Laverton Neighbourhood
Data Profile
A.Population Characteristics
Population numbers
There were 4,286 people living in Laverton, at the 2006 Census. Laverton’s total population had declined by 4.3 per cent (193 people) since the 2001 Census. Looking forward, the population is predicted to grow by 4.6 per cent over theperiod 2010 to 2020. (Refer to population forecasts at the rear of this document.)
Over the Census period 2001-2006, the main population decline was amongst children and young people aged 0-17 years and adults aged 25-49 years. These groups decreased in both number and population share, with the largest drop occurring among0-11 year olds (138 fewer children).
Against the decline in the numbers of children, there was a corresponding increase of residents aged 50 years plus. Their numbers grew by 134 people. This trend of an aging population is evident across the municipality and the state.
Table 1: Population numbersGraph 1: Population 2006 and 2001
2006 / 2001 / Change 2001-20060 - 4 / 291 / 336 / -45
5 - 11 / 411 / 504 / -93
12 - 17 / 360 / 379 / -19
18 - 24 / 435 / 416 / 19
25 - 34 / 582 / 699 / -117
35 - 49 / 984 / 1,056 / -72
50 - 59 / 502 / 464 / 38
60- 69 / 373 / 369 / 4
70 - 84 / 319 / 241 / 78
85+ / 29 / 15 / 14
Total / 4,286 / 4,479 / -193
Source ABS: 2006 Census (Usual residence data)
When compared to HobsonsBay, Laverton had a slightly higher proportion of 0-24 year olds and the proportion of residents aged 25 years or morewas slightly lower.
Graph 2: Age structure of Laverton and HobsonsBay
Family types
There was a total of 1,079 families living in Laverton in 2006 which was 98 (8 per cent)fewer families than in 2001.
Seventy percent (752) were families with children, higher than the rate of 64 per cent for HobsonsBay. Among those Laverton families with children, just over half (54 per cent) were couple families and a further 46 per cent were sole parent families.
Relative to the rate of families with children living in Hobsons Bay, Laverton had a much lower proportion of couple families (Laverton 38 per cent and Hobsons Bay 47 per cent) and a higher proportion of sole parent families (Laverton 32per cent and Hobsons Bay 17 per cent). In addition, Laverton had around six per cent fewer couples with no children.
Between 2001 and 2006, there was a noticeable decrease in the number of couple families with both younger children in Laverton (98 fewer). There was also a smaller decrease in the number of sole parent families with younger children while those with children 15 years of age and over increased.
Table 2: Family structure
2006 / 2001Number / % / HobsonsBay % / Number / % / HobsonsBay % / Change
2001-2006
Couples with child/ren
Under 15 years / 268 / 24.8 / 31.4 / 366 / 31.1 / 33.1 / -98
Couples with child/ren 15 years and over / 137 / 12.7 / 15.3 / 154 / 13.1 / 15.8 / -17
Total couples with child/ren / 405 / 37.5 / 46.7 / 520 / 44.2 / 48.9 / -115
One parent families with child/ren under 15 years / 180 / 16.7 / 8.5 / 204 / 17.3 / 8.3 / -24
One parent families with child/ren 15 years and over / 167 / 15.5 / 8.9 / 128 / 10.9 / 7.5 / 39
Total one parent families / 347 / 32.2 / 17.4 / 332 / 28.2 / 15.8 / 15
Couples without child/ren / 305 / 28.3 / 34.0 / 312 / 26.5 / 33.5 / -7
Other families / 22 / 2.0 / 1.8 / 13 / 1.1 / 1.8 / 9
Total families / 1,079 / 100.0 / 100.0 / 1,177 / 100.0 / 100.0 / -98
Source ABS: 2006 Census (Enumerated data)
Household types
In 2006, there were a total of 1,667 households in Laverton, which was unchanged since the 2001 Census.
Households with one family were the main household type and made up 62 per cent of all households, a fall of around seven percent since 2001. One quarter of all households (408) consisted of a lone person, marginally higher than at the previous Census.
The number of ‘other not classifiable households’ was more than double the 2001 figure. This category generally applies where insufficient information about the household is provided on the Census form or non-return of the form.
