I have recieved back an email from UQ's Medicine Admissions Officer.
"It is based on the data set from the most recent national census.
So at the moment we are required to use the 2016 data set. About 6-12 months after the 2021 census has been conducted, the data set will change to the 2021 census data.
These rules are set by the Department of Health, they are not determined by the individual universities."
From this all I have gathered is that it is indeed invalid because it is only based on the most recent census. I will regardless continue to enquire further before applying to any Med Schools next year.
I think I see what you're saying. The location you lived in was classed as rural up until 2011, but then the ruling changed and it was no longer classified as rural? And it has not been considered rural ever since? I initially read your post as saying you lived somewhere rural until 2011 (and then you moved).
Also, I think it's worth pointing out that while the classifications are set by the Department of Health, the way in which they are used is most certainly decided at a university level. Some universities use RA, some use RRMA, some use MMM, some don't worry about rurality at all, some 'grade' rurality...