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 Pooraka, accounting for 56% (4,238 people). This share was lower than Salisbury (C) (62.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in English, which increased by 4,192 people, while its share fell by 44 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Pooraka - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language used at home for Pooraka 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 Pooraka, with comparison markers for Salisbury (C).
English
2021 count
4,238
% of total
56.0%
Change from 2016
-44.0pp
4,238
56.0%
-44.0pp
Vietnamese
2021 count
676
% of total
8.9%
Change from 2016
-
676
8.9%
-
Not stated
2021 count
350
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-
350
4.6%
-
Punjabi
2021 count
309
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-
309
4.1%
-
Hazaraghi
2021 count
261
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-
261
3.4%
-
Arabic
2021 count
152
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-
152
2.0%
-
Dari
2021 count
129
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-
129
1.7%
-
Gujarati
2021 count
117
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-
117
1.5%
-
Hindi
2021 count
103
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-
103
1.4%
-
Italian
2021 count
85
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-
85
1.1%
-
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
+4,192
-44.0pp
Data table
Language used at home for Pooraka. 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 | 4,238 | 56.0% | 62.9% | 46 | 100.0% | 67.2% | +4,192 | -44.0pp |
| Vietnamese | 676 | 8.9% | 4.0% | - | - | 3.9% | - | - |
| Not stated | 350 | 4.6% | 4.6% | - | - | 4.8% | - | - |
| Punjabi | 309 | 4.1% | 2.4% | - | - | 0.9% | - | - |
| Hazaraghi | 261 | 3.4% | 2.4% | - | - | 1.1% | - | - |
| Arabic | 152 | 2.0% | 1.6% | - | - | 1.2% | - | - |
| Dari | 129 | 1.7% | 1.0% | - | - | 1.0% | - | - |
| Gujarati | 117 | 1.5% | 1.2% | - | - | 0.7% | - | - |
| Hindi | 103 | 1.4% | 0.8% | - | - | 0.6% | - | - |
| Italian | 85 | 1.1% | 1.1% | - | - | 1.4% | - | - |
| Total | 7,574 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 46 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7,528 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.