Suncorp Bank Family Friendly City Report

Transcription

1 Suncorp Bank Family Friendly City Report

2 Introduction Launceston and Canberra have scooped the pool as Australia s most family friendly cities, bumping Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to 14th, 23rd and 24th positions respectively, according to a study into the family friendliness of the nation s 30 largest cities. The inaugural Suncorp Bank Family Friendly Index shows that half of the top 10 family friendly cities are not state or territory capitals and instead include the smaller, regional cities of Albury/Wodonga, Toowoomba, and Launceston. The report finds that crowded, stressful, urban jungles and under serviced Eastern seaboard capitals are being upstaged by regional towns as the most family friendly cities in Australia. The inaugural Suncorp Bank Family Friendly City Index monitors the most populated 30 cities in Australia and ranks them according to which city is the most family friendly across 10 key indicators. The indicators themselves are divided into two categories; Primary and Secondary. Primary indicators refer to those indicators that have a larger bearing on a city s livability, (such as, crime education and housing) as such these indicators are weighted double that of the secondary indicators. While the Index analyses indicators such as,, Health,, and, some notable omissions include Environment (climate and weather), Lifestyle (beaches and parks) which have not been included due to their subjective nature and a lack of consistent data for each of the 30 cities analysed. Methodology To derive the rankings for the Suncorp Bank Family Friendly City Index each city was systematically ranked on each of the 10 indicators. For reasons previously explained the primary indicators received added weight when compiling the index, with each primary indicator worth double that of a secondary indicator. Each of the indicators raw sources were tallied and then ranked one to thirty, with one being the most desirable score and thirty being the least. All scores (or ranks) were totalled with the lowest score being given the overall number one rank of the inaugural Suncorp Bank Family Friendly Index. A note about data sources The Suncorp Bank Family Friendly Index is based on measurements gathered through robust government and private sector quantitative data that is publicly available. The following data sources were used to obtain the index measurements. Percentage of the working age population unemployed Data sourced from the 2011 census Average individual taxable income Data from 2010/11 Sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics %20expenditure%20and%20wealth~193 % of households with broadband internet connections Data sourced from the 2011 census Health 1 Number of GP services provided over the course of 12 months as a ratio of the population Data from 2010/11 Sourced from the Social Health Atlas of Australia Health 2 Current long-term condition and reporting either very good or excellent health (self-assessment) Data from 2008 Sourced from the Social Health Atlas of Australia Suncorp Bank

3 rates per 100,000 of population Latest available data by state Sourced from the ABS, Australian Federal Police, Victorian Police, Queensland Police, Western Australian Police, NSW Bureau of statistics, SA Office of statistics and research Number of school aged children in each city divided by the number of schools Data from 2011/212 Sourced from Australian Bureau of Statistics and Number of infants aged 0-4 divided by the number of child care centres Data from 2012 Sourced from Based on average cost of housing in each city Most up-to-date data sourced from 2011 and 2012 Sourced from Based on local government data released in October 2012 Voluntary work for a group or organisation (based on ABS 2011 census data) Sourced from the Social Health Atlas of Australia Family Friendly Index Key Indicators Five primary indicators Health 1 rates divided by population of the city Average number of GP visits by population of the city Schools in city region divided by number of school age children Average cost of house in city rate of city Five secondary indicators Health 2 Median weekly disposable income Childcare centres in city divided by number of children aged 0-4 years Self-assessment of long-term health of city population Percentage of internet broadband connection in each home Percentage of city population that volunteer for an organisation or group Family Friendly City Report 3

4 Suncorp Bank Family Friendly City Index (Key indicator and overall ranking) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 5th City (State/ Territory) Health 1 Health 2 Childcare Total Launceston (TAS) Canberra (ACT) Toowoomba (QLD) Albury/ Wodonga (NSW) Adelaide (SA) Perth (WA) th Hobart (TAS) th 8th 10th 11th 11th 14th 14th 16th 16th 18th 19th 20th 21st Darwin (NT) Bunbury (WA) Bundaberg (QLD) Mackay (QLD) Burnie (TAS) Mandurah (WA) Melbourne (VIC) Wagga Wagga (NSW) Bendigo (VIC) Townsville (QLD) Newcastle (NSW) Rockhampton (QLD) Sunshine Coast (QLD) Wollongong (NSW) nd Ballarat (VIC) rd Sydney (NSW) 24th Brisbane (QLD) 25th Geelong (VIC) th Hervey Bay (QLD) 27th Cairns (QLD) th 28th 30th Gold Coast (QLD) LaTrobe Valley (VIC) Coffs Harbour (NSW) Key findings Launceston is Australia s number 1 family friendly city, ahead of Canberra Of the big three Melbourne is ranked 14th, ahead of Sydney (23rd) and Brisbane (24th) Queensland is the most family friendly state, with six cities in Australia s top 20 family friendly Tasmanian city of Burnie is Australia s healthiest city while Launceston enjoys the least crowded schools Queensland regional hotspot Toowoomba is the employment capital of Australia Adelaide is Australia s safest city, with the lowest levels of crime Canberra is the volunteer capital of Australia with the city s population clocking up more community work hours than any other city, while it also wins the childcare and disposable income categories. 4 Suncorp Bank

