contents

Acknowledgments 4

Messages from the Premier and from the Minister 5

Notes on the Data 7

section 1 Victoria Overview

Tables Page
1 Key Facts: Australia and Victoria Compared, 1996, 2001 and 2006 Census 11
2 Key Facts: Australia, All States and Territories Compared, 2006 Census 12
3 Victoria: Overseas-Born Population, 2006, 2001 Census 13
4 Victoria: Top 30 Largest Birthplace Groups by Year of Arrival, 2006 Census 16
5 Victoria: Birthplaces with Largest Number of Overseas Arrivals between 2001 and 2006 16
6 Victoria: Language other than English Spoken at Home, 2006, 2001 Census 17
7 Victoria: Language other than English, Increase in Number of Speakers between 2001 and 2006 Census 19
8 Victoria: Language other than English Speakers with Low English Proficiency by Age, 2006 Census 20
9 Victoria: Religious Affiliation, 2006, 2001 Census 22
10 Victoria: Ancestry, Total Responses, 2006 Census 24

Charts
1 Victoria: Top 30 Birthplaces, 2006 Census 26
2 Victoria: Overseas Birthplace Groups with Largest Increase in Numbers between 2001 and 2006 Census 26
3 Victoria: Local Government Areas with Largest Number of Overseas-born, 2006 Census 27
4 Victoria: Local Government Areas with Highest Proportion of Overseas-Born, 2006 Census 27
5 Victoria: Top 30 Languages other than English (LOTE) Spoken at Home, 2006 Census 28
6 Victoria: Local Government Areas with Largest Number of LOTE Speakers, 2006 Census 28
7 Victoria: Local Government Areas with Highest Proportion of LOTE Speakers, 2006 Census 29
8 Victoria: Local Government Areas with Largest Number of LOTE Speakers with Low English Proficiency,
2006 Census 29
9 Victoria: Religions with Largest Increase in Numbers between 2001 and 2006 Census 30

section 2 Metropolitan Local Government Areas – Four-Page Profiles

The four-page profile contains the following tables:
1 Summary of Population Diversity, 2006, 2001 Census
2 Top 30 Overseas-Born, Birthplace by Gender, 2006, 2001 Census
3 Top 15 Birthplace Groups excluding Australia by Year of Arrival, 2006 Census
4 Top 30 Languages other than English Spoken at Home by Gender, 2006, 2001 Census
5 Top 15 Birthplace Groups by Age, 2006 Census
6 Top 30 Religions by Gender, 2006, 2001 Census
7 Top 30 Ancestry Groups, First Response, 2006 Census
8 Top 15 Language other than English Speakers and English Proficiency, 2006 Census

Tables
2.1.1 – 2.1.8 Metropolitan Melbourne 33
2.2.1 – 2.2.8 Balance of Victoria 37
2.3.1 – 2.3.8 Banyule (C) 41
2.4.1 – 2.4.8 Bayside (C) 45
2.5.1 – 2.5.8 Boroondara (C) 49
2.6.1 – 2.6.8 Brimbank (C) 53

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 Tables Page
2.7.1 – 2.7.8 Cardinia (C) 57
2.8.1 – 2.8.8 Casey (C) 61
2.9.1 – 2.9.8 Darebin (C) 65
2.10.1 – 2.10.8 Frankston (C) 69
2.11.1 – 2.11.8 Glen Eira (C) 73
2.12.1 – 2.12.8 Greater Dandenong (C) 77
2.13.1 – 2.13.8 Hobsons Bay (C) 81
2.14.1 – 2.14.8 Hume (C) 85
2.15.1 – 2.15.8 Kingston (C) 89
2.16.1 – 2.16.8 Knox (C) 93
2.17.1 – 2.17.8 Manningham (C) 97
2.18.1 – 2.18.8 Maribyrnong (C) 101
2.19.1 – 2.19.8 Maroondah (C) 105
2.20.1 – 2.20.8 Melbourne (C) 109
2.21.1 – 2.21.8 Melton (C) 113
2.22.1 – 2.22.8 Monash (C) 117
2.23.1 – 2.23.8 Moonee Valley (C) 121
2.24.1 – 2.24.8 Moreland (C) 125
2.25.1 – 2.25.8 Mornington Peninsula (S) 129
2.26.1 – 2.26.8 Nillumbik (C) 133
2.27.1 – 2.27.8 Port Phillip (C) 137
2.28.1 – 2.28.8 Stonnington (C) 141
2.29.1 – 2.29.8 Whitehorse (C) 145
2.30.1 – 2.30.8 Whittlesea (C) 149
2.31.1 – 2.31.8 Wyndham (C) 153
2.32.1 – 2.32.8 Yarra (C) 157
2.33.1 – 2.33.8 Yarra Ranges (S) 161

