‘Wealth determines health’: young median age in Indigenous areas reflects lower life expectancy

Experts say Australian census data linking income level and health outcomes is unsurprising and focus is now on how to change it

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The median age in Queenscliffe, a small, wealthy seaside region in Victoria, is 62 - almost three times higher than in Cherbourg, the Aboriginal community in south-east Queensland, where the median age is just 23.

Cherbourg was Australia's most disadvantaged local government area the last time the Australian Bureau of Statistics calculated it in 2016. Queenscliffe was one of the most advantaged, and holds the honour of being the first local government area in Australia to reach the national Covid vaccination target.