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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Contextual information

Structural problems including functional health hardware

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

Data tables appear under figures

Measure 1

Proportion of households living in housing of an acceptable standard

Nationally in 2018-19, 80.2% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households reported living in houses classified as being of an acceptable standard (figure SE9e.1). Houses of an acceptable standard have four working facilities (for washing people, clothes or bedding, for storing/preparing food, and a working sewerage system) and no more than two major structural problems.

Measure 2

Proportion of households living in dwellings with no major structural problems

Nationally in 2018-19, 67.1% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households reported living in dwellings with no major structural problems (figure SE9e.2).

Measure 3

Proportion of households living in dwellings with access to working facilities by separate facility type

Nationally in 2018-19, between 95.5 and 98.3% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households reported living in dwellings with working facilities for washing people, clothes or bedding, and a working sewerage system. For storing and preparing food, the proportion was lower at 90.9% (figure SE9e.3).

Indicator data specifications

Indicator SE9e: Acceptable standard of housing

Related Outcome:

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

Related target:

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

Indicator:

Structural problems including functional health hardware (ABS measure of acceptable standard of housing)

Measures:

There are three measures for this indicator.

Measure 1 is the proportion of households living in housing of an acceptable standard, defined as:

Numerator – number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households living in housing of an acceptable standard

Denominator – number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households

and is presented as a percentage.

Measure 2 is the proportion of households living in dwellings with no major structural problems, defined as:

Numerator – number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households living in dwellings with no major structural problems

Denominator – number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households

and is presented as a percentage.

Measure 3 is the proportion of households living in dwellings with access to working facilities by separate facility type, defined as:

Numerator – number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households living in dwellings with working facilities by separately facility type

Denominator – number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households

and is presented as a percentage.

Indicator established:

National Agreement on Closing the Gap July 2020

Latest dashboard update for the indicator:

30 June 2022

Indicator type:

Contextual information

Interpretation of change:

For all measures, a high or increasing proportion is desirable.

Data source(s):

Name: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS)/National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS)

Frequency: six‑yearly (NATSISS and NATSIHS) – roughly three‑yearly rotating cycle

Documentation (links):

NATSIHS: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, 2018-19 financial year | Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs.gov.au)

NATSISS: https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4714.0

Data provider:

Provider name: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

Provider area: Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics

Baseline year:

2018‑19

Latest reporting period:

2018‑19

Disaggregations:

(All measures) State and territory and Australia.

Computation:

Numerator divided by Denominator multiplied by 100.

Counting rules

The data is for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households that live in private dwellings in Australia, including, among others, public and community housing.

In the NATSIHS, an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander household is defined as an occupied private dwelling where at least one permanent resident identifies as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin.

Geographical variables are based on the usual place of residence of the household.

The ABS definition of ‘acceptable standard’ is used which is defined as housing with four working facilities (for washing people, for washing clothes or bedding, for storing/preparing food and sewerage) and not more than two major structural problems.

ABS TableBuilder has been used to source data for this indicator (all measures). Numbers in TableBuilder are rounded to the nearest 100. Proportions are calculated from rounded values.

Supporting calculations

Data quality considerations:

See the NATSIHS methodology for further information on the 2018‑19 data: https://www.abs.gov.au/methodologies/national-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-health-survey-methodology/2018-19

Data values have been randomly adjusted using perturbation to avoid the release of confidential data. Discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

The data for this measure aligns with the data for similar measures in the Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage report and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework report.

The data from the NATSIHS and NATSISS is ‘self‑reported’ and is based on the respondent’s view of their housing and its functionality.

Future reporting:

Future reporting will seek to include the following additional disaggregations:

  • remoteness areas
  • other small geographic areas (where possible)
  • socio‑economic status of the locality
  • tenure type
  • overcrowding status
  • disability status.

The Productivity Commission acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures, Country and Elders past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices or names of people who have passed away.