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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Sunshine West has an estimated 18,765 residents, up from 18,558 at the 2021 Census — a change of 207 people, or 1.1%. 156 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. That puts 1,447 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Sunshine West stands at approximately 18,765 as of May 2026. This indicates an expansion of 207 residents (1.1%) from the 2021 Census, which documented 18,558 individuals. This shift is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 18,693 from June 2025 alongside 156 validated new addresses registered after the Census. The resulting population density is 1,446 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the typical figure recorded across the national scale by AreaSearch. The post-census expansion rate of 1.1% in Sunshine West is within 1.0 percentage points of the broader SA3 area (2.1%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals.
Overseas migration was the primary driver of this growth, accounting for roughly 82.9% of the overall population gains in recent times. AreaSearch employs projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 zones, which were published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline. For SA2 territories lacking this data, projections are derived from the 2023 Regional/LGA releases by the VIC State Government, adjusted via a weighted aggregation method that scales growth rates from LGA to SA2 levels. The age structure growth patterns from these aggregations are applied to all locations for the period spanning 2032 to 2041. Based on these anticipated demographic transitions, the location is projected to experience population growth above the median for Australian statistical areas, adding 3,476 residents by 2041 compared to the most recent annual ERP figures, representing an overall rise of 18.1% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
268 new dwellings have been approved in Sunshine West over the past five years, an average of 53 a year. That is 2.8 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 41 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 32% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 41, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Development approvals in Sunshine West average approximately 53 residential properties annually, with 268 dwellings approved during the last 5 financial years (FY-21 to FY-25) and 38 registered during FY-26 so far. Even with local population declines, this volume of construction has remained relative and adequate, offering positive options for purchasers, especially with new homes displaying an average build cost of $277,000—which is below regional averages and points to more affordable housing options. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $62.2 million this financial year, pointing to strong investment by local businesses.
When compared to Greater Melbourne, Sunshine West shows a comparable rate of development per capita, maintaining a market balance that aligns with neighboring areas. This rate is lower than the national average, reflecting a mature market environment and indicating potential limits on new construction. Newly approved building designs consist of 32.0% standalone houses and 68.0% multi-unit dwellings or apartments. Focusing on higher-density developments offers more economical entry points for buyers, catering to investors, downsizers, and first-time buyers. This represents a distinct departure from the current housing mix (where standalone houses comprise 83.0%), showing a reduction in developable land, shifting lifestyle preferences, and a demand for more varied, economical housing choices. With approximately 374 individuals per approved dwelling, Sunshine West demonstrates a mature development profile. Looking forward, the population of Sunshine West is anticipated to increase by 3,404 residents by 2041 based on the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch. If development continues at its current pace, the supply of new housing may not keep up with population expansion, which could intensify competition among buyers and put upward pressure on prices.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Sunshine West
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 2 current infrastructure and development projects inside Sunshine West, worth an estimated $8 million. A further 103 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $48.1 billion. 28 are already under construction and 26 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local performance is heavily shaped by updates to infrastructure, major developments, and urban planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 22 projects expected to influence the local area. Prominent developments include 10-12 Marchant Crescent, Sunshine West, the Sunshine Superhub and Albion Station Upgrade, the Vietnamese Museum Australia, and the Derrimut Industrial Precinct Expansion, with the subsequent directory listing the projects of greatest significance.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Vietnamese Museum Australia
Australia's first museum dedicated to preserving and sharing the story of Vietnamese refugee settlement in Australia. The three-storey building, designed by Konzepte Melbourne, features a wave-like facade and bamboo exterior details symbolising the journey to freedom. Total funding of approximately $20.4 million includes $9.7M Federal, $8.7M State, and $2M additional State contributions plus community fundraising. The museum will house over 100,000 stories on veterans, refugees, and Vietnamese Australians, receive more than 280 artefacts, and include a resource centre, function centre and cafe for up to 450 guests.Part of the Multicultural Museums Victoria network. Construction commenced April 2025 and reached the topping-out milestone in September 2025, two weeks ahead of schedule. Builder is McCorkell Constructions.
Sunshine Superhub and Albion Station Upgrade
A major transformation of Sunshine Station into a transport superhub and the complete rebuild of Albion Station as part of Melbourne Airport Rail Stage 1. The project involves 6km of track upgrades from West Footscray to Albion, untangling a complex rail junction to enable airport services and Melton Line electrification. Features include two new regional platforms, an extended concourse, a new pedestrian/cycling link over the rail line, and a new station forecourt. Major construction began in early 2026 with underground utility relocations and car park closures currently underway.
10-12 Marchant Crescent, Sunshine West
Small-scale residential townhouse development in Sunshine West providing additional housing options for local community. Part of broader residential growth in Melbourne's western suburbs.
Derrimut Industrial Precinct Expansion
Ongoing expansion of Melbourne's Derrimut Industrial Precinct through new warehouse, distribution and logistics developments supported by road and utility upgrades. Brimbank planning policy continues to protect and expand the precinct as a key state logistics and freight hub, while the Victorian Government is progressing additional industrial land through the nearby Derrimut Fields PSP.
