Children and Family Support - community needs mapping tool

All data is at the Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2). This is a geographic area defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics to show communities that interact socially and economically. SA2s are a consistent and widely used way to analyse need. The relevant data is regularly available. It helps providers find priorities at a community scale and compare areas across Australia.

Visit the ABS website for more information about Statistical Area Level 2(Opens in a new tab/window).

An area (SA2) is a priority area for the CaFS program if it’s in the top 25% in one or more of the following priority categories:

• Proportion of young children in the area who may require further emotional or social supports to thrive.
• Proportion of children in the area.
• Proportion of population in the area not engaged in employment, education or training.
• Socio-economic disadvantage of the area.
• Proportion of people in the area on Working Age payments. 
• An area is also a priority if the proportion of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people is equal or greater than 2%.

The tool also shows if the area selected is within a region covered by a formal Community Partnership (such as an Empowered Communities or Stronger Places Stronger People region). This information is to assist service providers in working closely with EC and SPSP community partners to meet CaFS outcomes, in line with community priorities and local plans. This includes:

• where a region overlaps with an Empowered Communities region(Opens in a new tab/window) 
• where a region overlaps with a Stronger Places Stronger People Community

All data comes from publicly available data sets. No individual is identifiable through this use of data.

AEDC

Uses Australian Early Development Census data to show areas where children may need more social and emotional support. This highlights communities where stronger child and family support services may help.

Visit the Department of Education website for more information about the AEDC(Opens in a new tab/window). 

Census

Uses 2021 Census data to show areas with high proportions of children and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. This helps target communities that may benefit most from CaFS services. It also supports consideration of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities.

Visit the ABS website for more information about the Census(Opens in a new tab/window).

NEET

Uses 2021 Census data on people not engaged in employment, education or training. It shows areas where children and families face increased disadvantage.

Visit the ABS website for more information about NEET(Opens in a new tab/window).

SEIFA IRSD

Uses the Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage. It shows areas with higher of socio-economic disadvantage.

Visit the ABS website for more information about SEIFA(Opens in a new tab/window).

Working Age Payments

Uses JobSeeker and Youth Allowance recipient data. It shows areas where individuals and families may be experiencing challenges. 

Visit the Department of Social Services website for more information about Working Age Payments.(Opens in a new tab/window)