People facing financial vulnerability can experience a range of interconnected challenges. These can include social exclusion, difficulty accessing essential services and supports, and challenges meeting basic needs including housing, food and transportation. These difficulties often create a cycle of disadvantage, impacting various aspects of their lives.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that financially vulnerable people in Australia experience poorer health and social outcomes compared to those with greater financial stability. This is linked to social determinants of health, such as income, employment, and access to resources. Furthermore, the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) highlights the cycle of disadvantage, where factors like poverty, lack of education and poor health perpetuate across generations. This cycle is characterised by interconnected disadvantages that make it difficult for individuals to escape their circumstances.
Socio-economic profile of Boroondara
Boroondara is amongst the most socio-economically advantaged local government areas in Victoria. Nevertheless, not all members of the Boroondara community enjoy the same access to opportunities and resources. For some residents, Boroondara’s broader affluence may even serve to heighten disadvantage.
While the 2021 Census indicated that 41.9% of Boroondara households were in the top income quartile for Victoria, the following are also true.
- More than 320 Boroondara residents are homeless
- $715 per week ($37,000 per annum) is the approx. median equivalised household income for women 65+ who live in alone in Boroondara
- 16.3% of Boroondara households are in the lowest group of equivalised Victorian household income quartiles ($0 to $602 per week)
- Balwyn (22.0%) and Balwyn North (21.0%) have the greatest % of households in the lowest income quartile.
Source: 2016 and 2021 Census.
Housing and homelessness in Boroondara
- 1,507 Boroondara households (8.1% of mortgage holders) are in mortgage stress
- 3,457 Boroondara households (19.2% of renting households) are in rental stress.
These are households in the bottom 40% of incomes, which spend more than 30% of their income on mortgage repayments or rent.
Source: Data Workbooks - Phidu 2021.
- 931 Boroondara dwellings are social housing. This is approximately 1.2% of all Boroondara dwellings (2.7% metro Melbourne).
- 332 Boroondara residents received homelessness services because of family violence in 2023-24.
- 2,998 Boroondara residents are unemployed.
Source: Department of Families, Fairness and Housing 2023-24, Crime Statistics Agency 2023-24 and Economy ID - December 2024
Food security in Boroondara
- 4.9% of adult Boroondara residents experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months, compared with 7.9% across metro Melbourne
- 14.7% of adult Boroondara residents sometimes or definitely worry about running out of money to buy food, lower than the 25.0% across metro Melbourne.
Source: Victorian Population Health Survey 2023.
Employment and income support
- 3,815 Boroondara residents receive Rent Assistance
- 2,040 Boroondara residents receive a Disability Support Pension
- 1,920 Boroondara residents receive JobSeeker.
Source: Department of Social Services - Benefit and Payment Recipient Demographics Q1 2024
Health and household income
The 2021 Census shows that 43.9% of households in Boroondara include at least one person living with a long-term health condition. Of the 610 Boroondara households counted in social housing at the 2021 Census, 65.1% included at least one person with a long-term health condition.
Households that include at least one person with a long-term health condition also had a lower median equivalised weekly household income ($1,491) relative to Boroondara’s overall median ($1,570).