Community adversity and resilience - Professor Tony Vinson, March 2004

This study provides measurement of the concentration of disadvantage according to postcode areas in N.S.W. and Victoria.

Community Adversity and Resilience: The Distribution of Social Disadvantage in Victoria & New South Wales and the Mediating Role of Social Cohesion.

A research report of The Ignatius Centre, the policy and research arm of Jesuit Social Services.

This major research study of locational disadvantage is the sequel to the 1999 report, Unequal in Life, by Professor Tony Vinson.

Some areas of Victoria and new South Wales have far greater numbers of persons unemployed, poorly educated, or imprisoned than could ever be imagined.  Many of the same areas have much higher rates of confirmed child abuse, mental illness, disability pensions and sickness benefits than would be expected given their population profile.

The report has sent out a warning to Federal and State government authorities:   address the complex needs of these areas or they may become " No Go Zones" in coming years.

It also presents authorities with a way forward, outlining a methodology for building social cohesion that can buffer some of the harmful impact of such intense social disadvantage.

The report found that a small number of postcode areas in each State accounted for a large proportion of instances of different types of disadvantage.  

Measurement of disadvantage factors

14 different disadvantage factors were measured for each of 647 postcode areas in Victoria and 587 postcodes areas in New South Wales :

Unemployment, Long Term Unemployment, Low Income, Early School Leaving, Non-completion of Year 12 schooling, Unskilled Workers, Low Birth Weight, Confirmed Cases of Child Abuse, Psychiatric Hospital Admission, Criminal Offence Convictions, Serious Child Injuries, Imprisonment, Mortality, Disability Support Pension or Sickness Benefits.

New South Wales' 30 Most Disadvantaged Postcode Areas:

Brewarrina, Koorawatha, Lighting Ridge, Tingha, Ulmarra, Windale, Bowraville, Claymore, Galong, Kempsey, Warrawong, Wellington, Berkeley, Capertree, Kandos, Kurri Kurri, Mount Druitt, Waterloo, Ashford, Broken Hill, Carrington, Port Kembla, Walgett, Western Plains MSC, Binnaway, Casino, Mayfield, Mid-North Coast MSC, Nambucca Heads, Urunga.

Victoria's 30 Most Disadvantaged Postcode Areas:

Heathcote, Braybrook, Doveton, Korong Vale, Nowa Nowa, Nyah, Cabbage Tree Creek, Corinella, Marong, Nyah West, Torra Torra, West Heidelberg, Broadmeadows, Corio, Dunolly, Hastings, Port Welshpool, Thorpdale, Cann River, Comet Hill, Crossover, Jeparit, Maryborough, Morwell, Heyfield, Korumburra, Lakes Entrance, Longford, Tallangatta Valley, Wonthaggi.

A different approach demanded

The author of the report, Emeritus Professor Tony Vinson, does not believe that the findings demand large additional expenditures by government, but rather a different approach in those identified areas that have severe disadvantage:

"Building a sense of belonging to one's locality and increasing neighbours' interaction with one another can go a long way to shielding children and families from the full impact of social disadvantage," Professor Vinson explained.

"However, such building of connections between the residents of disadvantaged areas needs to be accompanied by the creation of new opportunities in education, training and employment that open up life opportunities," he added.  

A challenge in values

The Policy Director of Jesuit Social Services who commissioned the report, Father Peter Norden, believes that the findings presents a challenge in values to community leaders, including our political leaders:

"Poor families from these disadvantaged neighbourhoods will never benefit from the operation of the free market, nor should we cast blame on them for their circumstances.".  

"Australian leaders have a responsibility to ensure that all families are given a fair go and if your destiny could be determined by your postcode, it might be time to think a little more cleverly about how the interests of some of these communities could be advanced," Father Norden suggested

"Social exclusion breeds social alienation and unless this is addressed in national public policy decisions in the coming year, Australians will continue to observe increased instances of child abuse and neglect, mental health disorders, youth suicide, substance misuse and spiralling prison populations," he concluded, " at great economic and social cost to the wider community."

"Failing to act now will result in dramatic increases in expenditure for State and Federal Governments," he said, " in dealing with the serious consequences of social exclusion."

"For the first time in Australia's history, one's destiny might be shaped by one's location, or even one's postcode, whether that be an urban, regional or remote community, it might be time to rethink some of the rules of the game." 

To obtain a copy of the report 

Copies are available from the Jesuit Social Services for  $30 per copy, including GST and handling.

Download the order form for Community adversity and resilience (opens a new browser window)

For further information

Contact	:	Jesuit Social Services
Address	:	371 Church Street, Richmond VIC 3121
Phone	:	03 9427 7388
Fax	:	03 9427 1819

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http://www.jss.org.au