The original document was authored by Professor Tony Vinson, a sociologist who has done extensive work in criminology, Associate professor Margot Rawsthorne, also a sociologist who has spent more than a decade working in areas of social disadvantage in Sydney, Dr Adrian Beavis, a social and educational researcher with a particular interest in evaluation and policy development and Dr Matthew Ericson who has a background in socioeconomic research. 

This study was funded by the Jesuit Social Service and Catholic Social Services and built on the work of two previous studies (1999, 2004) that yielded the same result. 

The study looked at disadvantage across Australia and used a six-tier system for grading, Eden was in the fifth tier, coming in somewhere between 25 and 30 out of the 40 most disadvantaged post codes in Australia.  

A total of 24 of the most disadvantaged post codes were also identified in 1999 and 2004. 

Merimbula and Bega were both identified as average in disadvantage.

The key factors contributing to disadvantaged areas in NSW were lack of qualifications, criminal convictions, low family income, unemployment, domestic violence, young people not fully engaged in work or study and no internet access. 

This report would have cost a lot of money to complete as would the previous two (1999, 2004) and we have gained nothing from these reports.

Eden Marine Technology High Schools performs well. 

Per population I would think it would rate very high but we always lose these clever kids to areas of higher advantage. 

Identifying the problems is only one part of the equation solving it is the other. 

How do you keep our clever kids in an area of little opportunity? 

According to the people that do research on resources Eden’s resources are dwindling and new opportunities must be found. 

It is also estimated that 40 per cent of our jobs are going to disappear within 15 years, a lot of these jobs are going to be shed from lower and middle class employment as technology takes over, Eden will be hit here as well. 

Dr Vinson and company have identified the problems.

Tourism has long been suggested as a mechanism for increasing advantage through population gain, but it is a slow and cumbersome process and while Eden has great beauty and a deep harbour it is still not a huge magnet for attracting permanent residents. 

A lot of business is moving on line so there could be possibilities there but we still seem to be entrenched in old ways rather than embracing the new.

Politicians are aware of this and have been since 1999 but don’t seem to know how to remove Eden’s disadvantage.

John Bobbin

Eden

Click here for the article that prompted this letter.