Torres Strait Islander people are a culturally distinct group of Indigenous Australians. As a relatively small proportion of the Australian population, small numbers in surveys and administrative data collections make it difficult to report reliable data. The main Report includes a selection of results that separately identify outcomes for Torres Strait Islander, Aboriginal and non-Indigenous people. In these data, ‘Torres Strait Islander’ includes people identified as both ‘Torres Strait Islander only’ and ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’.
KEY MESSAGES
Around 6 per cent of Indigenous people identify as Torres Strait Islander only, while an additional 4 per cent identify as both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
Fifty-nine per cent of Torres Strait Islander people live in Queensland.
In 2004-05:
- the proportions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults with a long term health condition were similar (tables 12A.5.5 and 12A.5.6)
- a higher proportion of Torres Strait Islander adults (22 per cent) than Aboriginal adults (14 per cent) had completed year 12 as their highest level of education (figure 12.5.1), but similar proportions had completed a post-secondary qualification of certificate level 3 or higher (table 12A.5.1)
- the labour force participation rate for Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 to 64 years (70 per cent) was higher than for Aboriginal people (62 per cent) (figure 12.5.2). The proportions of people who were unemployed or who were participating in CDEP were similar (tables 12A.5.4 and 12A.5.6)
- the median (mid point) weekly income of Torres Strait Islander adults ($400) was higher than for Aboriginal adults ($303) but lower than for non-Indigenous adults ($518) (figure 12.5.3)
- the proportions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults living in homes someone in their household owned or was purchasing were similar (table 12A.5.2).
Report Chapter 12: Outcomes for Torres Strait Islander people
(PDF document)
Attachment 12A
(Excel document)