SWAN HILL is one of the most disadvantaged towns in Victoria, according to new data from a Dropping Off The Edge study.
Out of 667 localities, Swan Hill ranks ninth worst for domestic violence, 27th for juvenile convictions, 33rd for prison admissions, 47th for child maltreatment, and 63rd for criminal convictions.
Overall, it ranks in the bottom 28 percent.
Mayor Michael Adamson said that local police have made domestic violence a major focus, and that this may attribute to the ranking.
“I certainly know the regional policing of domestic violence has been a matter of considerable concern and the community safety [bodies] have addressed those issues,” he said.
“When we come across statistics like this, it’s certainly something that we, as a council, look at to see what we can do to support the community to make this a great liveable place.”
The study also shows that issues directly related to socio-economic status feed off one another, linking the disadvantages in a vicious cycle.
Both Nyah and Robinvale fall into Band 4 (out of 6) — Nyah has risen from Band 1 (the worst) in the last 10 years, and Robinvale has maintained the same ranking.
This places them in the top five percent of the most disadvantaged, factoring in population.
However, in some positive news for the region the study shows literacy and numeracy rates among children are in the top third of the state.
The full data from the study can be found at dote.org.au
For more on this and other stories, grab a copy of Friday’s Guardian (July 24).
