Cultural diversity
Speaks English
Proficiency in English records how well people say they speak English, with the question mainly relevant for people who use a language other than English at home. It is a self-assessed measure of spoken English rather than a formal test.
About this topic
Proficiency in English records how well people say they speak English, with the question mainly relevant for people who use a language other than English at home. It is a self-assessed measure of spoken English rather than a formal test.
This topic helps identify where interpreting, translated information, and targeted service communication may be needed. It is most informative when read alongside language used at home, birthplace, and year of arrival.
Interpretation notes
- ABS treats this as a self-assessed indicator of spoken English, not a formal test, so results should be interpreted with care.
- The detailed English-proficiency categories mainly relate to people who use another language at home; people who speak English only are included as a separate category.
Key insight
In 2021, another language and English well or very well was the most common English-proficiency response among residents in Penshurst (NSW), accounting for 42.6% (5,359 people). This share was lower than Georges River (A) (43.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in another language and English not well or not at all, which decreased by 167 people and 1.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Proficiency in English
Penshurst (NSW) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises speaks english for Penshurst (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Georges River (A) and change since 2016.
This area boundary has changed from 2016 to 2021. As a result, 2016 values are mapped onto 2021 suburb boundaries using ABS concordance.
Proficiency in English snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Penshurst (NSW), with comparison markers for Georges River (A).
Total Speaks English Only
Total Speaks Other Language And Speaks English Very Well Or Well
Total Speaks Other Language And Speaks English Not Well Or Not At All
Total Not Stated
Chart view
Proficiency in English change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Total Speaks English Only
-76
+0.3pp
Total Speaks Other Language And Speaks English Very Well Or Well
-88
+0.3pp
Total Speaks Other Language And Speaks English Not Well Or Not At All
-167
-1.1pp
Total Not Stated
+62
+0.6pp
Data table
Speaks English for Penshurst (NSW). Proficiency in English. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Georges River (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Georges River (A)% | Count | % | Georges River (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Total Speaks English Only | 5,355 | 42.5% | 42.1% | 5,431 | 42.2% | 42.3% | -76 | +0.3pp |
| Total Speaks Other Language And Speaks English Very Well Or Well | 5,359 | 42.6% | 43.1% | 5,447 | 42.3% | 42.3% | -88 | +0.3pp |
| Total Speaks Other Language And Speaks English Not Well Or Not At All | 1,209 | 9.6% | 10.3% | 1,376 | 10.7% | 11.1% | -167 | -1.1pp |
| Total Not Stated | 667 | 5.3% | 4.5% | 605 | 4.7% | 4.3% | +62 | +0.6pp |
| Total | 12,592 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 12,862 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -270 | 0.0pp |