Coolaroo and Broadmeadows have been named as two of the most disadvantaged suburbs in the state after a recent analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data.
The suburbs ranked sixth and seventh respectively on the disadvantage list, along with Colac East and Norlane.
South Wharf was named the state’s most well-off suburb, while Laverton North was named as the most disadvantaged.
The ABS measured socio-economic advantage and disadvantage by “people’s access to material and social resources, and their ability to participate in society”.
According to the data, Coolaroo is home to 3191 people, has an unemployment rate of 14.9 per cent and a median household income of $902 a week.
The state’s median household income is $1419 a week.
In Broadmeadows, 15.9 per cent of adults are jobless.
The suburb has a median household income of $900 a week.
The ABS also ranked council areas, listing Hume as the eighth most disadvantaged Local Government Area (LGA) in Victoria. Central Goldfields Shire in central Victoria was named as the most disadvantaged.
Uniting Lentara executive officer Donna Matthews said the cost of utility bills, rents and living expenses were rising faster than the average income and Centrelink benefits, compounding the problem for many locals.
She said Uniting Lentara had recorded a seven per cent increase in people seeking support since the last quarter of 2017.
Ms Matthews said most people who reached out to Uniting Lentara needed help paying utility bills, rent and mortgages.
“High unemployment/underemployment, coupled with increased electricity and housing costs, have given rise to a higher demand in financial support services,” she said.
“Nearly half of all families [in the area] have neither parent in paid employment.”