section 3 Major Regional Local Government Areas – Four-Page Profiles

Tables
3.1.1 – 3.1.8 Ballarat (C) 167
3.2.1 – 3.2.8 Greater Geelong (C) 171
3.3.1 – 3.4.8 Greater Bendigo (C) 175
3.4.1 – 3.5.8 Greater Shepparton (C) 179
3.5.1 – 3.5.8 Mildura (RC) 183
3.6.1 – 3.6.8 Latrobe (C) 187

section 4 Regional Local Government Areas – Two-Page Profiles

The two-page profile contains the following tables:
1 Summary of Population Diversity, 2006, 2001 Census
2 Top 20 Overseas-Born, Birthplace by Gender, 2006, 2001 Census
3 Top 10 Languages other than English Spoken at Home by Gender, 2006, 2001 Census
4 Top 10 Religions by Gender, 2006, 2001 Census
5 Top 10 Ancestry Groups, First Response, 2006 Census

Tables
4.1.1 - 4.1.5 Alpine (S) 193
4.2.1 - 4.2.5 Ararat (RC) 195
4.3.1 - 4.3.5 Bass Coast (S) 197

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 Tables Page
4.4.1 - 4.4.5 Baw Baw (S) 199
4.5.1 - 4.5.5 Benalla (RC) 201
4.6.1 - 4.6.5 Buloke (S) 203
4.7.1 - 4.7.5 Campaspe (S) 205
4.8.1 - 4.8.5 Central Goldfields (S) 207
4.9.1 - 4.9.5 Colac-Otway (S) 209
4.10.1 - 4.10.5 Corangamite (S) 211
4.11.1 - 4.11.5 East Gippsland (S) 213
4.12.1 - 4.12.5 Gannawarra (S) 215
4.13.1 - 4.13.5 Glenelg (S) 217
4.14.1 - 4.14.5 Golden Plains (S) 219
4.15.1 - 4.15.5 Hepburn (S) 221
4.16.1 - 4.16.5 Hindmarsh (S) 223
4.17.1 - 4.17.5 Horsham (RC) 225
4.18.1 - 4.18.5 Indigo (S) 227
4.19.1 - 4.19.5 Loddon (S) 229
4.20.1 - 4.20.5 Macedon Ranges (S) 231
4.21.1 - 4.21.5 Mansfield (S) 233
4.22.1 - 4.22.5 Mitchell (S) 235
4.23.1 - 4.23.5 Moira (S) 237
4.24.1 - 4.24.5 Moorabool (S) 239
4.25.1 - 4.25.5 Mount Alexander (S) 241
4.26.1 - 4.26.5 Moyne (S) 243
4.27.1 - 4.27.5 Murrindindi (S) 245
4.28.1 - 4.28.5 Northern Grampians (S) 247
4.29.1 - 4.29.5 Pyrenees (S) 249
4.30.1 - 4.30.5 Queenscliffe (S) 251
4.31.1 - 4.31.5 South Gippsland (S) 253
4.32.1 - 4.32.5 Southern Grampians (S) 255
4.33.1 - 4.33.5 Strathbogie (S) 257
4.34.1 - 4.34.5 Surf Coast (S) 259
4.35.1 - 4.35.5 Swan Hill (RC) 261
4.36.1 - 4.36.5 Towong (S) 263
4.37.1 - 4.37.5 Wangaratta (RC) 265
4.38.1 - 4.38.5 Warnnambool (C) 267
4.39.1 - 4.39.5 Wellington (S) 269
4.40.1 - 4.40.5 West Wimmera (S) 271
4.41.1 - 4.41.5 Wodonga (RC) 273
4.42.1 - 4.42.5 Yarriambiack (S) 275

