Region · Queensland
Cairns & Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland combines tropical urban centres with remote Indigenous communities. The wellbeing gap between Cairns city students and remote Cape York communities is among the largest in Australia.
190,000
Estimated population
~150 schools
Approximate schools
Critical
attendance crisis in remote Cape York communities
Highest
national percentile for youth self-harm (AIHW)
Limited
specialist youth mental health in FNQ
Priority Wellbeing Issues
Attendance Crisis
CriticalRemote Cape York < 50%
Some remote Cape York communities record school attendance below 50%. This denies children access to the social and educational foundation they need for mental health and life outcomes.
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Indigenous Youth Self-Harm
CriticalAIHW: highest percentile
AIHW Youth Self-Harm Atlas data places FNQ Indigenous communities in the highest national percentile bands. Suicide rates among young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males are a crisis-level concern.
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Domestic Violence Impact
ElevatedABS data: FNQ elevated
Children in FNQ communities experience elevated exposure to domestic and family violence, a direct risk factor for PTSD, self-harm, and school disengagement.
schoolSchool Profile Data · ACARA 2025
Schools in Cairns & Far North Queensland
School Profile Data · ACARA 2025
schoolSchools
44
in this area
groupsStudents
34,405
total enrolments
equalizerAvg ICSEA
965
35 points below national average
domainBy Sector
Government
55%(24)
Catholic
32%(14)
Independent
14%(6)
diversity_3Equity Indicators
bar_chart
32.7%Socioeconomic disadvantage
in lowest ICSEA quarter
people
24.8%Indigenous students
avg across schools
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27.3%Language other than English
LBOTE avg across schools
info
Source: ACARA National School Profile, data as at March 2025. ICSEA national average is 1000. Schools shown are matched via postcode to SA3 region.
How Data Changes Outcomes
Prevention Insight
Far North Queensland needs culturally safe, community-designed wellbeing tools. Data platforms must be co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to be effective and trusted.
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