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Western VIC in Australia

Western VIC is made up of Greater Geelong (C), Wattle Range (DC), Surf Coast (S), Moyne (S), Glenelg (S), Horsham (RC), Mildura (RC), Warrnambool (C), Golden Plains (S), Southern Grampians (S), Northern Grampians (S), Yarriambiack (S), Corangamite (S), Colac-Otway (S), West Wimmera (S), Wyndham (C), Swan Hill (RC), Buloke (S), Queenscliffe (B), Hindmarsh (S), Gannawarra (S), Moira (S), and Wodonga (C).

Living in Western VIC in May 2025

Western VIC 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
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
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

Western VIC Overall Liveability Index

Western VIC Overall Liveability Index 60.9

Australia Overall Liveability Index

Australia Overall Liveability Index 59.5

Western VIC
Australia
Importance
Experience
Feeling safe
Importance
Experience
57%
6.9
65%
6.2
Affordable decent housing
Importance
Experience
56%
4.7
56%
4.5
Natural environment
Importance
Experience
56%
8.1
50%
7.6
Health services
Importance
Experience
55%
5.8
48%
6.1
Sense of community
Importance
Experience
35%
6.6
29%
6.2
Good job prospects
Importance
Experience
31%
4.9
29%
5.4
A lack of road congestion
Importance
Experience
29%
6.5
21%
5.3
Education
Importance
Experience
28%
5.7
20%
6.3
Public transport
Importance
Experience
26%
4.4
40%
5.2
Making your way
Importance
Experience
26%
6.0
30%
6.0
Social cohesion
Importance
Experience
22%
6.4
26%
6.3
Shopping, leisure & dining
Importance
Experience
21%
5.4
26%
6.1
Sports and recreation
Importance
Experience
15%
7.5
9%
6.9
Opportunity for all
Importance
Experience
15%
5.8
19%
5.9
Cultural facilities
Importance
Experience
14%
5.9
15%
5.8
A prosperous economy
Importance
Experience
14%
5.6
16%
5.6
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 Western VIC 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?
Western VIC 2025 (n = 195)
6.6
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.7
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Western VIC 2025 (n = 195)
17%
59%
24%
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?
Western VIC 2025 (n = 195)
6.8
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.9
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Western VIC 2025 (n = 195)
11%
66%
23%
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?
Western VIC 2025 (n = 195)
6.5
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
6.5
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Western VIC 2025 (n = 195)
9%
70%
21%
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 Western VIC 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?
Western VIC 2025 (n = 195)
5.7
Very poor
Excellent
Australia (n = 4907)
5.7
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Western VIC 2025 (n = 195)
27%
48%
25%
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?
Western VIC 2025 (n = 187)
Australia (n = 4683)
Always late
3%
2%
Often late
5%
6%
Sometimes late
28%
30%
Never late
65%
63%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Western VIC 2025 (n = 195)
56%
38%
7%
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 Western VIC in May 2025

Which of the following best describes your personal views on climate change?
Western VIC 2025 (n = 195)
Australia (n = 4907)
It's happening - caused entirely or mostly by human activities
39%
43%
It's happening - caused equally by human activities and natural causes
31%
32%
It's happening - caused entirely or mostly by natural causes
10%
9%
It's happening - not sure what is causing it
5%
6%
I do not believe climate change is happening
14%
11%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among those that believe in climate change, 51% indicated that their local area is currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 39% expected their local area to feel the effects within their lifetime. Of those, 3% were very confident that their local area would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 31% somewhat confident. 60% 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?
Western VIC 2025 (n = 160)
Australia (n = 4304)
My local area is feeling the effects of climate change
51%
49%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect it will in my lifetime
39%
36%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect it will in my lifetime
10%
15%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Western VIC 2025 (n = 141)
Australia (n = 3585)
Very confident
3%
5%
Somewhat confident
31%
35%
Not very confident
46%
39%
Not at all confident
14%
15%
Don't know
6%
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: Droughts (69%), Extreme heat (64%) and Bushfires (63%). 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 (54%), Educate residents on how to live more sustainably (51%) and Conserve natural resources (44%).

