Cultural diversity
Language spoken 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 Parafield Gardens, accounting for 51.5% (9,502 people). This share was lower than Salisbury (C) (62.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Punjabi, which increased by 506 people and 2.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Parafield Gardens - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Parafield Gardens in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Salisbury (C) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Parafield Gardens, with comparison markers for Salisbury (C).
English
Vietnamese
Punjabi
Not stated
Gujarati
Khmer
Hazaraghi
Arabic
Dari
Tagalog
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-199
-5.8pp
Vietnamese
+15
-0.6pp
Punjabi
+506
+2.6pp
Not stated
+77
+0.1pp
Gujarati
+231
+1.1pp
Khmer
-12
-0.3pp
Hazaraghi
+356
+1.8pp
Arabic
+108
+0.5pp
Dari
+13
0.0pp
Tagalog
+24
0.0pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Parafield Gardens. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Salisbury (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Salisbury (C)% | Count | % | Salisbury (C)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 9,502 | 51.5% | 62.9% | 9,701 | 57.3% | 67.2% | -199 | -5.8pp |
| Vietnamese | 1,382 | 7.5% | 4.0% | 1,367 | 8.1% | 3.9% | +15 | -0.6pp |
| Punjabi | 776 | 4.2% | 2.4% | 270 | 1.6% | 0.9% | +506 | +2.6pp |
| Not stated | 773 | 4.2% | 4.6% | 696 | 4.1% | 4.8% | +77 | +0.1pp |
| Gujarati | 621 | 3.4% | 1.2% | 390 | 2.3% | 0.7% | +231 | +1.1pp |
| Khmer | 605 | 3.3% | 1.8% | 617 | 3.6% | 1.7% | -12 | -0.3pp |
| Hazaraghi | 586 | 3.2% | 2.4% | 230 | 1.4% | 1.1% | +356 | +1.8pp |
| Arabic | 286 | 1.6% | 1.6% | 178 | 1.1% | 1.2% | +108 | +0.5pp |
| Dari | 251 | 1.4% | 1.0% | 238 | 1.4% | 1.0% | +13 | 0.0pp |
| Tagalog | 230 | 1.2% | 0.9% | 206 | 1.2% | 0.8% | +24 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 18,446 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 16,923 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,523 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.