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 2016, more than 1 in 3 (37% or 105,400) Indigenous adults lived in households with incomes in the lowest 20% of incomes nationally (based on equivalised gross household income, an adjusted income measure used to compare households of different types and sizes).
Between 1996 and 2016, average weekly equivalised household income increased:
- from $544 to $802 for Indigenous adults
- from $801 to $1,096 for non-Indigenous adults.
These were real increases, after adjusting for inflation.
Average weekly equivalised household income of Indigenous adults was highest among those living in Major cities ($931), and lowest among those living in Very remote areas ($520) (Figure 5.4).
Figure 5.4: Average gross weekly equivalised household income of adults 1996–2016, by Indigenous status and remoteness area (2016)
Sources: Measure 2.08, Table D2.08.13 – AIHW and ABS analysis of Censuses of Population and Housing 1996–2016; and Measure 2.08, Table D2.08.12 – AIHW and ABS analysis of Census of Population and Housing 2016.
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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