Cental Goldfields - Grampians Medicare Local

Australians is approximately 70. In comparison, the average Community Connection score for persons
living in Central Goldfields was 78.5 in 2011, while the Loddon Mallee Region average was 77 and the
Victorian State average was 72.3.
The employment rate has been calculated from the 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics. This employment
to population ratio describes the percentage of persons aged 15 years or older who are employed. Of
those aged 15 years or older and living in Central Goldfields, 43.1% were employed, compared to 58.3% in
the Loddon Mallee Region and the Victorian State average of 60.9%.
Median Equivalised Household Income has been calculated from the 2011 Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Equivalising income adjusts the total income of the household according to the number of persons and
household type. Median Equivalised Gross Weekly Household Income for Central Goldfields was $476,
compared to $613 in the Loddon Mallee Region and the Victorian State average of $749.
Food Security was measured in the 2007 CIV Survey. Respondents were asked if there had been any times
in the previous 12 months when they had run out of food and could not afford to buy more. 10.4% of
persons living in Central Goldfields had experienced food insecurity, compared to 7.3% in the Loddon
Mallee Region and the Victorian State average of 6%.
Educational qualifications are an important resource enabling individuals and their communities an
opportunity to engage in the knowledge economy. The percentage of people living in Central Goldfields
who had Tertiary or TAFE qualifications has been calculated from the 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Of those living in Central Goldfields, 35.9% of persons aged 25 years and over had tertiary or TAFE
qualifications, compared to 43.1% in the Loddon Mallee Region and the Victorian State average of 50.7%.
One measure of Housing Affordability has been calculated through the 2011 Australian Bureau of
Statistics. The data show the percentage of households spending 30% or more of their gross household
income on rent or mortgage payments. 13.8% of households in Central Goldfields were spending 30% or
more of gross household income on rent or mortgage payments, compared to 15.9% in the Loddon
Mallee Region and the Victorian State average of 20.4%.
Tourism
Whilst not a major tourist destination, the Maryborough region has several key events during the year
that attract a large influx of visitors, such as the Highland festival, Maryborough Gift and the RACV
“Breakthrough” event. The RACV event is a human powered vehicle race for school students and results in
an increase in trauma cases presenting at the UCC. Local GPs report an increase in demand for after hour
services during these periods.
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