What is the SEIFA index?
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has produced a number of indexes based on 2001 Census data which measures the level of 'disadvantage' in any given area. These are known as the 'SEIFA' indexes (Socio-Economic Indexes For Areas).
We can use the SEIFA indexes to see whether an area, such as Port Phillip, is relatively better or worse off than the Australian average, according to factors identified by the ABS from the census, such as household income, education, profession, household and dwelling size etc. We can also use it to identify specific areas within our city which have particularly high levels of disadvantage.
Selected areas are given an index 'score'. The Australia-wide average has been fixed at around 1,000, so that generally speaking, an area with a score below 1,000 can be considered relatively disadvantaged, and an area with a score above 1,000 can be considered relatively advantaged. The further away from 1,000 the scores are, the more or less disadvantaged the given area is.
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SEIFA Index scores by neighbourhood
According to the 'Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage', Port Phillip has on average a relatively socio-economically advantaged population.
The scores for the neighbourhoods and the city as a whole are as follows:
| East St Kilda/Balaclava |
1062.09 |
| Elwood / Ripponlea |
1105.19 |
| Middle Park / Albert Park |
1115.63 |
| Port Melbourne |
1044.56 |
| South Melbourne |
1008.83 |
| St Kilda Road |
1103.67 |
| St Kilda |
1089.04 |
| Port Phillip |
1078.69 |
| MSD (Greater Melbourne Area) |
1020.59 |
| Victoria |
1014.59 |
| Australia |
1002.17 |
- None of the neighbourhoods fall below 1,000. All the neighbourhoods are therefore, on average, relatively less disadvantaged than Australia as a whole.
- The neighbourhood with the highest average level of disadvantage is South Melbourne
- Middle Park/Albert Park, is on average the least disadvantaged neighbourhood
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Pockets of disadvantage within the neighbourhoods
The SEIFA index reveals that there are pockets of high disadvantage within Port Phillip. The map below shows those areas in Port Phillip that have a SEIFA Index of Disadvantage score below 1,000.
There are pockets of extreme disadvantage in South Melbourne and Port Melbourne, and further pockets of disadvantage in South Melbourne, Port Melbourne and St Kilda.
East St Kilda/Balaclava has a fairly consistent spread of households that are only slightly less disadvantaged than the Australian average, instead of the pockets of disadvantage seen elsewhere in Port Phillip.
Along the foreshore of Elwood/Ripponlea, St Kilda and Middle Park/Albert Park there are high concentrations of households that could be described as more socio-economically advantaged. St Kilda Road and Middle Park/Albert Park have fairly consistent spreads of relative socio-economic advantage. Please note that the SEIFA Disadvantage Index does not measure relative 'Advantage', but rather the presence or absence of disadvantage.
The Disadvantage Index is just one of four SEIFA indexes produced by the ABS. For more information, visit the Australian Bureau of Statistics website at http://www.abs.gov.au.
For more information about Port Phillip and the census, take a look at Port Phillip in Profile: Our cities population, neighbourhoods and people. Port Phillip in Profile.
Use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer call ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 or TTy (03) 9209 6713 and ask for Community Development Policy & Programs.
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