Cultural diversity
Language spoken at home
Language used at home shows which languages people speak in their home life and whether English or another language is used most often. It is a key indicator of cultural diversity and language retention within communities.
About this topic
Language used at home shows which languages people speak in their home life and whether English or another language is used most often. It is a key indicator of cultural diversity and language retention within communities.
This topic is useful for planning communication, multicultural services, and local engagement. It should be analysed together with proficiency in English and birthplace, because language alone does not show migration history or support needs.
Interpretation notes
- The Census records the language used most often at home, so it does not capture every language a person can speak.
- Language used at home is not a measure of English proficiency, literacy, or migration history on its own.
Key insight
In 2021, Vietnamese was the most common language used at home among residents in Cairnlea, accounting for 31.4% (3,145 people). This share was higher than Brimbank (C) (18.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Vietnamese, which increased by 371 people and 2.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Cairnlea - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Cairnlea in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brimbank (C) and change since 2016.
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairnlea, with comparison markers for Brimbank (C).
Vietnamese
English
Cantonese
Not stated
Tagalog
Macedonian
Bosnian
Punjabi
Arabic
Mandarin
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Vietnamese
+371
+2.7pp
English
+216
+1.3pp
Cantonese
-34
-0.5pp
Not stated
-28
-0.4pp
Tagalog
-45
-0.6pp
Macedonian
-27
-0.3pp
Bosnian
+13
+0.1pp
Punjabi
-9
-0.2pp
Arabic
+21
+0.2pp
Mandarin
-11
-0.2pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Cairnlea. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brimbank (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brimbank (C)% | Count | % | Brimbank (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Vietnamese | 3,145 | 31.4% | 18.5% | 2,774 | 28.7% | 16.2% | +371 | +2.7pp |
| English | 2,730 | 27.3% | 36.3% | 2,514 | 26.0% | 35.7% | +216 | +1.3pp |
| Cantonese | 406 | 4.1% | 2.1% | 440 | 4.6% | 2.1% | -34 | -0.5pp |
| Not stated | 367 | 3.7% | 6.4% | 395 | 4.1% | 5.9% | -28 | -0.4pp |
| Tagalog | 255 | 2.5% | 1.5% | 300 | 3.1% | 1.6% | -45 | -0.6pp |
| Macedonian | 248 | 2.5% | 2.2% | 275 | 2.8% | 2.4% | -27 | -0.3pp |
| Bosnian | 181 | 1.8% | 0.5% | 168 | 1.7% | 0.5% | +13 | +0.1pp |
| Punjabi | 172 | 1.7% | 2.2% | 181 | 1.9% | 2.9% | -9 | -0.2pp |
| Arabic | 170 | 1.7% | 2.2% | 149 | 1.5% | 2.2% | +21 | +0.2pp |
| Mandarin | 151 | 1.5% | 1.4% | 162 | 1.7% | 1.5% | -11 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 10,009 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 9,666 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +343 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.