5 In a surprise result Adelaide took out the title of Australia s safest city, having the lowest crime rate (per 100,000 of the population). The measurement took into account all criminal activity over a 12 month period, with Western Australia s Bunbury and Tasmania s Launceston rounding out the top three. Cairns, Canberra and Brisbane had some of the highest recoded criminal activity over the reporting period with more than 10% of the population experiencing some form of crime, including domestic violence, fraud and sexual assault. rates (per 100,000 of population rates (per 100,000 of population 1st Adelaide (SA) 2,365 2nd Bunbury (WA) 2,830 3rd Launceston (TAS) 3,182 4th Hobart (TAS) 3,182 5th Burnie (TAS) 3,769 6th Darwin (NT) 4,606 7th Newcastle (NSW) 5,025 8th Sydney (NSW) 5,150 9th Wollongong (NSW) 6,323 10th Bendigo (VIC) 6,438 11th Sunshine Coast (QLD) 6,804 12th Geelong (VIC) 7,021 Melbourne (VIC) 7,865 14th Bundaberg (QLD) 8,143 15th Mandurah (WA) 8,504 16th Toowoomba (QLD) 8,530 17th Mackay (QLD) 8,568 18th Hervey Bay (QLD) 8,845 19th Albury/Wodonga (NSW) 9,188 20th Coffs Harbour (NSW) 9,571 21th Ballarat (VIC) 9,711 22th Perth (WA) 10,047 23th Rockhampton (QLD) 11,436 24th Wagga Wagga (NSW) 11,712 25th LaTrobe Valley (VIC) 11,977 26th Gold Coast (QLD) 12,083 27th Townsville (QLD) 12,768 28th Brisbane (QLD) 13,205 29th Canberra (ACT) 14,593 30th Cairns (QLD) 15,531 Health 1 The Northern Tasmanian city of Burnie is the healthiest city in Australia with each resident only visiting their doctor on average 1.3 times over the course of the year. This indicator measured how often the city s population visited their GP over the course of 12 months with Burnie bettering Western Australia s Bunbury, Queensland s Townsville and fellow Tasmanian city Launceston for the top spot. According to this measure Australia s unhealthiest city is the Sunshine Coast, where the average resident visits their GP eight times over a 12 month period. Coffs Harbour, Sydney and the La Trobe Valley also featured in the bottom three of Australia s unhealthiest cities. GP visits per person GP visits per person 1st Burnie (TAS) 1.3 2nd Bunbury (WA) 2 3rd Townsville (QLD) 2.9 3rd Launceston (TAS) 2.9 5th Darwin (NT) 3.3 6th Canberra (ACT) 3.5 7th Albury/Wodonga (NSW) 3.8 8th Toowoomba (QLD) 3.9 9th Mandurah (WA) 4 10th Rockhampton (QLD) th Bundaberg (QLD) th Perth (WA) 4.4 Bendigo (VIC) 4.5 Cairns (QLD) Ballarat (VIC) th Mackay (QLD) th Wagga Wagga (NSW) th Newcastle (NSW) 5 19th Geelong (VIC) th Hobart (TAS) st Brisbane (QLD) st Melbourne (VIC) rd Gold Coast (QLD) th Adelaide (SA) th Wollongong (NSW) th Hervey Bay (QLD) 6 27th Sydney (NSW) th LaTrobe Valley (VIC) th Coffs Harbour (NSW) th Sunshine Coast (QLD) 8 Family Friendly City Report 5

6 Launceston school aged children enjoy the title of having the least crowded schools according to the Family Friendly Index. This indicator measured the number of children in each city (aged 5 through to 19) divided by the number of schools located within a 10km radius of the city. Queensland regional hubs Bundaberg and Mackay were ranked 2nd and 3rd respectively. However, another Queensland regional hub Townsville recorded one of the worst results with 1,127 children per school, beaten only by the NSW regional city of Coffs Harbour which has the most crowded schools in the country with 1,521 kids per school. Number of children at each school (based on 5 to 19 ages) Number of children at each school (based on 5 to 19 ages) 1st Launceston (TAS) 323 2nd Bundaberg (QLD) 349 3rd Mackay (QLD) 378 4th Rockhampton (QLD) 432 5th Canberra (ACT) 450 6th Albury/Wodonga (NSW) 467 7th Newcastle (NSW) 492 8th Wollongong (NSW) 494 9th Adelaide (SA) th Melbourne (VIC) th Perth (WA) th Sydney (NSW) 563 Ballarat (VIC) th Gold Coast (QLD) th Sunshine Coast (QLD) th Toowoomba (QLD) th Hobart (TAS) th Burnie (TAS) th Mandurah (WA) th Hervey Bay (QLD) st Wagga Wagga (NSW) nd Bendigo (VIC) rd LaTrobe Valley (VIC) th Brisbane (QLD) th Cairns (QLD) th Darwin (NT) th Geelong (VIC) th Bunbury (WA) th Townsville (QLD) th Coffs Harbour (NSW) 1521 With a potential saving of up to $400,000, it is little wonder more Australians are moving to regional cities such as Burnie, the LaTrobe Valley and Albury-Wodonga. Buying a family home in these areas costs less than half of what you will pay to live in a major capital like Sydney, which is unsurprisingly the most expensive place to own a house. Rounding out the most expensive places to live are resource boom hotspot Darwin and home of the national public service sector Canberra. Average cost of a house Average cost of a house 1st Burnie (TAS) $230,000 2nd LaTrobe Valley (VIC) $232,000 3rd Albury/Wodonga (NSW) $267,000 4th Launceston (TAS) $280,000 4th Bundaberg (QLD) $280,000 6th Toowoomba (QLD) $286,000 7th Ballarat (VIC) $300,000 8th Wagga Wagga (NSW) $305,000 9th Bendigo (VIC) $311,000 10th Rockhampton (QLD) $320,000 11th Hobart (TAS) $330,000 11th Hervey Bay (QLD) $330,000 Coffs Harbour (NSW) $335,000 14th Bunbury (WA) $340,000 15th Cairns (QLD) $345,000 16th Townsville (QLD) $365,000 17th Mandurah (WA) $373,000 18th Geelong (VIC) $386,000 19th Wollongong (NSW) $397,000 20th Adelaide (SA) $405,000 21th Mackay (QLD) $420,000 22th Sunshine Coast (QLD) $430,000 23rd Perth (WA) $467,000 23rd Gold Coast (QLD) $467,000 25th Newcastle (NSW) $474,000 26th Brisbane (QLD) $505,000 27th Melbourne (VIC) $530,000 28th Canberra (ACT) $545,000 29th Darwin (NT) $609,000 30th Sydney (NSW) $642,000 6 Suncorp Bank