Compared to HobsonsBay, Laverton had a lower proportion of one family households (around five per cent slightly lower) and a higher proportion of not classifiable households.
Table 3: Household types
2006 / 2001Number / % / HobsonsBay % / Number / % / HobsonsBay % / Change
2001-2006
One family households / 1,032 / 61.9 / 67.1 / 1,141 / 68.4 / 68.7 / -109
Two or more family households / 37 / 2.2 / 1.3 / 22 / 1.3 / 1.3 / 15
Total family households / 1,069 / 64.1 / 68.4 / 1,163 / 69.7 / 69.9 / -94
Lone person households / 408 / 24.5 / 24.6 / 395 / 23.7 / 23.6 / 13
Group households / 65 / 3.9 / 3.2 / 57 / 3.4 / 2.9 / 8
Other not classifiable households / 125 / 7.5 / 3.8 / 53 / 3.2 / 3.5 / 72
Total households / 1,667 / 100.0 / 100.0 / 1,668 / 100.0 / 100.0 / -1
Source: ABS 2001& 2006 Census (Enumerated data)
Overseas born residents
In 2006, Laverton had 1,331 residents who were born overseas. Just over 60 per cent arrived in Australia prior to 1991 and almost 20 per cent (236 people) of those born overseas arrived in the five years to 2006.
Table 4: Year of arrival in Australia
Number / %2006 / 26 / 2.0
2005 / 68 / 5.1
2004 / 53 / 4.0
2003 / 51 / 3.8
2002 / 32 / 2.4
2001 / 6 / 0.5
1996 to 2000 / 151 / 11.3
1995 to 1991 / 112 / 8.4
Before 1991 / 754 / 56.6
Not stated / 78 / 5.9
Total / 1,331 / 100.0
Source: ABS 2006 Census (Usual residence data)
The main countries of birth for Laverton’s residents were theUnited Kingdom (5.4 per cent of all residents), New Zealand (3.5 per cent), thePhilippines (3.3 per cent), Vietnam (2.0 per cent) and India (1.2 per cent).
The United Kingdomwas also the most common birthplace of overseas born residents in HobsonsBay, followed by Italy and New Zealand.
Table 5: Main countries of birth
Number / % / HobsonsBay %
United Kingdom / 230 / 5.4 / 4.7
New Zealand / 150 / 3.5 / 1.9
Philippines / 140 / 3.3 / 1.3
Vietnam / 86 / 2.0 / 1.8
India / 53 / 1.2 / 0.9
Lebanon / 35 / 0.8 / 1.2
Italy / 34 / 0.8 / 2.3
FormerFederalRepublic of Yugoslavia / 33 / 0.8 / 1.1
China / 27 / 0.6 / 0.7
Indonesia / 27 / 0.6 / 0.2
Source: ABS 2006 Census (Usual residence data)
Twenty-one percent of residents of the Laverton neighbourhood were from non-English speaking backgrounds, on a par with the HobsonsBay figure.
Table 6: Non-English speaking background
Number / % / HobsonsBay %Non-English speaking backgrounds / 909 / 21.2 / 21.5
Main English speaking countries / 429 / 10 / 7.6
Total Overseas Born / 1,338 / 31.2 / 29.1
Australia / 2,456 / 57.3 / 63.7
Not stated / 492 / 11.5 / 7.2
Total / 4,286 / 100 / 100
Source: ABS 2006 Census (Usual residence data)
Overall, almost 58 per cent of Laverton’s residents spoke languages other than English, slightly below the Hobson’s Bay rate of 62 per cent.
Around 45 per cent of Laverton’s residents who spoke another language also spoke English fluently (similar to theHobsonsBay rate of 47 per cent) and a further 12 per cent were either not proficient in English or spoke no English, only slightly below the HobsonsBay rate.
Forty-two percent of overseas-born residents spoke English only, above theHobsonsBay rate of 37.5 per cent.
