Social capital
Participation in the local community
Between 2002 and 2006, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who attended a community event at least once in the last 6 months (48.7 per cent to 53.2 per cent). The significant increase was among persons in the fourth quintile of disadvantage (50.5 per cent to 56.7 per cent), and among persons in the rural health areas (51.9 per cent to 59.0 per cent).
Between 2002 and 2006, there has been no significant change in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who helped out at a local group or organisation at least once in the last 3 months. However, there has been a significant decrease among persons in the second quintile of disadvantage (38.5 per cent to 29.2 per cent)
Between 2002 and 2006, there has been no significant change in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who were active members of a local organisation or church or club. However, there has been a significant decrease was among persons in the fourth quintile of disadvantage (61.3 per cent to 53.7 per cent), and among persons in the rural health areas (61.4 per cent to 55.9 per cent).
Trust and safety
Between 2002 and 2007, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who felt most people can be trusted (69.8 per cent to 74.9 per cent). The significant increase was among females (69.0 per cent to 75.9 per cent), among persons in the fourth quintile of disadvantage (69.7 per cent to 76.5 per cent), and among persons in the urban health areas (66.8 per cent to 73.9 per cent).
Between 2002 and 2007, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who felt safe walking down their street after dark (47.0 per cent to 55.1 per cent). The significant increase was among males (63.7 per cent to 71.9 per cent) and females (32.4 per cent to 41.3 per cent), among persons in the third quintile (45.2 per cent to 52.9 per cent) and fourth quintile (43.5 per cent to 55.0 per cent) of disadvantage, and among persons in the urban and rural health areas.
Between 2002 and 2007, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who said their area had a reputation for being safe (74.8 per cent to 81.2 per cent). The significant increase was among males (76.4 per cent to 82.5 per cent) and females (73.3 per cent to 80.2 per cent), and among among persons in the third quintile (76.3 per cent to 82.9 per cent) and fourth quintile (74.8 per cent to 81.5 per cent) of disadvantage, and among persons in the urban and rural health areas.
Reciprocity and neighbourhood connectedness
Between 2002 and 2007, there has been no significant change in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who visited neighbours in the last week. However, there has been a significant decrease among persons in the rural health areas (73.1 per cent to 68.7 per cent).
Between 2002 and 2007, there has been no significant change in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who ran into friends and acquaintances while shopping locally.
Between 2002 and 2007, there has been no significant change in the proportion of persons aged 65 years and over who would feel sad if they had to leave their neighbourhood.
Graphs
- Attended a community event at least once in the last 6 months by socioeconomic disadvantage
- Attended a community event at least once in the last 6 months by region
- Helped out any local group or organisation at least once in the last 3 months by socioeconomic disadvantage
- Helped out any local group or organisation at least once in the last 3 months by region
- Active member of a local organisation, church or club by socioeconomic disadvantage
- Active member of a local organisation, church or club by region
- Most people can be trusted by socioeconomic disadvantage
- Most people can be trusted by region
- Feel safe walking down their street after dark by socioeconomic disadvantage
- Feel safe walking down their street after dark by region
- Area has a reputation for being a safe place by socioeconomic disadvantage
- Area has a reputation for being a safe place by region
- Visit neighbours by socioeconomic disadvantage
- Visit neighbours by region
- Run into friends and acquaintances when shopping in local area by socioeconomic disadvantage
- Run into friends and acquaintances when shopping in local area by region
- Sad to leave neighbourhood by socioeconomic disadvantage
- Sad to leave neighbourhood by region
| Source: | New South Wales Population Health Survey 2007 (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health. |
| Print version: | Although this page can be printed directly from your web browser, a higher quality version is available as a PDF file that can be printed or viewed on screen. |
| Produced by: | Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health. |
| Last updated on: | 1 July 2008 |