7 Queensland s largest inland city, Toowoomba, recorded the lowest level of unemployment, which may be in part due to the generation of jobs to help with recovery efforts following the devastating floods in and around the Lockyer Valley in 2011, with the city at 1.9% unemployment. Darwin (2.1%) and Canberra (2.9%) were the cities with the next lowest unemployment levels. Ballarat, Burnie and Coffs Harbour recorded the highest unemployment rates on and around 8%, thanks largely to manufacturing downturns which have crippled regional communities over the past decade. 1st Toowoomba (QLD) 1.90% 2nd Darwin (NT) 2.10% 3rd Canberra (ACT) 2.90% 4th Townsville (QLD) 3.20% 5th Mackay (QLD) 3.50% 6th Perth (WA) 3.70% 7th Launceston (TAS) 3.80% 8th Bunbury (WA) 3.90% 9th Brisbane (QLD) 4.00% 10th Hobart (TAS) 4.20% 11th Wagga Wagga (NSW) 4.50% 12th Albury/Wodonga (NSW) 5.00% 12th Gold Coast (QLD) 5.00% 14th Newcastle (NSW) 5.10% 14th Melbourne (VIC) 5.10% 16th Mandurah (WA) 5.10% 17th Sunshine Coast (QLD) 5.30% 18th Sydney (NSW) 5.60% 19th Adelaide (SA) 5.90% 20th Geelong (VIC) 6.00% 21st LaTrobe Valley (VIC) 6.10% 22nd Bendigo (VIC) 6.40% 23rd Rockhampton (QLD) 6.70% 23rd Bundaberg (QLD) 6.70% 25th Wollongong (NSW) 6.90% 26th Cairns (QLD) 7.20% 27th Hervey Bay (QLD) 7.50% 28th Coffs Harbour (NSW) 7.80% 29th Burnie (TAS) 8.00% 29th Ballarat (VIC) 8.00% Health 2 The second health indicator is a self-assessment based on whether the residents of each city consider themselves in excellent or very good health. While the measurement is subjective, it is nonetheless a worthwhile indicator into how a city s residents perceive their health, which can be used as a comparison to the overall population. Perth is the nation s healthiest city with 72% of the city s population considering their long-term health outlook very good or excellent. Canberra, Geelong and Mandurah are also in good health. Mandurah is the second city in Western Australia in the top three, making WA the nation s most healthy state. Hervey Bay, Bundaberg and Burnie are the nation s unhealthiest with only 60% of the population considering themselves in very good or excellent health. City Score (%) 1st Perth (WA) 72 2nd Canberra (ACT) rd Geelong (VIC) 70 3rd Mandurah (WA) 70 5th Melbourne (VIC) th Ballarat (VIC) th Bunbury (WA) th Wagga Wagga (NSW) th Adelaide (SA) th Bendigo (VIC) 69 11th Hobart (TAS) th Albury/Wodonga (NSW) 68.7 Toowoomba (QLD) th Sydney (NSW) th Launceston (TAS) 67.9 City Score (%) 16th La Trobe Valley (VIC) th Brisbane (QLD) th Gold Coast (QLD) th Sunshine Coast (QLD) th Cairns (QLD) th Darwin (NT) nd Newcastle (NSW) rd Rockhampton (QLD) th Townsville (QLD) th Coffs Harbour (NSW) th Wollongong (NSW) th Mackay (QLD) th Burnie (TAS) th Bundaberg (QLD) th Hervey Bay (QLD) 60.7 Family Friendly City Report 7

