Region · Victoria
Geelong & Surf Coast
Geelong is Victoria's second-largest city, blending industrial heritage with coastal lifestyle. Youth mental health challenges are significant, with the Northern suburbs experiencing acute disadvantage.
270,000
Estimated population
~180 schools
Approximate schools
High
psychological distress in Northern Geelong suburbs
↑
youth self-harm presentations at Barwon Health
Limited
mental health services in outer Surf Coast
Priority Wellbeing Issues
Youth Self-Harm
Critical↑ Barwon Health data
Barwon Health emergency data shows increasing youth self-harm presentations, concentrated in younger teens (12–15) from disadvantaged Northern Geelong communities.
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Disadvantage & Distress
ElevatedNorthern suburbs focus
Norlane, Corio, and Whittington record among Victoria's highest disadvantage indices. Children in these areas face compounding risk factors including housing instability and family stress.
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School Belonging
NotableBelow Victorian benchmark
Several Geelong secondary schools score below the Victorian benchmark on belonging and connectedness, particularly post-COVID.
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schoolSchool Profile Data · ACARA 2025
Schools in Geelong & Surf Coast
School Profile Data · ACARA 2025
schoolSchools
52
in this area
groupsStudents
32,251
total enrolments
equalizerAvg ICSEA
1033
33 points above national average
domainBy Sector
Government
60%(31)
Catholic
31%(16)
Independent
10%(5)
diversity_3Equity Indicators
bar_chart
27.0%Socioeconomic disadvantage
in lowest ICSEA quarter
people
3.8%Indigenous students
avg across schools
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16.4%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
Geelong's northern communities need wraparound support systems informed by data. Schools in high-disadvantage areas benefit most from early-warning wellbeing tools that don't rely on families proactively seeking help.
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