Table 7: Proficiency in English(overseas born persons aged 5 years and over)
Number / % / HobsonsBay %Speaks English only / 562 / 42.3 / 37.5
Speaks another language and English not well or not at all / 161 / 12.1 / 14.8
Speaks another language and English well or very well / 593 / 44.6 / 46.8
Speaks another language and English - proficiency not stated / 13 / 1.0 / 0.6
Not stated / 0 / 0.0 / 0.3
Total / 1,329 / 100 / 100
Source: ABS 2006 Census (Usual residence data)
People with disabilities
It is difficult to accurately measure the number of people with a disability who live in Laverton. The two main data sources are the 2006 Census and the Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (ABS 2003).
The Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers uses a population sample to estimatethe incidence of disability nationally and this rate is then applied to the states and Local Government Areas (LGAs). The survey estimated that approximately 19 per cent of theHobsonsBaypopulation had a disability (measured as mild, moderate or profound/severe). Based on this rate of disability, an estimated 814 people living in Laverton had a disability.
In addition to the survey, the 2006 Census included a question as to whether help or supervision was required with one or more core activities including self-care, communication and mobility. These results do not reflect the true extent of disability in the community, given not all people with disabilities require assistance. Bearing these limitations in mind, the Census results showed that 5 per cent (213)of Laverton residents required help with a core activity, only slightly above the rate for HobsonsBay (4.4 per cent).
Not surprisingly, it was among Laverton’s older residents where the need for assistance was greatest, a trend that is reflected across the municipality. Of the 213 people requiring help in Laverton, 55 per cent(118) were aged 55 years and over. However, this rate is well below the HobsonsBayfigure of 71 per cent who required assistance, and is due in part to the slightly lower proportion of older residents in Laverton.
Compared to HobsonsBay, Laverton had a higher proportion of residents aged 15-19 years and 45-54 years requiring assistance.
Table 8: People needing assistance with a core activity
Number / % / HobsonsBay %0 to 4 years / 3 / 1.4 / 1.2
5 to 14 years / 15 / 7 / 5.3
15 to 19 years / 14 / 6.6 / 2
20 to 24 years / 0 / 0 / 1.6
25 to 34 years / 15 / 7 / 3.3
35 to 44 years / 12 / 5.6 / 5.9
45 to 54 years / 36 / 16.9 / 9.8
55 to 64 years / 30 / 14.1 / 13.2
65 to 74 years / 39 / 18.3 / 16.1
75 to 84 years / 37 / 17.4 / 26.8
85 years and over / 12 / 5.6 / 14.8
Total needing assistance / 213 / 100 / 100
Source: ABS 2006 Census (Usual residence data)
Participation in education
Before considering the participation in education data in Table 9, it is important to note that the proportion of ‘not stated’ responses in 2006 was high for Laverton, compared to the HobsonsBay figure and also the neighbourhood figure for 2001. As a result, the data should be used with caution.
The table below looks at the share of the population attending educational institutions and shows that there was a reasonable similar pattern of attendance in Laverton and HobsonsBay.
In 2006, 19.7 per cent (847) of the population of Laverton was enrolled in education, slightly below the rate of 21.4 per cent for HobsonsBay.
Preschoolers made up 1.1 per cent of Laverton who were enrolled in education in 2006, only slightly below the HobsonsBay figure (1.6). Around seven per cent of residentswere attending primary school which was on a par with the HobsonsBay rate. A further 3.9 per cent ofresidents were undertaking post secondary studies at university or TAFE which was slightly below the HobsonsBay’s rate of 4.9 per cent,
Since the 2001 Census, there was a slight shift inwhere people from Laverton were studying, with the percentage attending TAFE dropping from 2.1 per cent to 1.8 per cent, whilst those attending university grew from 1.9 per cent to 2.1 per cent. There was also a lower share of the population attending primary school which reflected a decline in the number of 5-11 year olds between 2001 and 2006.