8 Australia s capital city Canberra took out the gong for Australia s wealthiest city, which measured average wages and disposable income from the 2011 calendar year as recorded by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Canberra, which employs Australia s most senior public servants, recorded median weekly disposable income of $1,009 which is more than $52,000 a year, around the cost of a new family sized sedan. One of the main themes we wanted to measure was how wealthy a city was in terms of its citizens and the contribution they make to the local economy. It was argued that if a city had more disposable income it s citizens would have more income to drive the local economy and hence increase the wealth of that city and its contribution to the national economy The Tasmanian cities of Hobart, Launceston and Burnie recorded the lowest median weekly disposable income $593. Median weekly disposable income (2011) Median weekly disposable income (2011) 1st Canberra (ACT) $1,009 2nd Darwin (NT) $895 3rd Brisbane (QLD) $783 4th Perth (WA) $780 5th Sydney (NSW) $779 6th Hervey Bay (QLD) $743 6th Bunbury (WA) $743 6th Mandurah (WA) $743 9th Melbourne (VIC) $732 10th Adelaide (SA) $726 11th Bundaberg (QLD) $670 11th Rockhampton (QLD) $670 11th Mackay (QLD) $670 11th Toowoomba (QLD) $670 11th Cairns (QLD) $670 11th Townsville (QLD) $670 11th Sunshine Coast (QLD) $670 11th Gold Coast (QLD) $670 19th Coffs Harbour (NSW) $652 19th Wagga Wagga (NSW) $652 19th Albury/Wodonga (NSW) $652 19th Wollongong (NSW) $652 19th Newcastle (NSW) $652 24th LaTrobe Valley (VIC) $610 24th Bendigo (VIC) $610 24th Ballarat (VIC) $610 24th Geelong (VIC) $610 28th Burnie (TAS) $593 28th Launceston (TAS) $593 28th Hobart (TAS) $593 Canberra took out the connectivity indicator, with a massive 78.4% of all households having broadband internet in their home. State capitals Brisbane (75.10%) and Sydney (73.80%) rounded out the top three. Again, Tasmania lagged the rest of the country with Burnie (59.80%) and Launceston (61.0%) recording the lowest scores overall. Broadband in home (2011) 1st Canberra (ACT) 78.40% 2nd Brisbane (QLD) 75.10% 3rd Sydney (NSW) 73.80% 4th Perth (WA) 73.40% 5th Gold Coast (QLD) 73.00% 5th Sunshine Coast (QLD) 73.00% 7th Melbourne (VIC) 72.60% 8th Darwin (NT) 70.40% 9th Cairns (QLD) 70.30% 10th Mackay (QLD) 69.40% 11th Townsville (QLD) 69.10% 12th Toowoomba (QLD) 68.10% Adelaide (SA) 67.20% 14th Mandurah (WA) 66.90% 14th Newcastle (NSW) 66.90% Broadband in home (2011) 14th Wollongong (NSW) 66.90% 17th Albury/Wodonga (NSW) 66.50% 18th Hervey Bay (QLD) 66.30% 18th Coffs Harbour (NSW) 66.30% 20th Wagga Wagga (NSW) 66.00% 21st Bendigo (VIC) 65.50% 21st Geelong (VIC) 65.50% 23rd Rockhampton (QLD) 65.30% 24th Ballarat (VIC) 65.20% 25th Hobart (TAS) 64.80% 26th LaTrobe Valley (VIC) 63.00% 27th Bundaberg (QLD) 62.00% 28th Bunbury (WA) 61.60% 29th Launceston (TAS) 61.00% 30th Burnie (TAS) 59.80% 8 Suncorp Bank

9 Canberra infants enjoy the least crowded child care centres and more one-on-one interaction with carers according to the Index. The indicator looked at the number of infants (aged 0-4 years) in each city and divided that by how many long- and short-term childcare centres operated in and around the city. Wollongong and Burnie rounded out the top three family friendly childcare cities. On the other end of the spectrum, the Gold Coast (30th), Ballarat (29th) and the LaTrobe Valley (28th) represented the cities with the most crowded child care centres in the country, with almost 300 children per child care centre. Children per childcare centre (based on 1 to 4 years) Children per childcare centre (based on 1 to 4 years) 1st Canberra (ACT) 27 2nd Wollongong (NSW) 42 3rd Burnie (TAS) 65 4th Adelaide (SA) 71 4th Sunshine Coast (QLD) 71 6th Launceston (TAS) 77 6th Hobart (TAS) 77 8th Townsville (QLD) 80 9th Newcastle (NSW) 81 10th Hervey Bay (QLD) 88 11th Bundaberg (QLD) 89 12th Albury/Wodonga (NSW) 92 Perth (WA) 95 Mackay (QLD) 95 15th Toowoomba (QLD) 98 16th Melbourne (VIC) th Darwin (NT) th Brisbane (QLD) th Cairns (QLD) th Coffs Harbour (NSW) st Wagga Wagga (NSW) nd Mandurah (WA) rd Bendigo (VIC) th Sydney (NSW) th Rockhampton (QLD) th Geelong (VIC) th Bunbury (WA) th LaTrobe Valley (VIC) th Ballarat (VIC) th Gold Coast (QLD) 292 One in four Canberrans volunteer their time and energy each year for an organisation or group, making them Australia s most community-oriented state or territory. NSW rural hub Wagga Wagga and Victoria s Ballarat were 2nd and 3rd respectively in this category. Western Australia s Mandurah holds the title of Australia s least philanthropic city with less than 15% of its population volunteering during the past 12 months. The Gold Coast and Newcastle rounded out the bottom three cities for this indicator, both with less than 16% of the population undertaking volunteer work. City Population % that volunteer with an organisation or group City Population % that volunteer with an organisation or group 1st Canberra 24.80% 2nd Wagga Wagga 24.40% 3rd Ballarat 22.50% 4th Hobart 22.10% 5th Bendigo 21.50% 6th Sunshine Coast 20.90% 7th Albury/Wodonga 20.70% 8th Toowoomba 20.60% 9th La Trobe Valley 19.40% 9th Adelaide 19.40% 11th Brisbane 19.20% 12th Coffs Harbour 19% Launceston 18.80% 14th Geelong 18.60% 15th Burnie 18.00% 16th Cairns 17.90% 17th Rockhampton 17.80% 18th Darwin 17.80% 19th Bundaberg 17.40% 20th Townsville 17.30% 21st Perth 17.10% 22nd Wollongong 16.90% 22nd Melbourne 16.90% 24th Bunbury 16.50% 25th Mackay 16.10% 26th Sydney 16% 26th Hervey Bay 16% 28th Newcastle 15.80% 29th Gold Coast 15.40% 30th Mandurah 14.50% Family Friendly City Report 9

10 1. Launceston Where the Living is Easy 3rd 4th Health 1 1st 4th 7th 15th Health 2 European settlers arrived in the 1830s, and the area won selection by ballot for the federal capital in Canberra s special contrast of nature and urban living was planned in 1912 by master designer, Walter Burley Griffin, a Chicago architect, who won an international design competition. The provisional Parliament House opened in 1927 in what was then a treeless paddock. Since then, Canberra has grown into a vibrant, cosmopolitan city with national attractions housing the heritage, history and national collections that make Canberra the home of the Australian story. 29th 29th 3. Toowoomba The Garden City 6th 11 Townsville (QLD) 12 Toowoomba (QLD) 13 Adelaide (SA) According to the Launceston City website Launceston has a fantastic lifestyle, low unemployment, Mediterranean climate, great educational opportunities, low levels of crime and affordable real estate make Launceston an ideal sea-change destination. Launceston offers a climate for living away from the gridlock of city congestion with the ambience of a cosmopolitan European city. The freshest air, the healthiest climate and the wildest places are on the city s doorstep. North eastern Tasmania is fast becoming known as a haven from the harshest impacts of global climate change. Quite simply, Launceston is a perfect place to; Build a business Find your dream job Progress your career Unleash your creativity Raise a family Canberra Australia s Capital Region 29th 6th Health 1 5th 28th 3rd 16th 8th Health 1 16th 6th 1st Health 2 14th 12th 15th 8th Toowoomba is a picturesque mountain city located in south east Queensland some 127Km west of the states capital, Brisbane. Clinging to the edge of the Great Dividing Range escarpment at an altitude of seven hundred meters above sea-level, the city affords breathtaking views of Table Top Mountain and the Lockyer Valley region across the east. The city covers an area of approx. 117 Sq Km and is centred at the intersection of the Warrego and New England highways. Toowoomba s climate can best be described as pleasant with temperature ranges averaging a cool 5 C to 16 C in winter and a mild 17 C to 27 C in summer. Throughout the second half of the nineteenth century, Toowoomba would prosper, being proclaimed a municipality in 1860, a township in 1892, and a city in There are many things to see and do in Toowoomba all year round. In spring time, Toowoomba s parks and gardens become vibrant and ablaze with colour and life, and to celebrate Toowoomba s status as The Garden City, every year in September the Carnival of Flowers is held, with a street parade, and other activities. 2nd Health 2 1st 1st 1st 1st Canberra is modern city, set within extensive parks and gardens and enjoys four distinct seasons. It will celebrate its centenary as the nation s capital in Canberra is located in the Australian Capital Territory, surrounded by New South Wales. The city is 150 kilometres inland and 571 metres above the Pacific Ocean, 281 kilometres from Sydney and 660 kilometres from Melbourne. The latitude and longitude is 35 degrees south and 149 degrees east. Located on the ancient lands of the Indigenous Ngunnawal people, Canberra s name is thought to mean meeting place, derived from the Aboriginal word Kamberra. 10 Suncorp Bank

11 4. Albury-Wodonga The Twin Cities 5. Perth City of Light 19th 22nd 7th Health 1 12th Health 1 6th 11th 3rd 23rd 12th 6th 12th Health 2 1st Health 2 21st 4th 17th 4th 12th 7th 21st Albury and Wodonga are located on opposite sides of the Murray River, with Albury City located in New South Wales and the City of Wodonga located in Victoria. The cities are situated some 300 kilometres north-east of Melbourne and 570 kilometres south-west of Sydney. Albury City is bound by Greater Hume Shire in the north, north-east and north-west, while the City of Wodonga is bound by Towong Shire in the south-east and Indigo Shire in the south and south-west. The region has a distinctive natural beauty: the majestic Murray River winds its way through alpine terrain to the east and fertile river plains to the west.it combines the convenience of a metropolitan lifestyle with the appeal of rural living. The region is all about letting people enjoy life at their own pace, whether that be taking a stroll along the river s edge, a day trip to historic Beechworth or the wineries at Rutherglen, a hit of golf on one of the four golf courses, water activities at Lake Hume or taking advantage of the proximity of the snowfields, there is something for everyone. alburywodongaaustralia.com.au 5. Adelaide City of Churches Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia. Perth s metropolitan area is formally divided into a number of local government areas, which themselves consist of a large number of suburbs, extending from Two Rocks in the north to Rockingham in the south, and east inland to The Lakes. Perth was originally founded by Captain James Stirling in 1829 as the administrative centre of the Swan River Colony, and gained city status in 1856 (currently vested in the smaller City of Perth). Perth became known worldwide as the City of Light when city residents lit their house lights and streetlights as American astronaut John Glenn passed overhead while orbiting the earth on Friendship 7 in The city repeated the act as Glenn passed overhead on the Space Shuttle in cityofperth.wa.gov.au westernaustralia.com 7. Hobart The Colonial City 1st 4th 24th Health 1 20th Health 1 9th 17th 20th 11th 19th 10th 9th Health 2 11th Health 2 10th 30th 25th 4th 6th 9th 4th Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide is north of the Fleurieu Peninsula, on the Adelaide Plains between the Gulf St Vincent and the low-lying Mount Lofty Ranges which surround the city. Adelaide stretches 20 km (12 mi) from the coast to the foothills, and 90 km (56 mi) from Gawler at its northern extent to Sellicks Beach in the south. Named in honour of Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, queen consort to King William IV, the city was founded in 1836 as the planned capital for a freely settled British province in Australia. Early Adelaide was shaped by religious freedom and a commitment to political progressivism and civil liberties, which led to the moniker City of Churches. Adelaide is noted for its many festivals and sporting events, its food, wine and culture, its long beachfronts, and its large defence and manufacturing sectors. southaustralia.com The City of Hobart is one of the most beautiful and liveable Cities in the world. As the second oldest city in Australia the City offers a wonderful blend of built and cultural heritage; environment; a vibrant art and dynamic sporting culture and a low stress lifestyle.nestled under Mt Wellington on the Derwent River Hobart is renowned for its heritage buildings, beautiful parks, fine restaurants, the Salamanca Markets and its Festivals. It is a city rich in maritime history, and is shaped and defined by water. A diverse range of craft including Antarctic supply vessels, sailing dinghies, catamarans, kayaks, ocean racing yachts, fishing boats and square riggers ply the waters of the Derwent. Family Friendly City Report 11