Western Rail Plan - Sunshine Superhub (West Footscray to Albion Rail Upgrade)
The Western Rail Plan umbrella program is now centred on the Sunshine Superhub, formally known as the Melbourne Airport Rail Stage 1 West Footscray to Albion Rail Upgrade. The $4.1 billion program spans 6km from West Footscray to Albion, untangling a complex rail junction by building 6km of new raised track and 2 rail bridges to separate 6 regional and metropolitan rail lines. Sunshine Station will be transformed into a superhub with 2 new dedicated regional platforms and an extended concourse, supporting more than 1,000 train services per day.A new Tottenham Station and a rebuilt Albion Station are also included. The enabling works contract was awarded in February 2026 to a consortium of McConnell Dowell, Arup, Metro Trains Melbourne, V/Line and VIDA Rail, with early works commencing April 2026. Full construction completion is targeted for 2030. The Geelong Fast Rail component has been cancelled following the withdrawal of federal funding in November 2023. Electrification to Melton and Wyndham Vale remains a future stage subject to separate business cases.
ParkWest Industrial Estate
ParkWest Industrial Estate is a premium 35-hectare industrial and logistics hub by Charter Hall, situated at the intersection of Boundary Road and the Western Ring Road in Derrimut. The estate comprises 18 modern, architecturally designed warehouse buildings with integrated office spaces and generous hardstand areas. It provides unmatched connectivity for major freight, e-commerce, and logistics operations. Upgrades and expansions of certain facilities within the estate remain under construction to further improve capacity and truck maneuverability.
Next Generation Trams
The Victorian Government is investing 1.85 billion AUD to deliver 100 accessible, low-floor Next Generation G Class trams and infrastructure upgrades, including the newly completed Maidstone Tram Depot. Designed by Alstom, the fleet of 25-metre-long vehicles will feature enhanced disability access, accommodating up to 150 passengers. The first test tram was delivered to Maidstone in September 2025, launching an extensive network testing and enabling works program across local routes before progressively rolling out to passengers.
Melbourne Airport Rail - Sunshine to Albion Package
Stage 1 of the Melbourne Airport Rail connecting passengers from West Footscray to Albion. The project involves upgrading Sunshine Station into a superhub, laying over 6 kilometres of new track, constructing two new rail bridges, and adding new regional platforms. Construction commenced in early 2026.
8,810 residents of Sunshine West are employed, from a labour force of 9,682. Unemployment sits at 9.0%, with participation at 61.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
A skilled labor force resides in Sunshine West, showing a diverse distribution across sectors, an unemployment rate of 9.0%, and an estimated job growth rate of 1.0% over the last year. In March 2026, there were 8,810 employed residents, while the unemployment rate was 4.2% higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 4.8%, highlighting potential areas for job market improvement. Additionally, workforce participation is significantly lower at 61.6% compared to 70.2% in Greater Melbourne. According to Census records, a moderate 20.0% of the employed population worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 restrictions.
The resident workforce is largely employed in health care & social assistance, transport, postal & warehousing, and manufacturing. The local area displays a strong employment specialization in the transport, postal & warehousing sector, where the share of jobs is 2.1 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical services are underrepresented, accounting for 5.9% of local jobs compared to the regional average of 10.1%. At the time of the Census, the ratio of jobs stood at 0.6 workers per resident, showing a level of local job opportunities that exceeds the standard benchmark. AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics indicates that over the 12-month period, the number of employed individuals rose by 1.0% and the total labor force grew by 1.9%, leading to an increase in the unemployment rate of 0.8 percentage points. For comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded a 2.1% increase in employment and a 2.3% increase in the labor force, with its unemployment rate rising by 0.2 percentage points. Forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia issued in May-25 offer additional perspective on prospective employment demand in Sunshine West. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates of change vary by industry. Projecting these industry-specific rates onto the employment profile of Sunshine West indicates local jobs could rise by 5.9% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, noting that this is a simple weighted projection for illustration that does not incorporate local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Sunshine West is $1,416 a week (about $74,000 a year), with median personal income at $565 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $50,195 a year against an average of $57,337. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Based on the most recent ATO postcode data for the 2023 financial year published by AreaSearch, the median income of taxpayers in the Sunshine West SA2 is $50,195, with an average income of $57,337. These figures sit below the national averages, and compare to a median of $57,688 and an average of $75,164 across Greater Melbourne. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates would stand at approximately $55,024 for the median and $62,853 for the average as of March 2026. Census data indicates that individual incomes are positioned at the 7th percentile ($565 weekly), whereas household incomes perform better, sitting at the 30th percentile.
