Social capital
Social capital is the raw material of civil society created from the interactions between people. It is not located within the person but the space between people. It is not the property of the organisation, market, or state, but all these can engage in its production. It originates with people forming social connections and networks based on trust, mutual reciprocity, and norms of action. It is referred to as capital because that term invests it with the same status as other forms of capital: financial, physical, and human. The term capital is also appropriate because it can be measured and quantified in a way that distributes its benefits and avoids its losses.[1-3]
In 2006-2009, over 5 in 10 Aboriginal adults (57.1 per cent) felt most people can be trusted. There was no significant difference between males and females. Among males, there was no significant difference among age groups. Among females, a significantly higher proportion of those aged 65 years and over (71.7 per cent) felt most people can be trusted, compared with the overall Aboriginal adult female population.
There was no significant difference between urban and rural health areas, or among area health services.
Since 2002-2005 there has been no significant change in the proportion of Aboriginal adults who felt most people can be trusted.
Felt safe walking down their street after dark
In 2006-2009, just under 7 in 10 Aboriginal adults (69.5 per cent) felt safe walking down their street after dark. A significantly higher proportion of males (82.0 per cent) than females (59.1 per cent) felt safe walking down their street after dark. Among males, a significantly higher proportion of those aged 35-44 years (92.6 per cent) felt safe walking down their street after dark, compared with the overall Aboriginal adult male population. Among females, a significantly higher proportion of those aged 45-54 years (73.9 per cent), and a significantly lower proportion of those aged 65 years and over (36.7 per cent), felt safe walking down their street after dark, compared with the overall Aboriginal adult female population.
There was no significant difference between urban and rural health areas. A significantly higher proportion of adults in the South Eastern Sydney & Illawarra Area Health Service (86.2 per cent) felt safe walking down their street after dark, compared with the overall Aboriginal adult population.
Since 2002-2005, there has been no significant change in the proportion of Aboriginal adults who felt safe walking down their street after dark.
Area has a reputation for being safe
In 2006-2009, just under 7 in 10 Aboriginal adults (66.7 per cent) said their area had a reputation for being safe. There was no significant difference between males and females. Among males, there was no significant difference among age groups. Among females, a significantly higher proportion of those aged 55-64 years (80.2 per cent) said their area had a reputation for being safe, compared with the overall Aboriginal adult female population.
There was no significant difference between urban and rural health areas. A significantly higher proportion of adults in the Northern Sydney & Central Coast Area Health Service (85.2 per cent) said their area had a reputation for being safe, compared with the overall Aboriginal adult population.
Since 2002-2005, there has been no significant change in the proportion of Aboriginal adults who said their area had a reputation for being safe.
Visited neighbours in the last week
In 2006-2009, 7 in 10 Aboriginal adults (70.0 per cent) visited neighbours in the last week. There was no significant difference between males and females. Among males, there was no significant difference among age groups. Among females, there was no significant difference among age groups.
There was no significant difference between urban and rural health areas or among area health services.
Since 2002-2005, there has been no significant change in the proportion of Aboriginal adults who visited neighbours in the last week.
Ran into friends and acquaintances when shopping in local area
In 2006-2009, just under 9 in 10 Aboriginal adults (88.4 per cent) ran into friends and acquaintances when shopping in local area. There was no significant difference between males and females. Among males, a significantly higher proportion of those aged 55-64 years (approximately 100.0 per cent) ran into friends and acquaintances when shopping in local area, compared with the overall Aboriginal adult male population. Among females, a significantly higher proportion of those aged 16-24 years (95.2 per cent) ran into friends and acquaintances when shopping in local area, compared with the overall Aboriginal adult female population.
A significantly lower proportion of adults in urban health areas (83.6 per cent) than rural health areas (91.6 per cent) ran into friends and acquaintances when shopping in local area. A significantly higher proportion of adults in the Greater Southern Area Health Service (95.5 per cent) ran into friends and acquaintances when shopping in local area, compared with the overall Aboriginal adult population.
Since 2002-2005, there has been no significant change in the proportion of Aboriginal adults who ran into friends and acquaintances when shopping in local area.
Would feel sad to leave their neighbourhood
In 2006-2009, under 7 in 10 Aboriginal adults (65.8 per cent) would feel sad to leave their neighbourhood. There was no significant difference between males and females. Among males, a significantly higher proportion of those aged 65 years and over (84.6 per cent) would feel sad to leave their neighbourhood, compared with the overall Aboriginal adult male population. Among females, a significantly higher proportion of those aged 45-54 years (80.1 per cent) and 65 years and over (78.3 per cent) would feel sad to leave their neighbourhood, compared with the overall Aboriginal adult female population.
There was no significant difference between urban and rural health areas, or among area health services.
Since 2002-2005, there has been no significant change in the proportion of Aboriginal adults who would feel sad to leave their neighbourhood.
- Management Alternatives Pty Ltd. What is social capital? Available online at www.mapl.com.au/A2.htm (accessed 24 May 2010).
- World Bank Social Capital Website. Measuring Social capital. Available online at http://web.worldbank.org (accessed 24 May 2010).
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. Social Capital. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008. Available online at www.abs.gov.au (accessed 24 May 2010).
Graphs
- Most people can be trusted by age
- Most people can be trusted by area health service
- Most people can be trusted by year
- Feels safe walking down their street after dark by age
- Feels safe walking down their street after dark by area health service
- Feels safe walking down their street after dark by year
- Area has a reputation for being a safe place by age
- Area has a reputation for being a safe place by area health service
- Area has a reputation for being a safe place by year
- Visited neighbours in the last week by age
- Visited neighbours in the last week by area health service
- Visited neighbours in the last week by year
- Ran into friends and acquaintances when shopping in local area by age
- Ran into friends and acquaintances when shopping in local area by area health service
- Ran into friends and acquaintances when shopping in local area by year
- Would feel sad to leave their neighbourhood by age
- Would feel sad to leave their neighbourhood by area health service
- Would feel sad to leave their neighbourhood by year
| Source: | New South Wales Population Health Survey 2006-2009 (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 August 2010 |