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Regional WA in Australia

Regional WA is made up of Greater Geraldton (C), Pingelly (S), Broome (S), Collie (S), Karratha (C), Busselton (C), Cuballing (S), Albany (C), Wyndham-East Kimberley (S), Toodyay (S), Ashburton (S), Harvey (S), Dardanup (S), Halls Creek (S), Bunbury (C), Jerramungup (S), Northampton (S), Murray (S), Kalgoorlie-Boulder (C), Yilgarn (S), Port Hedland (T), Denmark (S), Northam (S), Victoria Plains (S), Mandurah (C), Carnarvon (S), East Pilbara (S), Wongan-Ballidu (S), Bridgetown-Greenbushes (S), Gingin (S), Esperance (S), Merredin (S), Shark Bay (S), Moora (S), Kellerberrin (S), Brookton (S), Mount Marshall (S), Dundas (S), Augusta-Margaret River (S), Ravensthorpe (S), Manjimup (S), Laverton (S), Donnybrook-Balingup (S), Beverley (S), Carnamah (S), Morawa (S), Chittering (S), Meekatharra (S), Wagin (S), Kent (S), Mingenew (S), Dandaragan (S), Broomehill-Tambellup (S), Capel (S), Irwin (S), Waroona (S), Plantagenet (S), Boddington (S), Kojonup (S), Bruce Rock (S), Boyup Brook (S), Coolgardie (S), Coorow (S), Cunderdin (S), Derby-West Kimberley (S), Exmouth (S), Gnowangerup (S), Goomalling (S), Katanning (S), Kulin (S), Mosman Park (T), Nannup (S), Ngaanyatjarraku (S), Three Springs (S), Trayning (S), Woodanilling (S), York (S), Cue (S), Dalwallinu (S), Lake Grace (S), Mount Magnet (S), Narrogin (S), and Wickepin (S).

Living in Regional WA in May 2025

Regional WA Overall Liveability Index
Australia
59.5
Adelaide
62.9
Central NSW
59.0
Central QLD
57.2
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
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

Regional WA Overall Liveability Index

Regional WA Overall Liveability Index 61.0

Australia Overall Liveability Index

Australia Overall Liveability Index 59.5

Regional WA
Australia
Importance
Experience
Feeling safe
Importance
Experience
68%
6.7
65%
6.2
Natural environment
Importance
Experience
59%
8.2
50%
7.6
Health services
Importance
Experience
59%
5.4
48%
6.1
Affordable decent housing
Importance
Experience
53%
4.6
56%
4.5
Sense of community
Importance
Experience
43%
6.5
29%
6.2
Good job prospects
Importance
Experience
27%
5.5
29%
5.4
Social cohesion
Importance
Experience
26%
6.1
26%
6.3
Making your way
Importance
Experience
25%
6.4
30%
6.0
A prosperous economy
Importance
Experience
24%
6.2
16%
5.6
Education
Importance
Experience
24%
5.6
20%
6.3
Opportunity for all
Importance
Experience
22%
5.9
19%
5.9
Shopping, leisure & dining
Importance
Experience
20%
4.9
26%
6.1
Public transport
Importance
Experience
17%
3.6
40%
5.2
A lack of road congestion
Importance
Experience
15%
6.7
21%
5.3
Sports and recreation
Importance
Experience
12%
7.2
9%
6.9
Cultural facilities
Importance
Experience
5%
5.7
15%
5.8
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

Health and Wellbeing in Regional WA 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?
Regional WA 2025 (n = 220)
6.6
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.7
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Regional WA 2025 (n = 220)
17%
62%
21%
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?
Regional WA 2025 (n = 220)
7.5
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.9
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Regional WA 2025 (n = 220)
6%
79%
15%
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?
Regional WA 2025 (n = 220)
7.0
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.5
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Regional WA 2025 (n = 220)
7%
81%
12%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Australia (n = 4907)
11%
67%
22%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Financial circumstances in Regional WA 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?
Regional WA 2025 (n = 220)
6.1
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
5.7
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Regional WA 2025 (n = 220)
29%
55%
17%
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?
Regional WA 2025 (n = 211)
Australia (n = 4683)
Always late
2%
2%
Often late
4%
6%
Sometimes late
21%
30%
Never late
73%
63%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Regional WA 2025 (n = 220)
44%
46%
10%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Australia (n = 4907)
42%
48%
11%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Impacts of climate change in Regional WA in May 2025

Which of the following best describes your personal views on climate change?
Regional WA 2025 (n = 220)
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
39%
32%
It's happening - caused entirely or mostly by natural causes
11%
9%
It's happening - not sure what is causing it
8%
6%
I do not believe climate change is happening
18%
11%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among those that believe in climate change, 53% indicated that their local area is currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 30% expected their local area to feel the effects within their lifetime. Of those, 7% were very confident that their local area would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 45% somewhat confident. 45% 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?
Regional WA 2025 (n = 180)
Australia (n = 4304)
My local area is feeling the effects of climate change
53%
49%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect it will in my lifetime
30%
36%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect it will in my lifetime
17%
15%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Regional WA 2025 (n = 149)
Australia (n = 3585)
Very confident
7%
5%
Somewhat confident
45%
35%
Not very confident
32%
39%
Not at all confident
13%
15%
Don't know
4%
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 (76%), Bushfires (74%) and Droughts (49%). 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 (58%), Educate residents on how to live more sustainably (56%) and Conserve natural resources (56%).

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?
Regional WA 2025 (n = 146)
Australia (n = 3490)
Extreme heat
76%
74%
Bushfires
74%
50%
Droughts
49%
42%
Severe wind
45%
44%
Storms
44%
53%
Sea level rise
33%
24%
Flooding
24%
48%
Cyclones
21%
24%
Extremely cold temperatures
7%
16%
Earthquakes
5%
5%
Landslide
3%
7%
Other
6%
5%
None of these
0%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Regional WA 2025 (n = 149)
Australia (n = 3585)
Protect and enhance local biodiversity
58%
60%
Educate residents on how to live more sustainably
56%
53%
Conserve natural resources
56%
48%
Reduce pollution of the environment
42%
51%
Adopt renewable energy sources
42%
48%
Provide options for recycling waste
41%
47%
Host renewable energy projects in the local area
35%
36%
More sustainable building and development practices
33%
44%
Encourage residents to buy locally
32%
30%
Create renewable energy sources
27%
38%
Reduce carbon emissions in the local area
23%
35%
More sustainable transport options
20%
41%
Other
8%
6%
None of these
3%
2%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Impacts of climate change on residents

Among those that believe in climate change, 40% indicated that they themselves are currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 40% 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 59% somewhat confident. 28% 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?
Regional WA 2025 (n = 180)
Australia (n = 4304)
I am feeling the effects of climate change
40%
47%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect to in my lifetime
40%
37%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect to in my lifetime
19%
16%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Regional WA 2025 (n = 144)
Australia (n = 3506)
Very confident
9%
8%
Somewhat confident
59%
52%
Not very confident
25%
30%
Not at all confident
3%
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 (76%), Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items (61%) and Essential infrastructure vulnerability (37%). 47% feel climate change will reduce their quality of life somewhat, and a further 14% 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?
Regional WA 2025 (n = 144)
Australia (n = 3506)
Increased household running costs
76%
77%
Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items
61%
61%
Essential infrastructure vulnerability
37%
40%
My ability to leave my home due to weather
33%
46%
Loss or damage to your home/property
30%
29%
Reduction in air quality
25%
36%
Challenges accessing essential services
22%
28%
My ability to access nature due to weather
21%
32%
Reduced personal safety or health to myself and/or those around me
18%
26%
Challenges getting around
15%
36%
Transport infrastructure vulnerability
13%
29%
Reduced value to your home/property
11%
15%
None of these
1%
2%
Other
5%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Regional WA 2025 (n = 144)
Australia (n = 3506)
It will improve a lot
1%
2%
It will improve somewhat
5%
7%
It will not change
25%
14%
It will reduce somewhat
47%
49%
It will reduce a lot
14%
22%
Don't know
9%
6%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Concerns in Regional WA in May 2025

What are the top three issues facing your local area?
Regional WA 2025 (n = 220)
Australia (n = 4907)
Inflation/Cost of Living
47%
54%
Housing/Price of Housing
42%
50%
Healthcare/Hospitals
34%
20%
Law & order
32%
36%
Drug/Alcohol Abuse
25%
15%
Petrol Prices/Fuel
22%
12%
The Economy
12%
12%
Population/Overpopulation
10%
13%
Transport
10%
20%
Household Debt/Personal Debt
10%
13%
Environmental Concerns
9%
10%
Immigration
9%
7%
Unemployment
8%
9%
Poverty/Inequality
7%
11%
Issues Facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
6%
4%
Taxation
6%
6%
Race Relations/Racism
5%
5%
Education
3%
3%
Defence
1%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Residential Development and Local Area Decision-Making in Regional WA in May 2025

What concerns do you have with residential development (building more homes to accommodate more people) in your local area?
Regional WA 2025 (n = 220)
Australia (n = 4907)
Lack of affordable housing
43%
38%
Strain on infrastructure and public services
41%
42%
Rising housing costs
37%
35%
Loss of green space or natural areas
24%
28%
Increased traffic and congestion
23%
46%
Changes to neighbourhood character
22%
21%
Environmental impact
20%
20%
Overcrowding
14%
18%
Noise or disruption during construction
2%
10%
Other
9%
5%
None/not applicable to my area
10%
5%
Don't know
2%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
What other concerns do you have with residential development in your local area?

What do you see as the potential benefits of residential development (building more homes to accommodate more people) in your local area?
Regional WA 2025 (n = 220)
Australia (n = 4906)
Increased housing availability
49%
49%
Support for local businesses and services
46%
42%
More affordable housing options
36%
37%
Attraction of new residents and economic growth
30%
23%
Revitalisation of underused or vacant areas
24%
20%
Improved infrastructure and amenities (e.g. roads, parks)
16%
18%
Opportunity for more sustainable, energy-efficient housing
12%
15%
Greater diversity in housing types
9%
10%
Enhanced public transport options
8%
13%
Other
4%
4%
None/not applicable to my area
12%
13%
Don’t know
6%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
What do you see as the other potential benefits of residential development in your local area?

To what extent do you feel your community’s views are considered in local area decision-making?
Regional WA 2025 (n = 220)
Australia (n = 4907)
Very well considered
4%
4%
Somewhat well considered
21%
27%
Not well considered
38%
34%
Not considered at all
31%
27%
Don't know
6%
9%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower