Sign in
Living in Australia community views

The Community Views team surveyed 227 residents from Central QLD in May 2025.

Resources
About the Living in Australia data-source
Living in Australia Report - 2024
About the survey - 2024

Central QLD in Australia

Central QLD is made up of Livingstone (S), Bundaberg (R), Mackay (R), Fraser Coast (R), Rockhampton (R), Central Highlands (R) (Qld), Isaac (R), Gladstone (R), Whitsunday (R), South Burnett (R), North Burnett (R), Banana (S), Woorabinda (S), Gympie (R), and Western Downs (R).

Living in Central QLD in May 2025

Take screenshot
Central QLD Overall Liveability Index
Australia
59.5
Adelaide
62.9
Central NSW
59.0
Central VIC
60.8
Darwin
52.6
Eastern VIC
58.0
Far North Queensland
52.9
Hobart
58.1
Melbourne
60.6
Northern NSW
55.7
Perth
62.9
Regional NT
50.6
Regional SA
59.4
Regional Tas
58.8
Regional WA
61.0
Rest of QLD
66.5
South East Queensland
59.2
Southern NSW
59.1
Sydney
64.1
The ACT
64.2
Western VIC
60.9
Collected May 2025

Use the values and experiences matrix to understand the relationship between what your residents believe makes somewhere a good place to live and how they experience their local area in that regard. The matrix highlights the attributes that your community believe needs to maintained and improved to advance overall liveability.

Greater Importance & Worse Experiences    Greater Importance & Better Experiences    Less important attributes

Take screenshot Download data

Central QLD Overall Liveability Index

Central QLD Overall Liveability Index 57.2

Australia Overall Liveability Index

Australia Overall Liveability Index 59.5

Central QLD
Australia
Importance
Experience
Feeling safe
Importance
Experience
61%
6.2
65%
6.2
Affordable decent housing
Importance
Experience
57%
4.7
56%
4.5
Health services
Importance
Experience
55%
4.3
48%
6.1
Natural environment
Importance
Experience
50%
7.4
50%
7.6
Sense of community
Importance
Experience
45%
6.7
29%
6.2
Good job prospects
Importance
Experience
37%
5.7
29%
5.4
Education
Importance
Experience
24%
5.5
20%
6.3
Making your way
Importance
Experience
24%
5.9
30%
6.0
Opportunity for all
Importance
Experience
23%
6.0
19%
5.9
A lack of road congestion
Importance
Experience
22%
6.7
21%
5.3
Social cohesion
Importance
Experience
22%
6.0
26%
6.3
A prosperous economy
Importance
Experience
18%
5.8
16%
5.6
Cultural facilities
Importance
Experience
17%
5.4
15%
5.8
Shopping, leisure & dining
Importance
Experience
17%
4.5
26%
6.1
Public transport
Importance
Experience
15%
2.8
40%
5.2
Sports and recreation
Importance
Experience
13%
6.6
9%
6.9
The arrows indicate whether a difference is statistically significant. Significance testing helps determine if a difference between two groups is likely real (shown by an arrow) or due to random chance (no arrow).
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Take screenshot Download data

Health and Wellbeing in Central QLD in May 2025

Physical Health
How would you rate your physical health?
Do you think your physical health will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Central QLD 2025 (n = 227)
6.7
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.7
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central QLD 2025 (n = 227)
16%
56%
28%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Australia (n = 4907)
15%
56%
30%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Mental Health
How would you rate your mental health?
Do you think your mental health will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Central QLD 2025 (n = 227)
6.8
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.9
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central QLD 2025 (n = 227)
15%
64%
22%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Australia (n = 4907)
12%
64%
24%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Social wellbeing
How would you rate your social wellbeing?
Do you think your social wellbeing will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Central QLD 2025 (n = 227)
6.4
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.5
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central QLD 2025 (n = 227)
8%
70%
22%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Australia (n = 4907)
11%
67%
22%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Take screenshot Download data

Financial circumstances in Central QLD in May 2025

How would you rate your personal financial circumstances?
Do you think your personal financial circumstance will get worse, stay the same or get better over the next year?
Central QLD 2025 (n = 227)
5.8
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
5.7
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central QLD 2025 (n = 227)
33%
45%
23%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Australia (n = 4907)
27%
47%
26%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
How often, if ever, are you late meeting your financial commitments?
Do you think the economic situation in your local area will get worse, stay the same or get better over the next year?
Central QLD 2025 (n = 221)
Australia (n = 4683)
Always late
1%
2%
Often late
5%
6%
Sometimes late
32%
30%
Never late
61%
63%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central QLD 2025 (n = 227)
41%
51%
8%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Australia (n = 4907)
42%
48%
11%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Take screenshot Download data

Impacts of climate change in Central QLD in May 2025

Which of the following best describes your personal views on climate change?
Central QLD 2025 (n = 227)
Australia (n = 4907)
It's happening - caused entirely or mostly by human activities
25%
43%
It's happening - caused equally by human activities and natural causes
33%
32%
It's happening - caused entirely or mostly by natural causes
17%
9%
It's happening - not sure what is causing it
7%
6%
I do not believe climate change is happening
18%
11%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among those that believe in climate change, 42% indicated that their local area is currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 35% expected their local area to feel the effects within their lifetime. Of those, 8% were very confident that their local area would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 32% somewhat confident. 52% were not confident.

Please select the extent to which climate change is impacting or will impact your local area in your lifetime?
How confident are you that your local area will be able to adapt to the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Central QLD 2025 (n = 186)
Australia (n = 4304)
My local area is feeling the effects of climate change
42%
49%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect it will in my lifetime
35%
36%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect it will in my lifetime
22%
15%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central QLD 2025 (n = 142)
Australia (n = 3585)
Very confident
8%
5%
Somewhat confident
32%
35%
Not very confident
35%
39%
Not at all confident
17%
15%
Don't know
8%
6%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among the group of residents that felt their local area is currently feeling, or will feel, the effects of climate change in their lifetime, the top local area climate-related events were: Extreme heat (78%), Flooding (58%) and Storms (56%). The top actions residents felt should be taken to address the effects of climate change in their local area were: Protect and enhance local biodiversity (56%), Provide options for recycling waste (55%) and Conserve natural resources (52%).

How is your local area currently, or how do you expect it will, feel the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
What do you feel are the best ways to address the effects of climate change in your local area?
Central QLD 2025 (n = 140)
Australia (n = 3490)
Extreme heat
78%
74%
Flooding
58%
48%
Storms
56%
53%
Bushfires
53%
50%
Droughts
51%
42%
Cyclones
46%
24%
Severe wind
36%
44%
Sea level rise
23%
24%
Extremely cold temperatures
7%
16%
Landslide
3%
7%
Earthquakes
2%
5%
Other
7%
5%
None of these
0%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central QLD 2025 (n = 142)
Australia (n = 3585)
Protect and enhance local biodiversity
56%
60%
Provide options for recycling waste
55%
47%
Conserve natural resources
52%
48%
Educate residents on how to live more sustainably
50%
53%
Reduce pollution of the environment
48%
51%
More sustainable building and development practices
38%
44%
Encourage residents to buy locally
37%
30%
Adopt renewable energy sources
35%
48%
Host renewable energy projects in the local area
31%
36%
Create renewable energy sources
30%
38%
Reduce carbon emissions in the local area
29%
35%
More sustainable transport options
25%
41%
Other
4%
6%
None of these
3%
2%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Take screenshot Download data

Impacts of climate change on residents

Among those that believe in climate change, 38% indicated that they themselves are currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 39% expected to within their lifetime. Of those, 9% were very confident that they would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 53% somewhat confident. 34% were not confident.

Please select the extent to which climate change is impacting or will impact you personally in your lifetime?
How confident are you that you personally will be able to adapt to the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Central QLD 2025 (n = 186)
Australia (n = 4304)
I am feeling the effects of climate change
38%
47%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect to in my lifetime
39%
37%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect to in my lifetime
23%
16%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central QLD 2025 (n = 138)
Australia (n = 3506)
Very confident
9%
8%
Somewhat confident
53%
52%
Not very confident
30%
30%
Not at all confident
4%
6%
Don't know
4%
4%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among the group of residents that felt they are currently feeling, or will feel, the effects of climate change in their lifetime, the top personal impacts were: Increased household running costs (75%), Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items (67%) and Challenges getting around (46%). 44% feel climate change will reduce their quality of life somewhat, and a further 21% feel it will reduce their quality of life a lot.

How are you currently, or how do you expect to, personally feel the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Which of the following best represents how you believe the effects of climate change will affect your quality of life?
Central QLD 2025 (n = 138)
Australia (n = 3506)
Increased household running costs
75%
77%
Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items
67%
61%
Challenges getting around
46%
36%
Essential infrastructure vulnerability
44%
40%
My ability to leave my home due to weather
41%
46%
Challenges accessing essential services
32%
28%
My ability to access nature due to weather
30%
32%
Loss or damage to your home/property
29%
29%
Transport infrastructure vulnerability
26%
29%
Reduction in air quality
24%
36%
Reduced personal safety or health to myself and/or those around me
21%
26%
Reduced value to your home/property
19%
15%
None of these
4%
2%
Other
3%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Central QLD 2025 (n = 138)
Australia (n = 3506)
It will improve a lot
2%
2%
It will improve somewhat
6%
7%
It will not change
16%
14%
It will reduce somewhat
44%
49%
It will reduce a lot
21%
22%
Don't know
11%
6%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Take screenshot Download data

Concerns in Central QLD in May 2025

What are the top three issues facing your local area?
Central QLD 2025 (n = 227)
Australia (n = 4907)
Inflation/Cost of Living
50%
54%
Healthcare/Hospitals
44%
20%
Housing/Price of Housing
41%
50%
Law & order
39%
36%
Drug/Alcohol Abuse
23%
15%
Transport
15%
20%
Petrol Prices/Fuel
14%
12%
Poverty/Inequality
12%
11%
Household Debt/Personal Debt
11%
13%
The Economy
11%
12%
Taxation
7%
6%
Education
7%
3%
Unemployment
6%
9%
Environmental Concerns
6%
10%
Population/Overpopulation
6%
13%
Immigration
3%
7%
Issues Facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
3%
4%
Race Relations/Racism
2%
5%
Defence
0%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Take screenshot Download data

Residential Development and Local Area Decision-Making in Central QLD in May 2025

What concerns do you have with residential development (building more homes to accommodate more people) in your local area?
Central QLD 2025 (n = 227)
Australia (n = 4907)
Lack of affordable housing
46%
38%
Strain on infrastructure and public services
40%
42%
Rising housing costs
39%
35%
Environmental impact
27%
20%
Loss of green space or natural areas
27%
28%
Changes to neighbourhood character
20%
21%
Increased traffic and congestion
19%
46%
Noise or disruption during construction
6%
10%
Overcrowding
5%
18%
Other
5%
5%
None/not applicable to my area
9%
5%
Don't know
3%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
What other concerns do you have with residential development in your local area?
Download all comments
What do you see as the potential benefits of residential development (building more homes to accommodate more people) in your local area?
Central QLD 2025 (n = 227)
Australia (n = 4906)
Increased housing availability
56%
49%
Support for local businesses and services
51%
42%
More affordable housing options
45%
37%
Attraction of new residents and economic growth
34%
23%
Improved infrastructure and amenities (e.g. roads, parks)
19%
18%
Revitalisation of underused or vacant areas
15%
20%
Opportunity for more sustainable, energy-efficient housing
15%
15%
Enhanced public transport options
7%
13%
Greater diversity in housing types
7%
10%
Other
2%
4%
None/not applicable to my area
6%
13%
Don’t know
2%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
What do you see as the other potential benefits of residential development in your local area?
Download all comments
To what extent do you feel your community’s views are considered in local area decision-making?
Central QLD 2025 (n = 227)
Australia (n = 4907)
Very well considered
1%
4%
Somewhat well considered
26%
27%
Not well considered
41%
34%
Not considered at all
24%
27%
Don't know
9%
9%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower