The North Central
catchment represents a complex variety of urban and spatial
characteristics - including a major provincial city, several
significant towns, smaller towns and relatively remote rural
farming communities. Its six individual local government areas
(LGA's) are also characterised by significant local
diversity.
North Central
catchment - Local Government Areas
By any standard, the
North Central catchment displays a complex array of spatial,
population/ settlement, demographic and socio-economic factors - as
summarised in the December 2007 strategic assessment discussion
paper for this project.
Compared to local
government systems in other Australian states, the six local
government units in the catchment are quite large and diverse.
Prior to Victorian local government restructuring in 1994/95 these
areas were represented by 27 former local authorities each
reflecting distinctive local “communities of
interest”.
th) and
Mount Alexander (10th) - as well as the seventh least
disadvantaged (Macedon Ranges) LGA's.
Settlement patterns
also vary widely. 97,000 (45%) of the catchment's estimated 215,000
residents reside in Greater Bendigo. Of the 18 catchment towns with
populations greater than 1,000 persons, eight are located within
Macedon Ranges Shire. At the other extreme Loddon Shire has no
towns with populations in excess of 800 persons.
The scope and scale
of the catchment's geographic area also poses significant service
challenges - encompassing both Melbourne satellite commuter
communities and others adjoining the New South Wales border. For
example, Family Services based in Echuca are experiencing growing
service demands from its NSW neighbour town of Moama (which has
4,600 residents and high levels of socioeconomic
disadvantage).
Conversely, in 1996
an estimated 5,600 Macedon Shire residents commuted daily to
Melbourne for work - and the current figure would be significantly
higher.
North Central:
area, population growth, relative disadvantage
DSE Projections
(2004) and ABS IRSED
Index
|
LGA
|
Area (Sq
km)
|
Density
(per km2)
|
Pop
2006
(Est.)
|
Pop
2021
(Est.)
|
Pop Change
(%)
|
IRSED
Index
|
Rank
(Vic)
|
|
Campaspe
(S)
|
4,519
|
8.0
|
37,901
|
42,230
|
11.4
|
1002.1
|
33
|
|
Central Goldfields
(S)
|
1,534
|
8.5
|
13,153
|
13,287
|
1.0
|
947.5
|
4
|
|
Greater Bendigo
(C)
|
2,999
|
30.2
|
96,997
|
116,182
|
19.8
|
990.4
|
20
|
|
Loddon (S)
|
6,694
|
1.3
|
8,444
|
8,018
|
-5.0
|
996.4
|
30
|
|
Macedon Ranges
(S)
|
1,747
|
21.6
|
41,022
|
51,653
|
25.9
|
1,061.8
|
71
|
|
Mount Alexander
(S)
|
1,529
|
11.2
|
17,576
|
18,792
|
6.9
|
978.0
|
10
|
|
Total
|
19,022
|
11.3
|
215,093
|
250,162
|
16.3
|
|
|
|
Victoria
|
219,366
|
6.1
|
1,395,947
|
1,574,404
|
12.8
|
|
|
The preceding table
outlines some broad area, demographic and socio-economic
comparisons between the six LGA's. The data highlights
significant variations between LGA's in area, population density,
growth factors and levels of socio- economic disadvantage -
highlighting the need for differential approaches to local service
planning and delivery, for example:
-
Greater Bendigo (C) and Macedon Ranges
(S) have relatively high population densities - respectively 30.2
and 21.6 persons per sq. km. Conversely, Loddon (S) is very
sparsely populated with only 1.3 persons per sq. km.
-
Greater Bendigo (C) with almost 97,000
people has the largest population - representing 45.1% of the
catchment total.
-
Populations of the 5 Shires in rank
order are: Macedon Ranges - 41,022 (19.1% of catchment total);
Campaspe 37,901 (17.6%); Mount Alexander - 17,576 (8.2%); Central
Goldfields - 13,153 (6.1%); and Loddon - 8,444 (3.9%).
-
Macedon Ranges (25.9%) and Greater
Bendigo (19.8%) project significant population increases over the
next 15 years - with projected growth rates higher than the
Victorian average of 12.8%. Campaspe's projected population growth
(11.4%) is comparable to the state-wide average. Central
Goldfield's population (1.0% growth) will remain virtually static,
while Loddon's population is projected to decline by approximately
5%
-
Based on the ABS IRSED index, the six
LGA's are characterised by significant variations in levels of
socio-economic disadvantage based on indices and comparative
rankings for Victoria's 78 LGA's. Central Goldfields
(4th) and Mount Alexander (10th) rank in the
State's 10 most disadvantaged LGA's. Conversely Macedon Ranges
(71st) ranks in the top 7 least disadvantaged
LGA's.
Population -
settlement, distance and sparsity factors
The map on the
following page shows significant towns (population 1,000 plus).
Township data outlined in the December 2007 project discussion
paper highlights the need for differentiated strategic approaches
to develop appropriate Family Services delivery models to
accommodate the catchment's highly diverse local settlement
patterns, for example:
-
Campaspe (S) - The Shire has a
significant provincial centre in Echuca (population approx. 11,000)
and a number of significant and relatively dispersed larger towns:
Kyabram (5,534); Rochester (2,624); Tongala (1,179); and Rushworth
(1,000).
-
Central Goldfields (S) -
Maryborough (7,500) is the major population centre with no other
towns greater than 1,000 people.
-
Greater Bendigo (C) - The LGA's
population is largely based in urban areas in the City of Bendigo.
Heathcote (1,555) is the only other significant town.
-
Loddon (S) - There were
no towns with populations greater than 1,000 people. There
are five widely dispersed towns with populations ranging from 400
to 800 people: Boort (756); Inglewood (695); Wedderburn (656);
Pyramid Hill (498); Bridgewater (403).
-
Macedon Ranges (S) - Has
multiple population centres - with 8 towns with estimated
populations exceeding 1,000 people. The largest towns are Gisborne
(5,290), Kyneton (4,120) and Woodend (3,017).
-
Mount Alexander (S) -
Castlemaine (8,300) is the largest population centre with Maldon as
a significant secondary township (1,230). Four other towns range in
population from 170 to 530 people.
Aboriginal
population
North Central
Catchment (ABS Census data 2006)
Estimated
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population
|
LGA
|
Aboriginal
population
|
Total
population
|
%
|
|
Campaspe (S)
|
658
|
36,208
|
1.8
|
|
Central Goldfields (S)
|
111
|
13,324
|
0.9
|
|
Greater Bendigo (C)
|
1,021
|
93,251
|
1.1
|
|
Loddon (S)
|
81
|
7,837
|
1.0
|
|
Macedon Ranges (S)
|
172
|
38,359
|
0.4
|
|
Mount Alexander (S)
|
129
|
17,067
|
0.8
|
|
Total
|
2,172
|
206,046
|
1.1
|
Almost 2,200
Indigenous persons live in North Central approximately 1.1% of the
total catchment population (almost double the Victorian average of
0.6%). The largest numbers of Aboriginal persons live in Greater
Bendigo (1,021) while Campaspe Shire has the largest proportion
(1.8%). Macedon Ranges (S) (0.4%) is the only LGA in the catchment
with Aboriginal population numbers proportionally lower than for
Victoria as a whole.
Bendigo and District
Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC) and Njernda Aboriginal Corporation
report that their agency client records suggest actual numbers of
Aboriginal residents may be significantly higher than Census counts
due to systemic under reporting. These agencies project the actual
catchment Aboriginal population may exceed Census estimates by 60%
or higher.
Child Protection
notifications/ re-notifications
Legislation for
mandatory reporting of sexual and physical abuse of children was
introduced in Victoria in 1993/94. In 2006/07 a total of 38,675
notifications of child abuse and neglect were made to the Victorian
Department of Human Services. Of these, 10,537 required further
direct investigation, and 6,826 were found to be substantiated. Of
these substantiated cases the major categories of abuse across
Victoria were:
|
Category
|
%
|
|
Physical abuse
|
34.5
|
|
Sexual abuse
|
7.1
|
|
Emotional abuse
|
42.3
|
|
Neglect
|
15.9
|
|
Total
|
100.0
|
These figures are
indicative of the heavy workload involved in managing the state's
Child Protection system - while the significant gap between child
abuse notifications and substantiations provides compelling
evidence of the need to develop effective alternative referral
pathways (other than mandatory reporting) to services for
individuals and families "at risk".
The success of
recent Victorian Government reforms to develop alternative referral
and service pathways for vulnerable individuals and families is
highlighted in national child protection data. The Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare's latest annual survey report,
Child protection Australia 2006-07, shows that in contrast
to other jurisdictions, numbers of child protection notifications
in Victoria over the eight-year period 1999/00 - 2006/07 have
increased by approximately 5%. Increases in notifications in other
larger states over the same period have been: NSW (over 500%) with
189,928 notifications in 2006/07; WA (190%); Queensland (almost
50%); and South Australia (21%).
Based on recent
Child Protection Service data, there were an estimated 2,093
notifications in the North Central catchment in 2006 (see following
table):
-
Greater Bendigo accounted for 1,034
notifications - almost half the catchment total.
-
Greater Bendigo and Central
Goldfields, i.e. the two LGA's currently served by Family Support
Innovations Projects recorded 1,233 notifications - approximately
59% of the catchment total.
-
Campaspe had the second highest
notifications total - 381 or 18.2% of the catchment figure. The
lowest total was Loddon with 118 notifications or 5.6%.
-
The average total notification rate
across all 6 LGA's was approximately 40.3 notifications per
thousand children/ young persons aged 0-17 years.
-
Notification rates for Central
Goldfields (72.1 notifications per 1,000) and Loddon (65.0)
significantly exceeded the catchment average. The notification rate
for Macedon Ranges (19.6) was less than half the catchment
average.
Child
Protection notifications 2006*
North Central
Catchment
|
LGA
|
Total Notifs
|
% Catchment
|
Pop'n 0- 17
years
|
Notifs per '000
|
|
Campaspe (S)
|
381
|
18.2
|
9,382
|
40.6
|
|
Central Goldfields (S) '06
|
199
|
9.5
|
2,762
|
72.1
|
|
Gr. Bendigo (C) '06
|
1,034
|
49.4
|
23,264
|
44.4
|
|
Loddon (S)
|
118
|
5.6
|
1,817
|
65.0
|
|
Macedon Ranges (S)
|
211
|
10.1
|
10,773
|
19.6
|
|
Mount Alexander (S)
|
150
|
7.2
|
3,907
|
38.4
|
|
Totals
|
2,093
|
100.0
|
51,905
|
40.3
|
*
Note: Data derived from Child Protection Service annual
returns as follows: 2006 (Calendar Year) - Central Goldfields (S),
Greater Bendigo (C) and 2005/06 (Financial Year - Campaspe (S),
Loddon (S), Macedon Ranges (S), Mount Alexander
(S)
Notifications and
re-notifications
The following table
shows patterns of first-time notifications and re-notifications
based on 2006 data. Re- notification rates across the catchment are
comparatively high, i.e. 66% or almost two thirds of total
notifications. In 2006, 720 out of a total 1,373 notifications were
for children previously notified to DHS. The highest re-
notification rates were recorded for Central Goldfields (70.4%) -
and the lowest for Mount Alexander (59.3%).
Child
Protection notifications/ re-notifications 2006
North Central
Catchment
|
LGA
|
1stnotifs
|
Re- notifs
|
Total
|
Re- notifs %
|
|
Campaspe (S)
|
148
|
233
|
381
|
61.2
|
|
Central Goldfields (S) '06
|
59
|
140
|
199
|
70.4
|
|
Gr. Bendigo (C) '06
|
335
|
699
|
1,034
|
67.6
|
|
Loddon (S)
|
42
|
76
|
118
|
64.4
|
|
Macedon Ranges (S)
|
75
|
136
|
211
|
64.5
|
|
Mount Alexander (S)
|
61
|
89
|
150
|
59.3
|
|
Totals
|
720
|
1,373
|
2,093
|
65.6
|
The major categories
of abuse listed in catchment notifications over this period were:
neglect (34.1%); emotional (29.4%); physical (24.1%); and sexual
(12.4%) abuse.
Recent data shows a
catchment trend of increasing demand for child protection services
in 2007.
Child Protection
Services' Bendigo sub-regional office (which serves the six LGA's
across the catchment) has received 2,038 notifications in the first
10 months of the current calendar year - compared to an estimated
2,096 notifications annually for 2006. The following table provides
details of actions taken by DHS Child Protection Services following
initial screening in the first ten months of
2007.
Child
Protection notifications/ investigations January - October
2007
Bendigo
Sub-Regional Office
|
Action
|
Catchment
|
%
|
|
Total notifications recorded
|
2,038
|
100.0
|
|
No further action
(including referrals to other services/ Family Services
providers)
|
1,560
|
76.5
|
|
Investigations
|
478
|
23.5
|
Aboriginal
children and families
While updated
catchment figures are not currently available, national and state-
wide trends highlight that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
children are more likely to be the subject of child protection
notifications and substantiations than other children.
In Victoria
Indigenous children are 10 times more likely than other children to
be the subject of child protection substantiations. In 2005/06,
Indigenous children accounted for 834 (11.4%) of 7,287 child
protection substantiations for all Victorian children aged 0-16
years. The rate of substantiations in 2005/06 for Indigenous
children was 67.7 per thousand - compared to 6.0 per thousand for
non-Indigenous children.
The report
bringing them home (National inquiry into the separation of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their
families) (2007) noted that some of the underlying causes of
the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in State/ Territory
child welfare and child protection systems included:
-
The legacy of past policies of the
forced removal of Aboriginal children from their
families;
-
Intergenerational effects of previous
separations from family and culture;
-
Poor socioeconomic status - including
low income and barriers to employment;
-
Cultural differences in child rearing
practices.
