Cultural diversity

Proficiency in English

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, English only was the most common English-proficiency response among residents in Tarbuck Bay, accounting for 86.6% (168 people). This share was lower than Mid-Coast (A) (89.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English only, which increased by 55 people, while its share fell by 10 percentage points.

Section overview

Proficiency in English

Tarbuck Bay - Total persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises proficiency in english for Tarbuck Bay in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mid-Coast (A) and change since 2016.

Proficiency in English snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Tarbuck Bay, with comparison markers for Mid-Coast (A).

Tarbuck Bay
Mid-Coast (A)

Total Speaks English Only

2021 count

168

% of total

86.6%

Change from 2016

-10.0pp

Total Speaks Other Language And Speaks English Very Well Or Well

2021 count

8

% of total

4.1%

Change from 2016

+4.1pp

Total Speaks Other Language And Speaks English Not Well Or Not At All

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Total Not Stated

2021 count

17

% of total

8.8%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

Data table

Proficiency in English for Tarbuck Bay. Proficiency in English. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).

Proficiency in English for Tarbuck Bay. Proficiency in English. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).
Proficiency in English for Tarbuck Bay. Proficiency in English. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Mid-Coast (A)%Count%Mid-Coast (A)%Countpp
Total Speaks English Only16886.6%89.9%11396.6%90.4%+55-10.0pp
Total Speaks Other Language And Speaks English Very Well Or Well84.1%3.1%00.0%2.6%+8+4.1pp
Total Speaks Other Language And Speaks English Not Well Or Not At All00.0%0.3%00.0%0.2%00.0pp
Total Not Stated178.8%6.7%97.7%6.8%+8+1.1pp
Total194100.0%100.0%117100.0%100.0%+770.0pp