Cultural diversity
Language used at home
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, English was the most common language used at home among residents in Deer Park, accounting for 33.7% (6,112 people). This share was lower than Brimbank (C) (36.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Vietnamese, which increased by 501 people and 2.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Deer Park - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Deer Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brimbank (C) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Deer Park, with comparison markers for Brimbank (C).
English
2021 count
6,112
% of total
33.7%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
6,112
33.7%
-1.6pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
2,674
% of total
14.7%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
2,674
14.7%
+2.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,427
% of total
7.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,427
7.9%
+0.6pp
Punjabi
2021 count
451
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
451
2.5%
-0.9pp
Tagalog
2021 count
399
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
399
2.2%
+0.1pp
Arabic
2021 count
398
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
398
2.2%
+0.4pp
Maltese
2021 count
363
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
363
2.0%
-0.7pp
Mandarin
2021 count
345
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
345
1.9%
-0.4pp
Spanish
2021 count
315
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
315
1.7%
-0.3pp
Cantonese
2021 count
306
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
306
1.7%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-286
-1.6pp
Vietnamese
+501
+2.7pp
Not stated
+108
+0.6pp
Punjabi
-170
-0.9pp
Tagalog
+10
+0.1pp
Arabic
+64
+0.4pp
Maltese
-125
-0.7pp
Mandarin
-72
-0.4pp
Spanish
-43
-0.3pp
Cantonese
-11
-0.1pp
Data table
Language used at home for Deer Park. 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 | |
| English | 6,112 | 33.7% | 36.3% | 6,398 | 35.3% | 35.7% | -286 | -1.6pp |
| Vietnamese | 2,674 | 14.7% | 18.5% | 2,173 | 12.0% | 16.2% | +501 | +2.7pp |
| Not stated | 1,427 | 7.9% | 6.4% | 1,319 | 7.3% | 5.9% | +108 | +0.6pp |
| Punjabi | 451 | 2.5% | 2.2% | 621 | 3.4% | 2.9% | -170 | -0.9pp |
| Tagalog | 399 | 2.2% | 1.5% | 389 | 2.1% | 1.6% | +10 | +0.1pp |
| Arabic | 398 | 2.2% | 2.2% | 334 | 1.8% | 2.2% | +64 | +0.4pp |
| Maltese | 363 | 2.0% | 2.1% | 488 | 2.7% | 2.6% | -125 | -0.7pp |
| Mandarin | 345 | 1.9% | 1.4% | 417 | 2.3% | 1.5% | -72 | -0.4pp |
| Spanish | 315 | 1.7% | 1.3% | 358 | 2.0% | 1.5% | -43 | -0.3pp |
| Cantonese | 306 | 1.7% | 2.1% | 317 | 1.8% | 2.1% | -11 | -0.1pp |
| Total | 18,151 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 18,112 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +39 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.