A new  report has found that a tiny number of communities are shouldering most of the disadvantage burden in the state, in a pattern that is repeated in other states and territories. 

The Dropping off the Edge report, published by Catholic Social Services and Jesuit Social Services, tracked 621 NSW postcodes across 21 indicators of disadvantage, including internet access, incomes, education level, literacy and numeracy, long-term unemployment, unskilled workers, juvenile offending and criminal convictions. 

It then looked at the number of times a postcode occupied a top 5per cent spot in terms of the indicators, finding that just 6per cent of postcodes occupied 49.5per cent of the top spots. 

This compares to 70per cent of postcodes that did not make any of the top rankings. 

Brewarrina, Claymore, Lightning Ridge, Walgett, Wilcannia and Windale were ranked as the most disadvantaged by the report, written by Sydney University professor Tony Vinsonand and associate professor Margot Rawsthorne. Bourke, Villawood and Kempsey were not far behind. 

In a finding that has the community sector calling for more government action to tackle disadvantage, more than half of the 40 most disadvantaged postcodes were in the same category in a similar 2007 study, with many also repeating the result in 2004 and 1999 studies. 

‘‘What this report tells us is that disadvantage is entrenched in a small number of Australian communities, most of which have remained similarly disadvantaged for more than a decade,’’ Jesuit Social Services chief executive Julie Edwards said.

The report calls for federal and state governments to set up units to co-ordinate community programs by government and non-government organisations. 

NSW postcodes in the top band for disadvantage, listed alphabetically

Brewarrina 

Claymore

Lightning Ridge

Walgett

Wilcannia

Windale