information.

Disability is classified according to core activity need for assistance. Data are only available for people with a profound or severe core activity limitation. Disability data sourced from the Census are based on four questions to identify need for assistance and may not be fully comparable with data from other sources. See www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4431.0.55.002 for more information. (Data for people whose ‘need for assistance with core activities’ was not stated is provided for context.)

Age is derived from a person’s date of birth. If date of birth is not stated, an age value is imputed by the ABS.

Number of extra bedrooms needed is classified according to the CNOS. Data are reported for dwellings requiring one, two, three and four or more extra bedrooms to be considered appropriately sized to adequately house the residents.

Tenure type describes whether a dwelling is owned, Owned with a mortgage/being purchased (includes 'owned with a mortgage' and 'being purchased under a share equity scheme'), rented, or ‘all other tenure types (includes 'Being occupied rent free', 'being occupied under a life tenure scheme', 'other tenure type' and 'not stated').

Extraction

Census TableBuilder Pro Counting Persons, Place of Enumeration database HOSD x INGP x Main ASGS (EN) x UAICP

[Disaggregations: SEXP; REMOTE (UR); IRSD; ASSNP; AGE5P; TEND]

Target 9B

The definition of a discrete community from ABS 2016 Census dictionary: “A discrete community is a geographic location, bounded by physical or legal boundaries, which is inhabited or intended to be inhabited predominantly (i.e. greater than 50% of usual residents) by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples, with housing or infrastructure (power, water, sewerage) that is managed on a community basis. Discrete communities have populations of (but not limited to) 50 or more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Essential services include: power, water, wastewater and solid waste management only.

Relevant jurisdictional standard: Applicable standards may differ between places within a jurisdiction according to population size or other relevant criteria but not on criteria linked to the settlement’s status as a discrete Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community.

Data quality considerations:

Target 9A

All data values have been randomly adjusted using perturbation to avoid the release of confidential data. Proportions/rates calculated for small populations should be used with caution.

There is no universally accepted definition of what constitutes an overcrowded household. The ABS uses the CNOS. The CNOS is widely used in Australia and internationally. The relevance and appropriateness of CNOS in depicting dwelling utilisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has not been assessed. Classification of ‘Levels of overcrowding specific to Australian conditions’ is to be considered under the Data Development Plan endorsed by the Joint Council on Closing the Gap in August 2022.

Target 9B

To be confirmed

Future reporting:

Target 9A

Additional disaggregations required for future reporting:

  • Other small geographic areas (where possible).

Supporting indicators

Driver

  • Change in population by location
  • Change in social housing dwellings by location

Contextual information

  • Home ownership rate

    Including by location and tenure type

  • Homelessness rate including by type and age group

    e.g. Transitional housing/sleeping rough

  • Structural problems including functional health hardware

    Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) measure of acceptable standard of housing

  • Low income household experiencing rental stress/mortgage stress
  • Social housing dwellings per 100 households by location
  • Progress towards parity
  • Rate of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) diagnoses

    By severity at diagnosis

  • Hospitalisation rates for environmentally based diseases
  • Mortality rates for diseases associated with poor environmental health

Material for download

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