By Dewi Cooke
THE distance between Broadmeadows and the Docklands has never seemed greater.
Research by Queensland's Griffith University has painted a picture of two suburbs that are worlds apart — one where a decline in industry and prosperity has seen an increase in social disadvantage, and another where development has transformed it from an industrial wasteland to a heartland for the city's wealthy.
The findings are part of Griffith's new "deprivation index", which takes into account a suburb's employment levels, income, ethnic diversity, family composition, public housing demand and education to rank its level of "deprivation".
The research found Sydney is Australia's most economically and socially polarised city, with both the highest indicator of deprivation (Claymore) and lowest (Milsons Point). But the country's most liveable city, Melbourne, is no shining example of equality itself.
The suburb of Dallas ranks highest on the deprivation index, and is placed in the same "band" as 22 other suburbs, including Broadmeadows, Braybrook, Campbellfield, Sunshine and St Albans.
Carlton is the only inner suburb also in this top band, most likely due to the number of students.
The least deprived suburbs are Burnley, Docklands, East Melbourne and St Kilda West.
Employment rates were a linking factor in determining deprivation, Associate Professor Scott Baum said.
"One of the key drivers of the most deprived places is a lack of sustainable connection to the labour market. Although the national unemployment rate is 4%, or whatever it is, when you start looking at some of these places some, of them have unemployment rates up around 20%. There's real issues about being able to access jobs."
Dr Baum referred to unemployment as one of the social "scars" in a neighbourhood, and said such scars tended to be entrenched, and passed down through the generations.
Suburbs with deep "scarring" were also often geographically grouped together, as seen in the areas around Sunshine, Fawkner and Campbellfield.
He called for "fresh ideas" in dealing with the inequality of such areas, such as governments providing local jobs, or flexible public housing arrangements that helped encourage a broader social mix in neighbourhoods.
"We need to realise that Australia is far too prosperous to continue failing its most deprived citizens, and that real and sustainable action is required," Dr Baum said.