Income distribution statistics show that the weekly earnings bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 contains 31.5% of the local population (5,910 individuals), which is close to the regional rate of 32.8% in the same bracket. Pressures regarding housing affordability are significant, with residents retaining only 84.5% of their income, which ranks in the 30th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Sunshine West had 6,217 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 83% detached houses and 3% apartments. 31% are owned with a mortgage, 29% rented and 41% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $346 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,700 a month. Rent absorbs 24.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 27.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Data from the latest Census shows that the housing stock in Sunshine West is composed of 82.6% standalone houses and 17.4% other housing types, including semi-detached options, apartments, and alternative dwellings, compared to Greater Melbourne where houses make up 67.9% and other dwellings comprise 32.1%. The rate of outright home ownership in Sunshine West is 40.6%, which is considerably higher than the Melbourne metro average, while the remaining homes are occupied by residents with a mortgage (30.6%) or tenants renting their homes (28.8%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was $1,700, which is below the Melbourne metro average of $2,000, and the median weekly rent was $346, compared to $390 across Melbourne metro.
On a national level, mortgage repayments in Sunshine West are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are below the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Sunshine West counted 6,217 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.8 people each. 33% are couples with children, against 22% couples without children. 22% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families represent the majority of households at 74.0%, consisting of couples with children at 33.1%, couples without children at 22.3%, and single-parent households at 16.6%. The remaining 26.0% consists of non-family households, with lone person households representing 21.5% and group households making up 4.5%. The median household size is 2.8 persons, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
23.2% of adults in Sunshine West hold a university qualification, including 16.5% with a bachelor degree and 5.0% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 16.5% hold a vocational qualification. 10 schools serve the area, with 3,603 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 976 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational attainment presents a challenge in the area, with 23.2% of residents holding a university qualification, which is lower than the Greater Melbourne average of 37.0%. This scenario provides an opportunity for targeted educational support. Among university degrees, bachelor qualifications are the most common at 16.5%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 5.0% and graduate diplomas at 1.7%. Vocational and technical training is well represented, with 25.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, which includes advanced diplomas (9.1%) and certificates (16.5%). Enrolment in education is high, with 29.9% of residents participating in some form of study.
This is divided into 9.0% of the population attending primary schools, 7.4% enrolled in secondary education, and 5.5% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Sunshine West reaches 99 stops on 16 routes, timetabled for about 4,000 services a week. The typical home sits about 180 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.3 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Analysis of the public transport network shows 99 operational transit stops in Sunshine West, comprising both train services and buses. These stops are served by 16 unique routes, which facilitate a combined total of 3,960 passenger journeys each week. Accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 184 meters from their nearest transit stop. Given the residential nature of the suburb, most workers commute out of the area, with private vehicles remaining the primary mode of transport at 84%, followed by trains at 9%. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.3 cars per home.
Additionally, 20.0% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect the pandemic circumstances of that period. Transit services run at an average frequency of 565 journeys per day across all active routes, which translates to approximately 40 weekly journeys for each transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
71.9% of residents in Sunshine West report no long-term health condition. 8.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.7 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality statistics and chronic disease rates, the health indicators for Sunshine West align closely with national baselines. The frequency of general health conditions in the population is typical, though older demographics show a higher rate compared to national averages, and the proportion of residents with private health insurance is low at approximately 48% (~8,932 people). This compares to a private cover rate of 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%. Asthma and arthritis are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 7.0% and 6.8% of the population, respectively.
Meanwhile, 71.9% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Residents under 65 years of age display better health statistics than average. The suburb has 19.1% of its population aged 65 and over (3,574 people), which is higher than the 15.0% proportion in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among older residents show some challenges, though they rank lower nationally than the broader local population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
54.3% of Sunshine West residents were born overseas and 66.2% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 95% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are Vietnamese (17.6%) and Australian (10.6%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Sunshine West ranks among the most culturally diverse locations in Australia, with 54.3% of residents born outside the country and 66.2% using a language other than English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, representing 49.2% of the local population. The area exhibits a significant overrepresentation of Buddhism, which is practiced by 12.7% of residents, a rate substantially higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 4.2%. Regarding ancestry based on the birth country of parents, the three most common backgrounds in Sunshine West are Other at 21.1% of the population (higher than the regional average of 14.6%), Vietnamese at 17.6% (higher than the regional average of 1.9%), and Australian at 10.6% (lower than the regional average of 18.4%).
There are also notable differences in the concentration of other backgrounds: Maltese ancestry is represented by 4.8% of the population (compared to 1.1% regionally), Macedonian by 2.6% (compared to 0.7%), and Croatian by 1.4% (compared to 0.7%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Sunshine West is 38. 28.1% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age of residents in Sunshine West is 38 years, which is close to the Greater Melbourne average of 37 and matches the national median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Sunshine West features a higher share of residents aged 75 - 84 (7.3%) and a lower share of individuals aged 15 - 24 (11.2%). Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 85+ increased from 2.2% to 2.9%, while the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 12.2% to 11.3%. By 2041, the age structure is projected to shift, with the 55 to 64 group growing by 31% (636 people) to reach 2,697 from 2,060, whereas the 5 to 14 group is expected to grow by 1%, adding 11 residents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Sunshine West
8 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 8 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2025 about a year ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2025. | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 156 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (18,558 at the 2021 Census → 18,765 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (213011338). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.