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 Sunshine West, accounting for 31.7% (5,876 people). This share was lower than Brimbank (C) (36.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 485 people and 2.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Sunshine West - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Sunshine West 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 Sunshine West, with comparison markers for Brimbank (C).
English
2021 count
5,876
% of total
31.7%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
5,876
31.7%
+2.6pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
3,771
% of total
20.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
3,771
20.4%
-0.1pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,188
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
1,188
6.4%
+0.7pp
Greek
2021 count
881
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
881
4.8%
-0.8pp
Maltese
2021 count
516
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
516
2.8%
-0.7pp
Cantonese
2021 count
438
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
438
2.4%
+0.2pp
Macedonian
2021 count
423
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
423
2.3%
-0.4pp
Turkish
2021 count
374
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
374
2.0%
0.0pp
Arabic
2021 count
353
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
353
1.9%
-0.2pp
Italian
2021 count
345
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
345
1.9%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+485
+2.6pp
Vietnamese
-26
-0.1pp
Not stated
+138
+0.7pp
Greek
-163
-0.8pp
Maltese
-131
-0.7pp
Cantonese
+27
+0.2pp
Macedonian
-82
-0.4pp
Turkish
-4
0.0pp
Arabic
-38
-0.2pp
Italian
-95
-0.5pp
Data table
Language used at home for Sunshine West. 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 | 5,876 | 31.7% | 36.3% | 5,391 | 29.1% | 35.7% | +485 | +2.6pp |
| Vietnamese | 3,771 | 20.4% | 18.5% | 3,797 | 20.5% | 16.2% | -26 | -0.1pp |
| Not stated | 1,188 | 6.4% | 6.4% | 1,050 | 5.7% | 5.9% | +138 | +0.7pp |
| Greek | 881 | 4.8% | 2.4% | 1,044 | 5.6% | 2.7% | -163 | -0.8pp |
| Maltese | 516 | 2.8% | 2.1% | 647 | 3.5% | 2.6% | -131 | -0.7pp |
| Cantonese | 438 | 2.4% | 2.1% | 411 | 2.2% | 2.1% | +27 | +0.2pp |
| Macedonian | 423 | 2.3% | 2.2% | 505 | 2.7% | 2.4% | -82 | -0.4pp |
| Turkish | 374 | 2.0% | 1.1% | 378 | 2.0% | 1.2% | -4 | 0.0pp |
| Arabic | 353 | 1.9% | 2.2% | 391 | 2.1% | 2.2% | -38 | -0.2pp |
| Italian | 345 | 1.9% | 2.0% | 440 | 2.4% | 2.5% | -95 | -0.5pp |
| Total | 18,528 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 18,535 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -7 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.