Women in Melbourne S West

Women in Melbourne’s West

Sex-disaggregated data and gender analysis for service and program planning

Health West acknowledge

Produced by Women’s Health Westthe support of the State Government of Victoria

Author Stephanie Rich, Health Promotion Worker

Editor Elly Taylor, Health Promotion Coordinator

Contents

Data notes

Acronyms

Foreword

The North West Metropolitan Region and Western Metropolitan Sub-region of Melbourne

City of Brimbank

City of Hobsons Bay

City of Maribyrnong

City of Melton

City of Melbourne

City of Moonee Valley

City of Wyndham

Key population features

Sex distribution across the western region

Age distribution of females and males across the western region

Births and maternal profile

Sex-disaggregated data on the social determinants of health

1.Socio-economic status

Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage

2.Ethnicity

Overseas born status for women across the western region

Country of birth for females across the western region

Recent arrivals and emerging communities across the western region

3.Indigenous status

Indigenous status for female and male residents across the western region

4.English language and literacy

Proficiency in spoken English for female and male residents across the western region

Languages other than English (LOTE) spoken at home for female residents across the western region

Languages other than English (LOTE) spoken at home for female residents across the western region

Proportion of women who speak English ‘not well’ or ‘not at all’ for the 15 main LOTE groups for women across the western region

5.Income

Individual weekly income for women and men living in the western region

Household weekly income across the western region

6.Education

Highest year of schooling completed for female and male residents across the western region

Post-secondary school qualification level

7.Paid work, unpaid work and unemployment

Labour force status

Industry of employment

Work-life balance

Unpaid domestic work by women and men living in the Western region

Unpaid assistance to a person with a disability

Unpaid childcare undertaken across the western region

8.Housing

Housing affordability across the western region

Family household composition across the western region

Lone person households across the western region

Tenure characteristics of housing across the western region

Lone parent status across the western region

9.Disability

Need for assistance with core activity

10.Social connectedness and social participation

Participation in citizen engagement activities for males and females across the western region

Satisfaction with feeling part of the community

11.Safety

Perceptions of safety for women and men across the western region

12.Transport

Transport limitations experienced by women and men across the western region

Key health priorities for women in the western region

I.Prevention of violence against women

Reported family violence incidents for the north west metropolitan region

II.Sexual and reproductive health

Pap screening participation rates for women in the western region

Victorian sexually transmissible infections (STIs) notifications for the western region of Melbourne

Teenage fertility rates

Proportion of young people who practice safe sex by using a condom

Proportion of young women using contraception to avoid pregnancy

III.Mental health and social connectedness

Subjective wellbeing of residents across the western region

Electronic gaming machine expenditure for the western region

References

Data notes

The figures, tables and graphs in this report have been compiled using a range of data sources, including:

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing conducted in 2011 and 2006
Community Indicators Victoria, Community Wellbeing data
Victorian Cervical Cytology Registry, Pap screening participation data (prepared by the VCCR Data Manager in 2012)
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Adolescent Community Profiles 2010
Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) expenditure data
Department of Health, Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, Surveillance of notifiable infectious diseases
Victorian Perinatal Data Collection Unit, Births in Victoria 2007 and 2008
Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Settlement reporting data

Please note that the following notes apply to the use of Census information in this report:

Statistics in this report using 2011 census data have been calculated using the ABS software program, Table Builder Basic. As such, the count data and percentages generated through Table Builder are considered to be true at the time of exportation.
For the data generated through Table Builder Basic, the ABS notes that data cells have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data, and that no reliance should be placed on small data cells.
Readers of this report are asked to note that percentages shown in tables may not at times add up to 100 per cent, in light of the rounding of decimal places.
Some population groups are noted to be undercounted in the Census, including: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons; people of migrant, refugee or asylum seeker background who have low English literacy; persons who are homeless, and individuals with a disability that prevents them from filling out the Census form (as noted in the ABS 2011 Census dictionary).

Disclaimer– This report has been produced by Women’s Health West in 2013. The report has been prepared in good faith; the information contained in this report is based on sources believed to be reliable, and every care has been taken to ensure the information is presented accurately. The report is neither in part nor in its entirety can be deemed to guarantee success in any programs or initiatives developed out of its contents. Consequences of all decisions and actions taken as a result of reading this report are the responsibility of the decision makers.

Acronyms

ATSI – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

ABS – Australian Bureau of Statistics

CBD – Central Business District

CIV - Community Indicators Victoria

COB – Country of birth

DEECD – Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

DIAC – Department of Immigration and Citizenship

LGA – Local government area

LOTE - Language other than English

NATSEM - National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling

NWMR – North west metropolitan region

PCP – Primary Care Partnership

STI – Sexually transmissible infection

WMSR – Western metropolitan sub-region

Foreword

It is my pleasure to present the second edition of the Women in Melbourne’s West: sex-disaggregated data and gender analysis for service and program planning. The data book contains a sex-disaggregated statistical profile and gender analysis of the health, safety and wellbeing of women in Melbourne’s west using the most reputable national and state data sources.

Statistical data that is disaggregated by sex presents information specific to the lived experiences of women and men. Sex disaggregated data isan integral foundation to best practice research, as only when quantitative data is disaggregated by sex do the gendered differences and inequities that exist in the lives of women, in comparison to men, become evident.

While it might appear that women have the same formal opportunities as men, these social and health profiles indicate that women in Melbourne’s west still fare worse than men. This is clear in relation to employment opportunities, income, personal and public safety, English proficiency and continue to undertake the bulk of (unpaid) childcare, domestic labour and caring responsibilities for people with a disability. The unequal status of women in our community causes many to experience disproportionate levels of disadvantage that significantly impact on their physical, mental and social health, safety and wellbeing.

Women’s Health West has structured the second edition of our data book with a stronger focus on the social determinants of health. Recent economic modelling in Australia has found that action on the social determinants is a sustainable way to reduce health inequities and will translate to millions of dollars in savings in Australian hospital, health and community service expenditure. This said, we have included quotes from the women we work with to illustrate the human face of these statistics and provide balance to what can often be an economic focus.

This approach is strongly aligned with the ‘social model of health’, which examines factors beyond individual or biological disposition to recognise the effect of social, economic, cultural and political factors and conditions on health and wellbeing. This conceptual framework for improving health outcomesis aimed at preventing and reducing illness and redressing inequalities and disadvantage that exist within our community. Indeed, we designed the data book to support the already strong commitment among organisations in Melbourne’s west to plan initiatives that respond to, and most importantly prevent, ill health and disease before it occurs.

In the interests of accessibility we have made this edition available in both Word and PDF formats. Another benefit is that Word makes it easy to copy and paste charts, graphs and other relevant information into planning documents, policies and submissions to help illustrate the case for additional services, resources and capacity building initiatives.

We know that the second edition of the data book, in keeping with the first, will be a valuable resource that further strengthens public health planning, program and service delivery that is responsive to, and respectful of, women’s unique health and wellbeing needs.

Robyn Gregory

Chief Executive Officer, Women’s Health West

The North West Metropolitan Region and Western Metropolitan Sub-region of Melbourne

The North and West Metropolitan Region (NWMR) of Melbourne incorporates the northern and western suburbs of Melbourne. It spans an area of 2,981 square kilometres and is comprised of fourteen municipalities. Notably, the NWMR contains four of the six designated growth areas in Melbourne, where the population is forecast to increase by over 20 per cent, to an estimated population of over two million, by 2020 (Department of Health, 2012a).
Source: Department of Health, 2012, North and West Metropolitan Region health status profile 2011 / The Western Metropolitan Sub-region (WMSR) of Melbourne comprises the western portion of the NWMR, as defined by the Victorian Department of Human Services. The WMSR extends west in an expansive ‘wedge’ from Melbourne’s inner suburbs to meet the rural fringe of the metropolitan area. Within the sub-region are the seven local government areas (LGAs) of Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham.
The western region continues to grow at a substantial rate. Notably, it is home to two of the ten local government areas identified with the largest population growth in Australia over 2010-11. The City of Wyndham is ranked second, and the City of Melton ranked seventh in Australia (Department of Planning and Community Development, 2012b).
The western region includes two Primary Care Partnerships (PCPs) – HealthWest (which services the municipalities of Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton and Wyndham) and Inner North West (which includes the municipalities of Melbourne and Moonee Valley). The western region also has three Medicare Locals: Inner North West; Macedon Ranges and North Western Melbourne; and South Western Melbourne.

City of Brimbank

The original inhabitants of the Brimbank area were the Wurundjeri Aboriginal people.

The City of Brimbank is situated in the western and north-western suburbs of Melbourne, and is approximately eleven and twenty-three kilometres west and north-west respectively of the Melbourne GPO. Brimbank is comprised of twenty-five suburbs that include: Albanvale, Albion, Ardeer, Brooklyn (in part), Cairnlea, Calder Park, Deer Park, Delahey, Derrimut, Hillside (in part), Kealba, Keilor, Keilor Downs, Keilor East (in part), Keilor Lodge, Keilor North, Keilor Park, Kings Park, St Albans, Sunshine, Sunshine North, Sunshine West, Sydenham, Taylors Lakes and Tullamarine (in part).

Brimbank municipality is noted as a growing residential area, with considerable industrial and commercial districts. Brimbank spans approximately 123 square kilometres. Major transport routes to the City of Brimbank include the Calder Freeway, the Western Ringroad, Ballarat Road and the Sydenham, Melbourne-Ballarat and Melbourne-Bendigo railway lines (Brimbank City Council, 2008).

The latest 2011 ABS Census data estimates the resident population for the City of Brimbank to be 182, 735 comprising 91,343 males (50 per cent) and 91, 392 females (50 per cent).

City of Hobsons Bay

The original inhabitants of the Hobsons Bay area were the Yalukit-willam people.

The City of Hobsons Bay is situated in the south-western suburbs of Melbourne, and is approximately five and twenty kilometres respectively from the Melbourne GPO. Hobsons Bay municipality is comprised of 12 suburbs that include: Altona, Altona Meadows, Altona North, Brooklyn (in part), Laverton (in part), Newport, Seabrook, Seaholme, Spotswood, South Kingsville, Williamstown and Williamstown North.

Hobsons Bay municipality contains both residential and industrial districts, and covers an area of approximately 66 square kilometres. Major transport routes to Hobsons Bay include the West Gate Freeway, the Princes Freeway, the Princes Highway and the Werribee and Williamstown railway lines (Hobsons Bay City Council, 2009).

The latest 2011 Census data estimates the resident population for the City of Hobsons Bay to be 83, 862 comprising of 41, 618 males (49.6 per cent) and 42, 244 females (50.4 per cent).

City of Maribyrnong

The original inhabitants of the Maribyrnong area were the Woimurrung and Boonwurrung tribes of the Kulin nation.

The City of Maribyrnong is between five and eleven kilometres immediately west of Melbourne’s CBD. Maribyrnong is bounded by Moonee Valley City Council in the north, the City of Melbourne in the east, the City of Hobsons Bay in the south and the City of Brimbank in the west. Maribyrnong municipality is comprised of 9 suburbs that include: Footscray, West Footscray, Maribyrnong, Maidstone, Seddon, Yarraville, Kingsville, Braybrook and Tottenham.

Maribyrnong municipality is noted as one of the most ethnically diverse areas of Victoria. Large new housing developments in Maribyrnong over recent years haveresulted in significant population growth. Major features in the City of Maribyrnong include Footscray Markets, Victoria University, Highpoint Shopping Centre, Sun Theatre and Footscray and Pipemakers Parks (Maribyrnong City Council, 2008).

The latest 2011 Census data estimates the resident population for the City of Maribyrnong to be 71, 634, comprised of 36, 393 males (50.8 per cent) and 35, 241 females (49.2 per cent).

City of Melton

The original inhabitants of the Melton area were the Wurundjeri Aboriginal people.

The City of Melton is situated in the outer western suburbs of Melbourne, approximately forty kilometres west of the Melbourne GPO. The City of Melton is bounded by Moorabool Shire in the west, Macedon Ranges Shire in the north, Hume and Brimbank in the east, and Wyndham City in the south. Melton municipality is comprised of the suburbs of Melton, Melton South, Melton West, Caroline Springs/Hillside area, Diggers Rest, Rockbank, Brookfield, Burnside, Burnside Heights, Exford, Eynesbury (in part), Mount Cottrell (in part), Parwan, Plumpton, Ravenhall, Taylors Hill, Toolern Vale, Truganina and Kurunjang.

Melton municipality is noted as a rapidly growing area, comprised of both urban and rural areas. Melton covers an area of approximately 527 square kilometres. Major transport routes to the City of Melton include the Calder Freeway, the Western Freeway, the Melton Highway, the Western Highway, and the Melton and Sydenham railway lines (City of Melton, 2012).

The latest 2011 Census data estimates the resident population for the City of Melton to be 109, 259 comprising of 54, 265 males (49.7 per cent) and 54, 994 females (50.3 per cent).

City of Melbourne

The original inhabitants of the Melbourne area were the people of the Kulin nation.

The City of Melbourne is Victoria’s capital city, and covers approximately thirty seven square kilometres, while the entire Melbourne metropolitan area covers 7, 694 square kilometres. Melbourne municipality is comprised of various suburbs including: Carlton, Docklands, East Melbourne, Kensington, Flemington, North Melbourne, Parkville, Port Melbourne, Southbank, South Yarra, West Melbourne, Melbourne and the CBD.

Melbourne’s economic and political centre is located within the Central Business District (CBD).The CBD covers approximately thirty-seven square kilometres (City of Melbourne, 2012).

The latest 2011 Census data estimates the resident population for the City of Melbourne to be 93, 625, comprising 46, 774 males (50 per cent) and 46, 851 females (50 per cent).

City of Moonee Valley

The original inhabitants of the Moonee Valley area were the Wurundjeri Aboriginal people.

The City of Moonee Valley is situated in the north-western suburbs of Melbourne, approximately between three and thirteen kilometres from the Melbourne CBD. The Moonee Valley Municipality is comprised of 15 suburbs including: Aberfeldie, Airport West, Ascot Vale, Avondale Heights, Essendon, Essendon Fields, Essendon North, Essendon West, Flemington (in part), Keilor East (in part), Moonee Ponds, Niddrie, Strathmore, Strathmore Heights and Travancore.

The municipality of Moonee Valley is noted as an established residential region, with considerable industrial and commercial areas. Moonee Valley covers an area of approximately forty-four square kilometres. Major transport routes to the City of Moonee Valley include the Calder Freeway, the Tullamarine Freeway, Citylink, Essendon Airport, the Craigieburn and Flemington Racecourse railway lines and numerous tramlines (Moonee Valley City Council, 2012).