12 8. Darwin The Cosmopolitan City 10. Bundaberg A city of Charm 6th 14th 5th Health 1 11th Health 1 26th 2nd 29th 5th 2nd 24th 21st Health 2 29th Health 2 2nd 11th 8th 27th 17th 11th 17th 19th Darwin is arguably Australia s most cosmopolitan city, boasting a population made up of people from more than 60 nationalities and 70 different ethnic backgrounds. The city s multicultural mix is particularly highlighted by its many exciting ethnic cultural festivals and weekly food and craft markets.darwin has evolved from its days as an incredibly laid back frontier town and while it still retains its relaxed charm, it has become a highly sophisticated city. In business and industry circles, Darwin is described as Australia s gateway with South East Asia. It s closer to the Indonesian capital of Jakarta than it is to Canberra and is about the same flying time from Singapore and Manila as it is from Sydney and Melbourne Bunbury The City of Three Waters 2nd 2nd Health 1 28th 14th 8th 7th Health 2 7th 28th 27th 24th The port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the state capital, Perth, and Mandurah. It is situated 175 kilometres (109 mi) south of Perth s central business district (CBD). The port services the farming, mining and timber industries of the south west originally connected via an extensive rail network. The city of Bunbury is renowned for its wild but friendly bottlenose dolphins which you can meet at the shoreline or out in the bay aboard a dolphin watching and swimming tour. It s also the setting of many maritime legends and the northern gateway to Australia s South West - one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, where world-class wine, pristine beaches and forests of timber giants can all be enjoyed in a single day. Bundaberg was named in 1867, the name coming from the linking of Bunda the name of an aboriginal elder and berg being a variation of an old Saxon word for town (burg). These days a more familiar version has surfaced with the name being shortened to Bundy for use in conversation. With the Great Barrier Reef just off our shores and a host of things to see and do, Bundaberg is a great place to visit. bundabergregion.org 11. Mackay The Sugar Capital 17th 16th Health 1 3rd 21st 5th 27th Health 2 10th 25th Mackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about 970 kilometres (603 mi) north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia s cane sugar.[2] Tropical, picturesque and relaxed, Mackay city offers everything you could want from a major regional centre. The blue Pioneer River flows past the city s historical buildings, and stately palm trees fringe the main street with shopping hotspots, and plenty of magical spots for a picnic by the river, or dine al fresco by the marina on our fabulous local seafood. Mackay is famous for its history as one of Australia s largest cane farming regions. However, in recent years, the mining industry has become the mainstay of the local economy. Heavy investment and planning is also going into Mackay s growing tourism industry Suncorp Bank

13 11. Burnie Australia s sleepy city 14. Melbourne Australia s cultural capital 5th 1st Health 1 22nd Health 1 18th 10th 1st 27th 29th 15th 28th Health 2 5th Health 2 28th 9th 30th 7th 3rd 16th 15th 22nd Burnie overlooks Emu Bay, on the north-west coast of Tasmania. Burnie is a proud industrial city and is Australia s fifth largest container port. Burnie was once surrounded by dense rainforest, but this slowly disappeared as fortunes were made felling and milling timber. The paper and pulp mill on the city s outskirts operated from 1938 to Burnie was first explored by Bass and Flinders and was known as Emu Bay when it was settled by the Van Diemen s Land Company in 1827.Burnie experiences temperate conditions, with an average maximum of 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) in January and 13.5 degrees Celsius (56.5 degrees Fahrenheit) in June. The city is 30 minutes drive west of Devonport or 152 kilometres (94.5 miles) north-west of Launceston. burnie.net 13. Mandurah Dynamic, Diverse and Friendly 15th 9th Health 1 19th 17th 16th 4th Health 2 8th 16th 22nd 30th Mandurah is one of the most vibrant regional cities in Western Australia. The city is also a gateway to the State s South West Region. Situated on Western Australia s beautiful coastline about 72km south of Perth, Mandurah prides itself on a mix of inner city and semi-rural living between the Indian Ocean, the expansive waterways of the Peel-Harvey Estuary and the lower reaches of the Serpentine River. Mandurah has retained its relaxed, holiday atmosphere despite recent rapid growth as a major sea change destination in Australia. One of Mandurah s greatest assets is its diverse and friendly community. Voted twice as WA s Top Tourism Town, Mandurah welcomes friends and family from around the globe to enjoy its relaxed coastal lifestyle. In fact, the name Mandurah is derived from the Aboriginal word, mandjar meaning meeting place. The entire Melbourne metropolitan area covers 7,694 sq km and has a population of around 4.1 million, it also hosts over a million international visitors each year. Melbourne has a reputation for its changeable weather. A tip for any visitor is to be prepared for anything take an umbrella and wear layers that can be worn or removed as needed. As a general rule, Melbourne enjoys a temperate climate with warm to hot summers, mild and sometimes balmy springs and autumns, and cool winters. While Melbourne has a reputation for rain, the city actually receives less rainfall than either Brisbane or Sydney. MelbourneProfile/Pages/Melbournelifestyle.aspx 14. Wagga Wagga The City of Good Sports 24th 17th Health 1 21st 8th 11th 8th Health 2 20th 20th 21st 2nd The City of Wagga Wagga is part of the Murrumbidgee Region in the heartland of the New South Wales Riverina. Wagga Wagga is also one of the seven recognised EvoCities in regional New South Wales. These are Cities which as defined as clean and green, vibrant, dynamic, innovative, professional, accessible and globally linked regional destinations that provide a certain quality of life and livability that continues to attract visitors and residents alike. Known as the City of Good Sports, many of Australia s sporting heroes hail from the regional city of Wagga Wagga, including former Australian cricket captain Mark Taylor, rugby league great Peter Sterling and AFL legend Paul Kelly. The high number of elite athletes produced by the Riverina City was the subject of a study by the Australian Institute of Sport in The research proved that the City s talent pool was more than just good luck, describing the sporting phenomenon as the Wagga Effect. Family Friendly City Report 13