Table 9: Attendance at educational institution
2006 / 2001Number / % / HobsonsBay % / Number / % / HobsonsBay %
PreSchool / 47 / 1.1 / 1.6 / 54 / 1.2 / 1.4
Primary School / 313 / 7.3 / 7.8 / 450 / 10.1 / 8.5
Secondary School / 276 / 6.4 / 6.2 / 295 / 6.6 / 6.1
TAFE / 79 / 1.8 / 1.7 / 92 / 2.1 / 2.0
University / 91 / 2.1 / 3.2 / 87 / 1.9 / 3.3
Other / 41 / 1.0 / 0.9 / 38 / 0.8 / 0.9
Not Attending / 2,839 / 66.2 / 70.2 / 3,214 / 71.8 / 72.4
Not Stated / 600 / 14.0 / 8.3 / 244 / 5.5 / 5.2
Total Population / 4,286 / 100.0 / 100.0 / 4,474 / 100.0 / 100.0
Source ABS 2006 Census (Usual residence data)
In 2006, just over 31 per cent of Laverton residents aged 15 years and over had completed Year 12, well below the HobsonsBayrate of 43 per cent.
Laverton residents were more likely to have left school after completing of Years9 or 10; 28 per cent of Laverton residents left school at the end of either Years 9 or 10 compared to the HobsonsBay figure of 22 per cent.
Table 10: Highest level of schooling completed (persons aged 15 years and over)
Number / % / HobsonsBay %Year 8 or below / 330 / 9.7 / 10.2
Year 9 or equivalent / 321 / 9.4 / 7.1
Year 10 or equivalent / 652 / 19.1 / 15.1
Year 11 or equivalent / 465 / 13.6 / 13.1
Year 12 or equivalent / 1,063 / 31.2 / 42.6
Did not go to school / 72 / 2.1 / 1.8
Not Stated / 507 / 14.9 / 10.2
Total / 3,410 / 100.0 / 100.0
Source: ABS 2006 Census (Usual residence data)
Internet connections
In 2006, theproportion of Laverton households with an internet connection (44.4 per cent) was well below theHobsonsBay figure (55.7 per cent). While their level of having a dial-up connection was similar (Laverton 15.5 per cent; Hobsons Bay 17.2 per cent), broadband connections were much lower (Laverton 28.4 per cent; Hobsons Bay 37.9 per cent).
Forty-four percent of all households in Laverton had no internet connection which was much higher than rate of 37 per cent across HobsonsBay.
Table 11: Type of internet connection
Number / % / HobsonsBay %Broadband connection / 476 / 28.4 / 37.9
Dial-up connection / 259 / 15.5 / 17.2
Other connection / 9 / 0.5 / 0.6
Total internet connections / 744 / 44.4 / 55.7
No internet connection / 742 / 44.3 / 36.9
Internet connection not stated / 188 / 11.2 / 7.3
Total households / 1,674 / 100.0 / 100.0
Source: ABS 2006 Census (Enumerated data)
B:Labour Force Characteristics
Labour force participation
According to the 2006 Census, 50 per cent of Laverton’s residents (over the age of 15) were in the labour force, nine per cent below the rate for HobsonsBay. It is, however, important to note that just over 10 per cent of Laverton’s residents did not provide information about their labour force status, compared to a ‘not stated’ rate ofsix per cent for HobsonsBay.
Around 57 per cent of Laverton’s labour force had full time employment, below the HobsonsBay rate of 62.8 per cent. The percentage of people with a part time job (27.4 per cent) was similar to the HobsonsBay figure (28.6 per cent). Unemployment in Laverton was more than double the HobsonsBay rate (Laverton 12 per cent; Hobsons Bay 5.9 per cent).
Table 12: Employment status(person over 15 years)
2006 / 2001Number / % / HobsonsBay % / Number / % / HobsonsBay %
Employed full time / 979 / 57.2 / 62.8 / 1,119 / 57.7 / 62.7
Employed part time / 469 / 27.4 / 28.6 / 527 / 27.2 / 26.4
Employed not stated / 60 / 3.5 / 2.8 / 70 / 3.6 / 3.1
Total employed / 1,508 / 88.0 / 94.1 / 1,716 / 88.4 / 92.2
Total unemployed / 205 / 12.0 / 5.9 / 225 / 11.6 / 7.8
Total labour force / 1,713 / 100.0 / 100.0 / 1,941 / 100.0 / 100.0
Total in labour force / 1,713 / 50.4 / 59.1 / 1,941 / 56.7 / 58.9
Total not in labour force / 1,338 / 39.4 / 34.7 / 1,372 / 40.1 / 36.4
Not stated / 349 / 10.3 / 6.2 / 111 / 3.2 / 4.6
Total / 3,400 / 100.0 / 100.0 / 3,424 / 100.0 / 100.0
Source: ABS 2006 Census (Usual residence data)
Employment sector
The top three industries in which Laverton residents were employed in 2006 were:
- manufacturing (19 per cent)
- transport, postal and warehousing (14 per cent)
- retail trade (10.7 per cent).
These three industries employed around 44 per cent of Laverton residents, compared to almost 32 per cent of HobsonsBay residents.
Industries where the employment rates were noticeable lower among Laverton residents compared to those from Hobsons Bay included, ‘Professional, Scientific and Technical Services’ and also‘Education and Training’.
Table 13: Employment by Industry
Number / % / HobsonsBay %Manufacturing / 284 / 19.0 / 14.0
Transport, Postal and Warehousing / 209 / 14.0 / 7.8
Retail Trade / 161 / 10.7 / 9.9
Health Care and Social Assistance / 118 / 7.9 / 8.7
Accommodation and Food Services / 102 / 6.8 / 5.4
Construction / 93 / 6.2 / 6.7
Wholesale Trade / 84 / 5.6 / 5.1
Public Administration and Safety / 83 / 5.5 / 6.4
Administrative and Support Services / 67 / 4.5 / 3.9
Education and Training / 58 / 3.9 / 7.0
Financial and Insurance Services / 56 / 3.7 / 4.6
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services / 43 / 2.9 / 7.4
Other Services / 41 / 2.7 / 3.3
Arts and Recreation Services / 21 / 1.4 / 1.9
Information Media and Telecommunications / 9 / 0.6 / 2.6
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services / 6 / 0.4 / 0.7
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing / 3 / 0.2 / 0.2
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services / 3 / 0.2 / 1.5
Mining / 0 / 0.0 / 0.2
Inadequately described or Not stated / 57 / 3.8 / 2.8
Total / 1,498 / 100.0 / 100.0
Source: ABS 2006 Census (Usual residence)
Occupation
Among the 1,500 Laverton residents who were employed, the four main occupations were:
- machinery operators and drivers (18 per cent, double the HobsonsBay figure of 8.5 per cent)
- labourers (17 per cent, well above the 9.6 per cent for HobsonsBay)
- technicians and trades workers (15.6 per cent and similar to theHobsonsBayrate of 14.1 per cent)
- clerical and administrative workers (15.4 per cent , similar to the 16.9 per cent figure for HobsonsBay).
Two-thirds of all Laverton workers were employed in these occupations, compared to half of HobsonsBay workers.
Laverton had a much lower proportion of people in professional occupations than HobsonsBay (9 per cent and 20 per cent respectively). The neighbourhood also had a lower level of managers; 4 per cent compared to 12 per cent for HobsonsBay.
Table 14: Occupations of employed persons
Number / % / HobsonsBay %Machinery Operators and Drivers / 269 / 18.0 / 8.5
Labourers / 255 / 17.0 / 9.6
Technicians and Trades Workers / 233 / 15.6 / 14.1
Clerical and Administrative Workers / 230 / 15.4 / 16.9
Community and Personal Service Workers / 137 / 9.1 / 7.9
Professionals / 132 / 8.8 / 20.0
Sales Workers / 120 / 8.0 / 9.1
Managers / 63 / 4.2 / 11.7
Inadequately described or Not stated / 59 / 3.9 / 2.1
Total / 1,498 / 100.0 / 100.0
Source: ABS 2006 Census (Enumerated data)
Unpaid work
In acknowledgement of the significant contribution of voluntary and unpaid work tothe economy, a new question was included in the 2006 Census. The question addressed unpaid work and caring for an aged person or a person with a disability in the previous two weeks.
Table 15 provides data on people aged 15 years and overwho were unpaid carers. Unfortunately, a high level of residents (15 per cent, compared to 9.9 per cent for HobsonsBay) provided no information. Among those who did complete this Census question, nearly 9 per cent of the neighbourhood’s residents provided unpaid care, only slightly below theHobsonsBay level (10.2 per cent).
Table 15: Carer of an aged person or person with a disability (carer aged 15 years and over)
Number / % / HobsonsBay %Provided unpaid care / 293 / 8.6 / 10.2
No unpaid care provided / 2,599 / 76.4 / 79.9
Not stated / 511 / 15.0 / 9.9
Total / 3,403 / 100.0 / 100.0
Source: ABS 2006 Census (Usual residence data)
The 2006 Census also asked about time spent doing voluntary work with an organisation or groups in the past 12 months. Due to the wording of the question, this volunteering data may be an underestimate, as some people volunteer informally or may not recognise the work they do as volunteering.
Table 16 shows that 10 percent of Laverton residents were volunteers, compared to 14 per cent for HobsonsBay. However it should be noted that a high proportion of Laverton residents provided no information to this question (14.7 per cent compared to 9.5 per cent for HobsonsBay).
Table 16: Volunteer activity (in previous 12 months)
2006Number / % / HobsonsBay City %
Volunteer / 340 / 10.0 / 14.1
Not a volunteer / 2,565 / 75.3 / 76.4
Volunteer work not stated / 500 / 14.7 / 9.5
Total / 3,405 / 100.0 / 100.0
Source: ABS 2006 Census (Usual residence data)
C:Financial Wellbeing
Income
According to monthly data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average weekly income for Victorians was $815.40, at August 2006 (the point at which the 2006 Census was collected). Table 17shows there were 2,484 residents (73 per cent) in Laverton earning less than $800 per week –compared to 64 per cent across HobsonsBay.
Laverton thus had a much lower proportion of residents earning above average weekly earnings. Fourteen percent of residents (471 people) earned $800 or more per week, around halfthefigure of 27 per cent for HobsonsBay.
In addition, 35 per cent of Laverton residents (1178 people) had very low incomes of less than $250 per week, compared to 30 per cent of HobsonsBay residents.
Table 17: Gross weekly individual income
Number / % / HobsonsBay %negative/nil income / 281 / 8.3 / 7.7
$1 to $149 / 239 / 7.0 / 7.0
$150 to $249 / 658 / 19.4 / 15.3
$250 to $399 / 480 / 14.1 / 11.7
$400 to $599 / 473 / 13.9 / 12.3
$600 to $799 / 353 / 10.4 / 10.3
$800 to $999 / 232 / 6.8 / 8.5
$1,000 to $1,299 / 146 / 4.3 / 8.1
$1,300 to $1,599 / 48 / 1.4 / 4.2
$1,600 to $1,999 / 26 / 0.8 / 2.7
$2,000 or more / 19 / 0.6 / 3.3
not stated / 445 / 13.1 / 9.0
Total / 3,400 / 100.0 / 100.0
Source: ABS 2006 Census (Usual residence data)
Individual income quartiles
Due to the influences of economic change such as wage level fluctuations and inflation, individual income groups are not comparable over time. However, using income quartiles allows a comparison of relative income-earning capacities over time. (These are calculated using the Melbourne Statistical Division (MSD) individual income data.)
Comparing the income quartilesin 2006 and 2001, there were only minor shifts in the incomes ranges of Laverton residents. The proportion of Laverton residents in the bottom two income quartiles increased only slightly and there was a corresponding decrease of residents in the top two quartiles. Looking at the figures for HobsonsBay, there was also very little change over the same period.
Table 18 also highlights differences in the income ranges in Laverton and HobsonsBay. For example, Laverton had a significantly lower rate of high income individuals than HobsonsBay and this remained consistent across the Census period. Similarly, Laverton had a much higher proportion with incomes in the lowest or medium lowest quartile - 11 per cent above the HobsonsBayrate.
Table 18: Gross individual income quartiles
2006 / 2001Number / % / HobsonsBay % / Number / % / HobsonsBay %
Lowest group / 874 / 29.6 / 25.3 / 859 / 27.8 / 25.9
Medium lowest / 960 / 32.6 / 26.0 / 967 / 31.4 / 25.8
Medium highest / 764 / 25.9 / 24.3 / 875 / 28.4 / 24.9
Highest group / 351 / 11.9 / 24.3 / 384 / 12.4 / 23.3
Total / 2,949 / 100.0 / 100.0 / 3,085 / 100.0 / 100.0
Source: ABS 2006 Census (Enumerated data)