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?
Western VIC 2025 (n = 133)
Australia (n = 3490)
Droughts
69%
42%
Extreme heat
64%
74%
Bushfires
63%
50%
Severe wind
47%
44%
Storms
46%
53%
Flooding
34%
48%
Sea level rise
23%
24%
Extremely cold temperatures
18%
16%
Landslide
7%
7%
Earthquakes
5%
5%
Cyclones
3%
24%
Other
4%
5%
None of these
2%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Western VIC 2025 (n = 141)
Australia (n = 3585)
Protect and enhance local biodiversity
54%
60%
Educate residents on how to live more sustainably
51%
53%
Conserve natural resources
44%
48%
Adopt renewable energy sources
44%
48%
Reduce pollution of the environment
37%
51%
Host renewable energy projects in the local area
34%
36%
Provide options for recycling waste
33%
47%
Create renewable energy sources
32%
38%
More sustainable building and development practices
31%
44%
More sustainable transport options
30%
41%
Reduce carbon emissions in the local area
30%
35%
Encourage residents to buy locally
29%
30%
Other
6%
6%
None of these
6%
2%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Impacts of climate change on residents

Among those that believe in climate change, 48% indicated that they themselves are currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 40% expected to within their lifetime. Of those, 8% were very confident that they would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 51% somewhat confident. 41% 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?
Western VIC 2025 (n = 160)
Australia (n = 4304)
I am feeling the effects of climate change
48%
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
12%
16%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Western VIC 2025 (n = 132)
Australia (n = 3506)
Very confident
8%
8%
Somewhat confident
51%
52%
Not very confident
34%
30%
Not at all confident
6%
6%
Don't know
1%
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 (74%), Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items (66%) and Essential infrastructure vulnerability (33%). 51% feel climate change will reduce their quality of life somewhat, and a further 17% 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?
Western VIC 2025 (n = 132)
Australia (n = 3506)
Increased household running costs
74%
77%
Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items
66%
61%
Essential infrastructure vulnerability
33%
40%
My ability to leave my home due to weather
32%
46%
My ability to access nature due to weather
29%
32%
Challenges getting around
28%
36%
Loss or damage to your home/property
26%
29%
Challenges accessing essential services
23%
28%
Reduction in air quality
22%
36%
Transport infrastructure vulnerability
22%
29%
Reduced personal safety or health to myself and/or those around me
20%
26%
Reduced value to your home/property
13%
15%
None of these
3%
2%
Other
5%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Western VIC 2025 (n = 132)
Australia (n = 3506)
It will improve a lot
2%
2%
It will improve somewhat
4%
7%
It will not change
22%
14%
It will reduce somewhat
51%
49%
It will reduce a lot
17%
22%
Don't know
5%
6%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Concerns in Western VIC in May 2025

What are the top three issues facing your local area?
Western VIC 2025 (n = 195)
Australia (n = 4907)
Inflation/Cost of Living
53%
54%
Housing/Price of Housing
36%
50%
Healthcare/Hospitals
35%
20%
Law & order
31%
36%
Transport
22%
20%
Drug/Alcohol Abuse
19%
15%
The Economy
15%
12%
Unemployment
14%
9%
Petrol Prices/Fuel
14%
12%
Household Debt/Personal Debt
13%
13%
Environmental Concerns
9%
10%
Taxation
9%
6%
Population/Overpopulation
9%
13%
Poverty/Inequality
7%
11%
Education
7%
3%
Immigration
5%
7%
Issues Facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
2%
4%
Race Relations/Racism
0%
5%
Defence
0%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Residential Development and Local Area Decision-Making in Western VIC in May 2025

What concerns do you have with residential development (building more homes to accommodate more people) in your local area?
Western VIC 2025 (n = 195)
Australia (n = 4907)
Strain on infrastructure and public services
43%
42%
Lack of affordable housing
42%
38%
Increased traffic and congestion
41%
46%
Rising housing costs
29%
35%
Loss of green space or natural areas
22%
28%
Environmental impact
20%
20%
Changes to neighbourhood character
19%
21%
Overcrowding
17%
18%
Noise or disruption during construction
4%
10%
Other
7%
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?

What do you see as the potential benefits of residential development (building more homes to accommodate more people) in your local area?
Western VIC 2025 (n = 195)
Australia (n = 4906)
Increased housing availability
48%
49%
Support for local businesses and services
39%
42%
More affordable housing options
37%
37%
Attraction of new residents and economic growth
28%
23%
Revitalisation of underused or vacant areas
24%
20%
Improved infrastructure and amenities (e.g. roads, parks)
17%
18%
Opportunity for more sustainable, energy-efficient housing
12%
15%
Enhanced public transport options
8%
13%
Greater diversity in housing types
6%
10%
Other
5%
4%
None/not applicable to my area
12%
13%
Don’t know
5%
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?
Western VIC 2025 (n = 195)
Australia (n = 4907)
Very well considered
3%
4%
Somewhat well considered
26%
27%
Not well considered
37%
34%
Not considered at all
27%
27%
Don't know
7%
9%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower