Living in the Regions State Report

100 Pages·2013·3.95 MB·English

Government of Western Australia
Department of Regional Development
LIVING IN THE REGIONS 2013
A survey of attitudes and perceptions about living in regional Western Australia
STATE REPORT
© Government of Western Australia
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its reproduction should be addressed to the Manager Communications at the Western
Australian Department of Regional Development.
ISSN 2203-2401
Living in the Regions: A survey of attitudes and perceptions about living in regional
Western Australia.
Published in December 2013
Cover image: Morawa, Mid West
Disclaimer
The information contained in this publication is provided in good faith and believed to be
accurate at time of publication. The State shall in no way be liable for any loss sustained or
incurred by anyone relying on the information.
While every efort has been made to vet the contents of this report, it may contain
references to, or images of, people who are now deceased. The Department of Regional
Development regrets any ofence this may cause.
CONTENTS
Director General’s Message 3
Introduction 4
Key Findings 6
Putting Information to Use 8
Methodology 10
Demographics 12
Attitudes and Participation 18
Why People Live in the Regions 32
Child Care and Schooling 50
Plans to Stay 54
Why Relocate? 56
Destinations 64
Perth Attitudes and Observations 68
Appendices 74
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Broome, Kimberley. Photo: Lindsay Bridge
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Lake Boddington, Peel
DIRECTOR GENERAL’S
Paul Rosair
Director General
MESSAGE Department of Regional Development
It is ftting that the Living in the The Living in the Regions 2013 For the frst time, relevant and up-to-date I thank the many individuals and agencies
Regions 2013 research project was fndings will enable us to gain a better data is available to anyone who wishes who supported and promoted the survey.
undertaken in the same year that the understanding of the experiences and to use this information. Not only In particular, the Regional Development
Department of Regional Development forces shaping regional people’s lives. will the information be utilised by Commissions, Community Resource Centres,
was established. The research project It is important that we learn about government agencies to support planning country local governments, the regional
is an opportune exercise to provide regional living so that people appreciate and decision-making; individuals, Chambers of Commerce and Industry as
valuable data for a department whose and value the diferences to living in communities, not-for-proft organisations, well as the Rural, Remote and Regional
sole focus is on regional development, the Perth metropolitan area. From a local government and those in the private Women’s Network of Western Australia.
and in informing the broader regional policy perspective this regional survey sphere will also have access to this
Ultimately, their cooperation and
development community. helps us to identify areas of need that same information.
eforts guaranteed its success, as can
we may want to investigate further for
Living in the Regions 2013 was a large be measured by the more than 10,000
our investments.
scale research project, which involved our responses received.
We intend to repeat this survey again in partner agencies who we work closely
Finally, research is an important part of
three years. This will enable tracking of with on regional development. Members
regional development work. It not only
the comprehensive picture of life in the of the community also gave their insight
aids our understanding of the real issues
regions against which to evaluate the and experience as part of the discussion
facing the community but it provides
success of regional development and groups that ran across the nine regions.
evidence that informs our decisions.
guide our programs.
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INTRODUCTION
Living in the Regions 2013: What attracts people to, and retains From the initial 1997 survey of Western undertakes this valuable exercise that
people in, regional Western Australia. Australian regional residents, the Living builds and expands on the 1997 results.
in the Regions 1999 reports provided
The purpose of the Living in the Regions
important information about why people
2013 survey was to ascertain what attracts
decided to live in, or move away from,
people to the regions, to understand
regional Western Australia. It was the frst
the barriers to living in the regions, to
time there was more than just anecdotal
measure the quality of life in regional
accounts concerning people living in, and
Western Australia, and to use that
considering a life in, the regions.
information to inform and direct regional
Among other uses, fndings from the initial development initiatives into the future.
survey were used to support planning
Many changes have taken place since
and decision-making and to inform grant
the frst survey. This report captures the
applications and budget submissions.
current landscape, where there is wider
Not only did the 1997 survey provide knowledge of the economic and social
valuable data, the exercise assisted contributions made by the regions to the
in raising the profle of individual state and the nation as a whole.
regions and their collective importance,
Refecting these changes, the survey has
particularly in contributing to the Western
been extended, items have been clarifed
Australian economy and sense of identity.
and the language updated. The resultant
It is timely that the newly established survey is similar to but also diferent in
Department of Regional Development important ways to that used in 1997.
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Jurien Bay, Wheatbelt
These diferences limit the extent to which information for the greater understanding What I like about living in regional Western Australia
comparisons to 1997 can be made. The and betterment of regional development in
Living in the Regions 2013 survey is in Western Australia.
The opportunity to step back in time
efect a new baseline from which to view
Findings from the 1997 survey and focus
regional Western Australia.
groups were reported in the Living in the with Aboriginal culture and view life
With the wealth of information provided Regions: The Views of Western Australians,
by the 2013 survey, a series of reports the State report and regional reports for through the western desert window
are planned. In addition to this whole of the Gascoyne, Goldfelds-Esperance, Great
State report, region-based reports will be Southern, Mid West, Peel, South West
that is rich in history and tradition.
produced for all nine regions, as well as and Wheatbelt.
specifc topic-based reports.
These reports were produced by the Pilbara discussion group member
The Department of Regional Development Regional Development Council and
is committed to making information as the State’s nine Regional Development
available to the regional community Commissions in conjunction with the
as possible. former Department of Commerce and
Trade and the former Ministry of Planning.
All the data and reports for the Living in the
All the reports are available at the
Regions 2013 survey will be available online
Department of Regional Development’s
at www.drd.wa.gov.au. It is intended
website: www.drd.wa.gov.au.
that members of regional communities,
government and non-government agencies
and researchers will make use of this
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KEY
FINDINGS
Close to a third of regional residents were born in the area in which
they live and have continued to live there.
Regional composition • A greater percentage of people wanted • In 2013, a greater percentage of people
to stay in regional Western Australia had moved to the regions from Perth,
The survey results show that:
and to stay longer compared to 1997. overseas or the eastern states than
– I n some regions, such as the compared to 1997.
South West, those looking to • For those who had moved to the regions,
of regional residents were stay were as many as 75 per cent key reasons why they stayed were
born in the area in which of respondents. lifestyle, the quality of social life and the Lifestyle is a
they currently live – O nly 17 per cent of respondents opportunity for career advancement.
were seriously considering moving • Compared to 1997, an increased major attraction
out of regional Western Australia. percentage of families in 2013 had or
• People living in the regions felt were relocating part of their family for to living in the
had mostly lived in the regions
happier, safer and more connected to their children’s high school education.
before the age of 15 years
their community than those living in T o address opportunities and issues like regions and also a
the Perth metropolitan area. this, the Royalties for Regions program has
• One third of metropolitan people expended $3.2 billion worth of projects factor in deciding
moved to the regions from surveyed were seriously considering and initiatives from 2008-09 to 2012-13,
Perth or another capital city moving to the regions. including Future Fund contributions,
to relocate.
addressing the key areas raised in this report.
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Why live in the regions?
It’s my home;
I can’t leave.
Pilbara discussion group member
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Pilbara
PUTTING
INFORMATION
TO USE
The Department of Regional One of the key ways the State Government Why live in the regions?
Development assists the Minister for and the Department of Regional
Regional Development to promote and Development have worked to facilitate
Strong sense of purpose that comes
facilitate economic, business and social economic, business and social development
development in regional Western Australia. in regional Western Australia is through the
Royalties for Regions program. from working in the region and
To carry out these functions efectively,
the department works collaboratively To date the Royalties for Regions program making a contribution that you can
across government, the private has funded over 3,500 projects throughout
sector and with community partners. regional Western Australia. This report
see the benefts/outcomes and also
The Living in the Regions 2013 survey highlights aspects of living in the regions
was undertaken to assist the department that people see as attractive as well
where extra efort is still required.
in this collaborative work providing as areas where they feel less positive.
original research on important regional Royalties for Regions funding has targeted
Goldfelds-Esperance discussion group member
development matters. many of these areas. This report will
assist government, the private sector and
community partners to direct their eforts
and investments on what matters to
people living in the regions.
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