Table: summary - NSW Commission for Children and Young People

Neighbourhood connections of parents or carers with children aged 0-15 years, by area or residence, NSW, 2003-2004 (per cent of parent and carers)

			%
Could ask a neighbour for help with child care	Overall	Overall	71
	Area	Rural	77
	Area	Urban	69

Frequently visit neighbours	Overall	Overall	70
	Area	Rural	72
	Area	Urban	69

Nearly always run into friends in the neighbourhood	Overall	Overall	88
	Area	Rural	95
	Area	Urban	86

Would be sad if left neighbourhood	Overall	Overall	77
	Area	Rural	78
	Area	Urban	77

Note: The following questions were asked of parents or carers:

"How often have you visited someone in your neighbourhood in the past week?". Estimates based on 5,643 respondents
"If you were caring for a child and needed to go out for a while, and could not take the child with you, would you ask someone in your neighbourhood for help?". Estimates based on 5,605 respondents
"Would you be sad if you had to leave this neighbourhood?". Estimates based on 5,468 respondents
"When you go shopping in your local area how often are you likely to run into friends and acquaintances?". Estimates based on 5,635 respondents

Source: Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health. New South Wales Population Health Survey 2003-2004 (HOIST).

Overall, in 2003-2004, parents or carers living in rural areas indicated greater neighbourhood connectedness than those living in urban areas:

76.6% of rural parents or carers said they could ask a neighbour for help with child care compared with 70.9% of urban parents or carers
72.0% of rural parents or carers said they they frequently visited neighbours compared with 69.1% of urban parents or carers
94.5% of rural parents or carers said they nearly always run into friends in the neighbourhood compared with 85.7% of urban parents or carers
78.3% of rural parents or carers said they could be sad if they left their neighbourhood compared with 70.9% of urban parents or carers