Canberra dominates new Australian Resilience Index on community strength
Canberra communities rank first and second nationally for social resilience, led by high volunteering and community belonging.
A new Australian Resilience Index, built from more than 2 million data points across 2,500 communities, ranks how well areas cope with shocks like interest rate rises, bushfires and economic downturns.
Canberra dominates on social resilience. Aranda and Forrest rank first and second nationally for social resilience.
The top 20 communities include 12 from Canberra. The strength comes from social measures: how connected people feel and how much they participate in community.
Canberra ranks mid-pack on environmental resilience and does not lead on financial resilience (Red Hill is Canberra's first top-30 entry). But on social measures, community groups, volunteering, crime rates, sense of belonging, Canberra pulls ahead.
Survey data shows Canberrans feel at home and part of their communities. The index also finds a clear link: communities with low resilience are drifting toward One Nation, particularly middle-aged women.
- 2 million
- Data points in index
- 2,500
- Communities measured
- 12 communities
- Canberra in top 20
- 36th
- Red Hill financial resilience rank
Why it mattersThe index identifies which Australians and communities lack resilience and what type of help they need most. It shows how social connection protects people against multiple crises.
AustraliaFor Australians outside Canberra, the index reveals where communities are most vulnerable to shocks and where government support matters most. It flags a troubling link between low resilience and political extremism.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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