Income
An adequate income is fundamental to being able to live a healthy life – it gives a person greater access to nutritious food, better housing, and health and other services, as well as a greater ability for social participation (World Health Organization 2017).
In the 2021 Census, more than 1 in 3 (35% or 137,600) Indigenous adults lived in households with incomes in the lowest 20% of incomes nationally (1st income quintile; based on equivalised gross household income, an adjusted income measure used to compare households of different types and sizes).
Between 2011 and 2021, after adjusting for inflation, the median gross weekly equivalised household income increased:
- from $619 to $825 for Indigenous adults
- from $998 to $1,141 for non-Indigenous adults.
Average weekly equivalised household income of Indigenous adults was highest among those living in Major cities ($982), and lowest among those living in Very remote areas ($459) (Figure 5.4).
Figure 5.4: Median gross weekly equivalised household income of adults 2011–2021, by Indigenous status and remoteness area (2021)
Sources: Measure 2.08, Table D2.08.16 – AIHW analysis of the ABS Census of Population and Housing, data provided by the ABS, customised report, 2023 (ABS 2023a); and Measure 2.08, Table D2.08.12 – ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021.
The association between income and health works in both directions. An adequate income supports better health, but poor health can make it difficult to get a job and earn an income.
Comparing Indigenous adults living in households whose incomes were in the lowest 20% (lowest income quintile) of incomes nationally with those in the top 40% (top 2 income quintiles), in 2018–19:
- 32% (49,100) of those in the lowest group assessed their own health as fair or poor, compared with 13% (10,200) of those in the top 2 groups.
- 44% (65,700) of those in the lowest group were classed as experiencing high or very high psychological distress, compared with 18% (14,100) of those in the top 2 groups.
In 2018–19, a government cash pension or allowance was the main source of personal income for 45% (200,200) of Indigenous adults aged 18–64.
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