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The Most Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Parts of New South Wales

As Measured by the 2006 Census

(See the note from the Australian Bureau of Statistics below)

The Australian Bureau of Statistics collects data from more than 37,000 individual census collection areas throughout the country and recently published its Preliminary Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage (PIRSD) summarising a wide range of information on disadvantage collected from the 2006 census, including low income, little education, high unemployment and unskilled occupations. Areas are grouped in to deciles (tenths) and we have sorted the top deciles into larger statistical areas, roughly equivalent to suburbs, to produce this list of how many people in each suburb live in one of the most socially disadvantaged parts of NSW.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics recommends taking caution when using the Preliminary Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage and urges
users to be aware of the following points:

  The Preliminary Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage is an  index of an area, not of individual residents in an area. The  socio-economic conditions of individual residents in any one area will  vary and there may be relatively advantaged residents living in areas   labelled as disadvantaged, and vice versa.
  The Preliminary Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage is a  measure of relative disadvantage only and is compiled using census  variables that show disadvantage, such as unemployment and low income.  Therefore it is statistically incorrect and misleading to reverse the  rankings to determine relatively advantaged or "best" areas.  The index  which measures advantage is the Index of Relative Socio-Economic  Advantage/Disadvantage which is due for release on 26 March.

  The Preliminary Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage is based  on Census Collection Districts, not suburbs. Therefore it is not  statistically valid to identify one collection district as being  representative of a wider area. It is also misleading.  The Preliminary Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage takes into  account a range of factors in determining both the social and also  economic conditions of an area.  The index is not an index of "social  disadvantage".

  There are four Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas and they are designed to  be used in conjunction with each other. By itself, the preliminary  release of the Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage may not  paint a complete picture of an area.

The ABS recommends using the full release of Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas due for release on 26 March 2008.