14 16. Bendigo The Goldrush City 18. Newcastle The Steel City 10th 7th Health 1 18th Health 1 22nd 7th 9th 25th 22nd 14th 10th Health 2 22nd Health 2 25th 23rd 22nd 15th 23rd 9th 5th 28th The City of Greater Bendigo is situated in the geographic centre of Victoria, on traditional Jaara Country, covering 3,000 square kilometres. Bendigo has a rich and prosperous heritage dating back to the days when gold was discovered in the area in the 1850s. Since then, Bendigo has been the second highest producing goldfield in Australia and remains the seventh largest in the world. Bendigo s rich gold history has produced a city of unparalleled opulence and grandeur. Stunning architecture and manicured gardens are all symbolic of Bendigo Townsville The Gateway City 27th 3rd Health 1 29th 16th 4th 24th Health 2 16th 11th 8th 20th Townsville is the capital of North Queensland and remains one of the fastest growing cities in the state. Located about halfway between the tip of Cape York and Brisbane, Townsville stretches across 3,736km2 and is nestled on the shores of Cleveland Bay. Even from its earliest days, Townsville has been the commercial, industrial and administrative hub of North Queensland. The city s strategic location, with rail and road links the north, south and west allows the sea port to manage shipments of minerals, livestock, sugar and other cargo. Businesses are also attracted by our plentiful supply of water, power and real estate. The city is renowned for its easy going lifestyle, tropical weather, and natural surroundings, from arid landscapes to rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef. Familyfriendly entertainment and vibrant cultural experiences are on offer both day and night. In terms of lifestyle, Townsville has something for everyone! Newcastle is Australia s second oldest city, and is a region rich with unique history. The Awabakal and Worimi peoples are recognised and acknowledged as traditional custodians of the land and waters of the Newcastle area. The earliest Aboriginal reference to the naming of Newcastle is Muloobinba, meaning edible sea fern. Following European settlement, Newcastle became a penal station, a coal town, a steel city. Today, it is NSW s second largest city and the seventh largest city in Australia. Formerly known as Steel City, Newcastle has undergone a transformation in the past decade from an industrial town - home to BHP Steelworks for more than 90 years - to a buzzing, compact and highly liveable city with a vibrant culture of cafes, food and wine, surf, art, theatre, music and fashion Rockhampton The Beef capital of Australia 23rd 10th Health 1 4th 10th 23rd 23rd Health 2 12th 23rd 25th 17th Rockhampton, the Beef Capital of Australia is located on the Tropic of Capricorn and is the gateway to the Coast and the Outback. Founded in 1853, the majesty of Rockhampton s historical architecture has captured the hearts of visitors for decades. Many fine public and private buildings, including the Customs House, old Post Office, Cathedrals, banks, business houses and homes, are constant reminders of the city with an exciting background. Six bull statues representing the main breeds of the area are situated throughout Rockhampton in recognition of Rockhampton s Beef Capital of Australia title. Gracemere Saleyards, on the outskirts of Rockhampton, handle the largest throughput of export beef cattle in Queensland, and is the largest stud-selling venue in the Southern Hemisphere. Public are welcome. Experience the country in the city at the Great Western Hotel, which holds weekly rodeos at the back of the pub. rockhamptioregion.qld.gov.au 14 Suncorp Bank

15 20. Sunshine Coast City of Beaches 22. Ballarat The Resting Place 11th 21st 30th Health 1 15th Health 1 15th 22nd 7th 17th 30th 19th Health 2 6th Health 2 17th 26th 5th 24th 4th 29th 6th 3rd Although it does not have a central business district, by population the Sunshine Coast ranks as the 10th largest metropolis in Australia and the third largest in Queensland. The Sunshine Coast economy is currently dominated by three main sectors tourism, retail and construction. The region also has a strong agricultural sector. Strong efforts are being made to diversify the regional economy by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council and others with an emphasis on clean and green knowledge-based businesses across sectors such as information and communication technologies, cleantech, creative industries, aviation, education and food and beverages. Several stretches of the Sunshine Coast are lined with unbroken beaches from Sunshine Beach near Noosa to Coolum Beach; the coast from Point Arkwright to Mudjimba; the Maroochydore Mooloolaba stretch; and from Buddina past Caloundra to Pelican Waters. visitsunshinecoast.com.au 21. Wollongong The City of Five Islands 9th 25th Health 1 8th 19th 25th 26th Health 2 22nd 14th 2nd 22nd Wollongong is Australia s ninth largest city and is located 80km south of Sydney on a narrow coastal strip bordered by the Royal National Park to the north, Lake Illawarra to the south, the Tasman Sea to the east and the Illawarra Escarpment to the west. It is a city with strong manufacturing, education, technology research & development sectors. The name Wollongong originated from the Aboriginal word woolyungah meaning five islands. Archaeological evidence indicates that Aboriginals have lived here for at least 30,000 years. Wodi Wodi is the tribe name of the Aboriginal people of the Illawarra. default.aspx Ballarat is located on the Yarrowee River and lower western plains of the Great Dividing Range in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately 105 kilometres (65 mi) west-north-west of the state capital; Melbourne. Ballarat is the third most populous urban area in the state and one of Australia s most populated inland settlements. Ballarat was named by Scottish squatter Archibald Yuille who established the first settlement, his sheep run called Ballarat in 1837[7] with the name derived from local Wathaurong Aboriginal words for the area, Ballarat, thought to mean resting place. The Victorian gold rush transformed Ballarat from a small sheep station to a major settlement. Gold was discovered at Poverty Point on 18 August 1851 and news quickly spread of rich alluvial fields where gold could easily be extracted. ballarat.com 23. Sydney The Emerald city 8th 27th Health 1 12th 30th 18th 14th Health 2 5th 3rd 24th 26th Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and the most populated city in Australia. Given its location as the economic and cultural heart of Australia, the City of Sydney is highly and densely urbanised. Its land is intensively used for a variety of purposes including residential and commercial use as well as tourist and cultural attractions, and parks and open space. It is home to the highest commercial and residential densities in Australia. The Sydney Olympic Games (2000), widely regarded as the best games ever, put Sydney on the map internationally. The term Emerald City is used as a metaphor by the character Elaine Ross in David Williamson s Play Oz, describing Sydney as the Emerald City of Oz, where people go expecting their dreams to be fulfilled, only to end up with superficial substitutes and broken dreams. Subsequently Emerald City has occasionally been used as an unofficial nickname for the city of Sydney. Sydney.com.au Family Friendly City Report 15