Maps
1 Local Government Areas, Victoria 2006 277
2 Local Government Areas, Melbourne 2006 278

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 Acknowledgments

The Victorian Multicultural Commission would like to

acknowledge the valuable contribution made by the
Australian Bureau of Statistics to the preparation of
this Report. The Report is based on data from the 2006
Census of Population and Housing. The Census provides
the Australian community, including planners and policy
makers, with a detailed source of information about
the composition of Australian society and how it has
changed over time.

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 Messages
From the Premier
Victoria is one of the most welcoming and diverse
places in the world.
Our State is home to Australia’s fastest growing capital
city, Melbourne, and the country’s four fastest growing
inland cities, Bendigo, Ballarat, Shepparton and Mildura.
In 2005-06, Victoria’s population increased by 77,000 –
6,000 more people than the Gold Rush year of 1852 and
the biggest increase in population in our State’s history.
On top of that, one in four migrants to Australia are
now choosing Victoria as their new home and one in
five students attending a Victorian University in 2006
was an international student
The 2006 Census tells us that 44% of Victorians were
either born overseas or have at least one parent born
overseas and that around 20% of Victorians speak a
language other than English at home.
This diversity is one of our greatest strengths.
The challenge we face is to make sure that we continue
to actively support and engage with the multicultural
and multi-faith communities that have helped to make
Victoria socially and economically stronger.
This publication – Population Diversity in Local
Councils in Victoria: 2006 Census – provides data on
birthplace, language, ancestry, and religion at the
Local Government level. It is an invaluable guide for
local government planners, community organisations,
researchers and those in the broader community
concerned with designing and delivering services that
are accessible and equitable.
Our Government recognises the key role of Local
Councils in this collective endeavour and we look
forward to building even stronger partnerships and
greater diversity in the years ahead..
John Brumby MP
Premier of Victoria
Minister for Multicultural Affairs
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PopDiversity in Vic LGAs p4a.ind5 5
From the Minister
Our multicultural, multilingual and multifaith diversity
provides the foundation for a more prosperous Victoria.
Nations, states, cities and communities that are at ease
with and welcome other cultures attract new people,
investment and skills.
The Victorian Government is committed to
strengthening multiculturalism in our State by providing
increased support for culturally and linguistically diverse
communities and ensuring that the social, economic
and cultural benefits of this diversity are available to the
whole community.
We are all partners in making Victoria more prosperous,
fair and vibrant. The Victorian Government is
committed to delivering services that are accessible
to all, with equitable outcomes for all. Engagement
with culturally and linguistically diverse communities,
community development and the economic, social and
cultural dividends of population growth are enhanced
by the availability of current and authoritative ethnicity
data, as is program design and service delivery.
Population Diversity in Local Councils in Victoria: 2006
Census offers a valuable resource for human service
delivery planners and providers and for social policy
practitioners seeking stronger engagement with
culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
I commend this publication as a resource for advancing
our common objectives for a more cohesive,
harmonious and prosperous Victoria.
James Merlino MP
Minister Assisting the Premier
on Multicultural Affairs
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 Notes on the data
The figures in this publication are based on data from
the 2006, 2001 and 1996 Censuses of Population
and Housing, conducted by the Australian Bureau of
Statistics (ABS). Unless otherwise stated, the data is for
Victoria or areas within Victoria.
The Census provides characteristics of people based
on two locations – their location on Census night
(referred to as ‘place of enumeration’), and their usual
residence as stated on the Census form. All data in
this publication are based on place of usual residence,
unless otherwise stated.
Citations
As the data provided in this Report are customised data,
the following citation is recommended for users of the
data tables: Source: “Australian Bureau of Statistics,
2006 Census of Population and Housing, data available
on request”.
Citation for the entire Report is: Victorian Multicultural
Commission (2007) Population Diversity in Local
