Residents of Canberra's most disadvantaged suburbs have low education and income levels, higher rates of disability and are more reliant on government rental assistance, a new report has shown.
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Suburbs including Fyshwick, Dunlop, Florey, Oaks Estate, Bonython, Chisholm, Hume and Flynn have been identified as having the greatest levels of disadvantage by the latest Dropping Off the Edge report.
After recording high disadvantage in 2007, suburbs including Kingston, Forrest, Griffith and Narrabundah are off the most disadvantaged list in 2015.
Produced by Catholic Social Services and Jesuit Social Services, the report showed five areas identified as having significant disadvantage in 2007 remain the worst off in 2015, including Fyshwick, Pialligo, Symonston, Oaks Estate, Majura, Tuggeranong and Hume.
Ainslie, Dickson and Downer dropped to the second most disadvantaged category in 2015 after topping the 2007 list.
The report considered 21 indicators of disadvantage including internet access, wages, literacy and numeracy, long-term unemployment, unskilled work and criminal records.
In the ACT, 63 per cent of disadvantaged areas had high levels of rental stress as well as limited work qualifications. Residents faced long-term unemployment challenges, low combined family income and limited access to the internet.
Just two postcodes, representing 7.7 per cent of the population, account for a quarter of the most disadvantaged areas. A total of five postcodes, or 19 per cent of localities, account for 49 per cent of the most disadvantaged ranks.
The report finds disadvantage is concentrated in a small number of ACT communities.
Disadvantaged areas experience "a complex web of disadvantage and bear a disproportionately high level of disadvantage", the report said.
After 28 years running a small business, Danny's Bakery owner Anne Collins said she was not surprised rates of disadvantage had reduced in Narrabundah.
She said the suburb demographics had changed rapidly, with fewer families and more single people and couples.
"There are a lot of pensioners in this area so that might explain the disadvantage," she said.
"The younger people seem to shop near their offices, rather than the local shops here. A lot of local businesses are doing it tough.
"People who have the houses are well off. Lots of people are selling for $700,000 or $800,000 and the houses get pulled down. Everyone I know seems to quite well off unless they are on the pension."
Australian Council of Social Service chief executive Cassandra Goldie called on state and territories leaders and the federal government to better address disadvantage.
"The evidence is mounting, across a range of independent sources, that current policies are simply not working for communities experiencing structural disadvantage," Dr Goldie said.
"These communities are dealing with multiple, complex barriers to individual wellbeing and community participation.
"A recurring feature is high unemployment which was found to be a significant issue in 23 out of 37 most disadvantaged communities around the country. Particularly concerning is the high level of youth disengagement in work or study, as well as low education and training levels."