16 24. Brisbane The River City 28th 26. Hervey Bay The Whale Watch Capital of the World 21st Health 1 18th 24th 26th Health 1 26th 20th 9th 12th 17th Health 2 27th 3rd 30th Health 2 2nd 6th 18th 19th 11th 10th Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and named after Sir Thomas Brisbane, noted astronomer and former Governor of New South Wales. Brisbane is the most populous city in Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane was chosen as the capital when Queensland was proclaimed a separate colony from New South Wales in Brisbane has hosted many large cultural and sporting events, including the1982 Commonwealth Games, World Expo 88 and the final Goodwill Games in Brisbane is the largest economy between Sydney and Singapore, and as of 2008 is classified as a Global city.[6] It was also rated the 16th most livable city in the world in 2009 by the Economist Intelligence Unit. visitbrisbane.com 25. Geelong The Cliff City 12th 19th Health 1 27th 18th 20th 3rd Health 2 27th 21st 26th 14th Geelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, 75 kilometres south-west of the state capital, Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia. Geelong was named in 1827 by Governor Richard Burke, with the name derived from the local Wathaurong Aboriginal name for the region, Jillong, thought to mean land or cliffs. Geelong was proclaimed a city in 1910, with industrial growth from this time until the 1960s establishing the city as a manufacturing centre for the state. It is known for being home to car manufacturer Ford Australia and also the Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats. geelongaustralia.com.au visitgeelongbellarine.com.au 26th Hervey Bay has often been called the jewel in Queensland s crown. It is also referred to as the Whale Watch Capital of the World. A scenic 3 ½ hours drive north of Brisbane and only 45 minutes by air from Brisbane. The city has a wonderful subtropical climate. Temperatures range from 14 to 23 degrees Centigrade in winter and 22 to 29 degrees Centigrade in summer. Rainfall is low and there are more fine days than other Queensland city Cairns Australia s tropical paradise 30th 14th Health 1 25th 15th 26th 20th Health 2 15th 9th 19th 16th Nestled on the coast of Far North Queensland, Cairns is tucked between the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea and the lush rolling downs of the Atherton Tableland to the west. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was discovered from Port Douglas. It later developed into a railhead and major port for exporting sugar cane, gold and other metals, minerals and agricultural products from surrounding coastal areas and the Atherton Tableland region. Cairns is known for its tourism is attractions like the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforest Suncorp Bank

17 28. Gold Coast Australia s Golden City 26th 23rd Health 1 14th 24th 18th Health 2 18th 6th 30th 29th Famous for its sun, surf and sand, Gold Coast City stretches along 57 kilometres of coastline. The Gold Coast is known for its beautiful beaches and vast rainforest hinterland. It is the sixth largest city in Australia and one of the fastest growing regions in the country. Covering an area of 1400 square kilometres, the city s boundaries extend from just south of Beenleigh to Coolangatta, taking in South Stradbroke Island and part of Moreton Bay and extending west to the hinterland of Mount Tamborine and the Lamington and Darlington Ranges La Trobe Valley Mountains, Lakes and Beaches 30. Coffs Harbour Home of the Big Banana 20th 29th Health 1 30th 28th 25th Health 2 19th 18th 20th 12th Coffs Harbour is a coastal city located on the north coast of New South Wales about 540 km north of Sydney, and 390 km south of Brisbane. Popular with people wanting to relocate from big cities to small towns on the coast or in rural areas, Coffs Harbour continues to grow at an exceptional rate. According to the CSIRO, Coffs Harbour has the most liveable climate in Australia, and it is nestled between a high mountain backdrop and dozens of unspoiled beaches. Coffs Harbour s economy is based mainly on farming (of bananas), tourism, and manufacturing. visitcoffsharbour.com coffscoast.com.au coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au 25th 28th Health 1 23rd 2nd 21st 16th Health 2 24th 26th 28th 9th The Latrobe Valley is an inland geographical region and urban area inside Gippsland in the state of Victoria. It is east of the City Of Melbourne and nestled between the Strzelecki Ranges to the south and the Great Dividing Range (Baw Baw Ranges) to the north with the highest peak to the north of the Latrobe Valley approximately due north of Moe being Mount Baw Baw. The area has four major centres (from west to east) Warragul, Moe, Morwell and Traralgon, with minor centres including Churchill, Drouin & Trafalgar. The city of Moe is the most central city to the Latrobe Valley. Latrobe City boasts all of the recreational and cultural facilities of a large diverse regional centre with the added benefit of being nestled amongst some of the best tourist attractions in the state. Latrobe.vis.gov.au Family Friendly City Report 17