Muslim percentage of population by suburb
(2006 Census: Australian Bureau of Statistics)
Target Youth Demographic
The following pie chart illustrates the age group percentages within the Muslim community.
(2006 Census: Australian Bureau of Statistics)
The breakdown of the statistical data shown below reveals that almost 50% of the Muslim population in Victoria is under the age of 25. This fact indicates that Muslim youth as a proportion of total population are comparatively higher in number than other ethno-specific/cultural youth profiles. At present, there is not a commensurate level of appropriate services in the region to cater for the number of youth in crisis or in general. Adolescents from both genders, as well as men and women, are lacking in spiritual and cultural guidance and many have tragically become statistics of the judicial/criminal system due to the lack of early intervention. The new Multicultural Youth Centre will cater for youth of all CALD backgrounds and will offer a range of co-located welfare (including life coaching), education, training and sporting services not available in the region.
Social Demographics of the Hume Area
How does Hume fair on the SIEFA index of disadvantage?The Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage is derived from attributes such as low income, low educational attainment, high unemployment, jobs in relatively unskilled occupations, and variables that reflect disadvantage rather than measure specific aspects of disadvantage (e.g. Indigenous and Separated/Divorced). The state-wide average on the SEIFA index of disadvantage stands at 1025.1 points, with Hume being ranked 4th lowest of the 31 areas at 965.2 points. This means that only 3 other areas in Melbourne are worse off than Hume - Maribyrnong, Brimbank and Greater Dandenong.
(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2006.)
Crime Rates in Hume
According to Victoria Police statistics, the crime rate in the Hume area is higher than the Victorian state average. The crime rate across the state as a whole in the 2008/2009 period was 7,087 per 100,000 population. However, in the Hume area, the crime rate was 7,419 per 100,000 population. Hume suffers from a high crime rate in which its youth are often the perpetrators, especially in assaults and burglaries where they are most represented.
Muslims in Victoria's prisons
Muslim inmates numbered 248 (11 Nov 2008) or 6% of the prison population, compared to 2% of the Victorian population. Approximately 5-10% of Muslim prisoners do not self identify as 'Muslim' due to fear of backlash or their religious status being incorrectly recorded.
(ICV Services and Needs Audit of the Victorian Muslim Community (2003))
Unemployment in Hume
The rate of unemployment in the Hume area is higher than that of the average in the City of Melbourne, standing at 7.1% of the total population, as compared to a rate of 5.4% of the total population across Melbourne. Hume has one of the lowest rates of employment which contribute greatly to the area's poor standings in the SEIFA index of disadvantage.
(Source: Hume City Council website)
Conclusion
Hume is one of the most disadvantaged areas in Melbourne. It has a high crime rate and a young population that is in need of education and guidance. MyCentre's location is ideally placed to become involved in targeting the youth towards gaining beneficial education and support they may not be currently receiving. The centre will be able to focus on the youth demographic due to the existing relationships that IISNA has with both the Muslim as well as the wider community.A great opportunity exists in holding training courses at MyCentre in cooperation with existing organisations. MyCentre will aim to work with such organisations to address the social problems plaguing the youth in the Hume area and aim towards educating, guiding and supporting all in the community.
