If the Fraser Coast had a business card, it would probably read: ‘Great lifestyle. Great community. Great healthcare demand.’ With a median age of 51, and a very large 65+ population, health is not just a service – it is a cornerstone of our economy and our planning priorities.
The forecast detail is telling. Between 2021 and 2031, the biggest population increase is projected in the 80-84 age group (+3,446), and by 2031 our largest age cohort is forecast to be 65-69. At the same time, the 2024-2026 forecast has natural increase at -751. This is what an ageing region looks like: we grow because people move here, and we age because the cohort balance shifts upward.
That drives demand for hospitals, allied health, aged care, home care and mental health services. It also drives demand for the right housing: accessible layouts, smaller lots or low maintenance dwellings, proximity to services, good footpaths, shade, and transport that works for people who should not be driving forever.
The interesting twist is that health demand also creates jobs. Health Care and Social Assistance is our largest employment sector, so health is not only a cost pressure – it is an economic engine. The challenge is timing: health infrastructure and workforce pipelines move slowly, while migration-driven demand can surge quickly.
In 2026, success looks like this: build the right housing, in the right locations, with services planned upfront – so health demand is met without crushing affordability.
Stats source: forecast.id age projections (2021-2031) and components of change (2024-2026); economy.id industry structure showing health as the largest sector.