Councils in Victoria: 2006 Census, Melbourne, Victoria.
Geography
In the two- and four-page profiles presented for Victoria,
the geographic level used is Local Government Area
(LGA). For 2006, these areas are mostly comparable
to 2001 data. There have been some minor boundary
changes to LGAs between 2001 and 2006; however
these do not significantly impact on the comparability
of data between the 2001 and 2006 Censuses.
Between 2001 and 2006 the Shire of Delatite was split
into two components, Mansfield Shire and Benalla
Rural City. For the purposes of these profiles, data
presented for Mansfield Shire in 2001 is for the former
Statistical Local Area (SLA) of Delatite (S) – South, while
2001 data presented for Benalla (RC) is for the SLAs
of Delatite (S) – Benalla and Delatite (S) – North. The
boundaries of these SLAs closely approximate the new
shire boundaries and are considered equivalent for
statistical purposes.
The other significant change to local government area
boundaries between 2001 and 2006 was the excision
of alpine resorts from the surrounding LGAs and
inclusion into “Unincorporated Vic”. This affects data for
Mansfield (S), Alpine (S) and Baw Baw (S). These areas
contain large numbers of people enumerated on Census
night but very few usual residents. As all the tables
in this publication are based on usual residence, this
change is expected to have minimal impact on the data.
Four- and Two- Page Profiles
Four-page profiles are provided for those Local
Government Areas with large and diverse overseas-
born populations. All other LGAs have a two-page
profile. The two-page profile has reduced numbers
of Birthplace, Language, Religion and Ancestry rankings
and does not have the Proficiency in English, Age and
Year of Arrival breakdowns.
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PopDiversity in Vic LGAs p4a.ind7 7
The criteria for choosing whether an LGA had a
four-page profile or a two-page profile was that it
needed an overseas-born population of at least 3,000
persons, with at least 50 people for each of the main
20 birthplaces and 50 people for each of the 10 main
non-English languages spoken at home.
These criteria were chosen to ensure that the tables
with large numbers of ranked categories were close to
full, and there was a sufficient population in the major
population groups to cross-tabulate without having
significant problems due to introduced random error
(see below). For example, in Table 5 Top 10 Ancestry
Groups in the two-page profiles, the number of
ancestries shown may be less than ten.
All metropolitan Melbourne LGAs met these criteria,
plus the regional LGAs of Greater Geelong, Ballarat,
Bendigo, Greater Shepparton, Mildura and Latrobe.
Confidentiality and Introduced
Random Error
The Census collects information relating to each person
and household in Australia. It is taken to provide a
snapshot of information about the community as
a whole and about groups within the community.
However, it is not concerned with information about
individuals as such. The public expects that the
information they provide will be kept confidential, and
this is ensured by provisions in the Census and Statistics
Act 1905. Under this Act, all ABS officers are legally
bound never to release identifiable personal information
to any person or organisation outside the ABS.
Tables containing cells with very small counts may
potentially result in an individual being identified.
Consequently, all tables are subjected to confidentiality
processes before release. These steps are taken to
avoid releasing information that may identify particular
individuals, families, households or dwellings without
impairing the usefulness of the tables.
Introduced Random Error
For the 2006 Census, a new technique has been
developed to avoid identification of individuals. The
confidentiality technique applied by the ABS is to slightly
adjust all cells to prevent any identifiable data being
exposed. These adjustments result in small introduced
random errors. The technique allows very large tables,
for which there is a strong client demand, to be produced
even though they may contain many very small cells.
Details of the exact nature of the methodology applied
are available from the ABS on request.
Modifications are made to totals and subtotals to
preserve additivity within tables. Tables which have
been randomly adjusted will be internally consistent.
However comparisons with other tables containing
similar data may show minor discrepancies. This is
the case for both customised tables and standard
products. These small variations can, for the most part,
be ignored.
29/10/2007 2:19:30 pm
 No reliance should be placed on small cells. Aside
from the effects of introduced random error, possible
respondent and processing errors have greatest relative
impact on the accuracy of small cells.
More information on random error in particular can be
found in the 2006 Census Dictionary (cat. no. 2901.0),
on page 200 in ‘Introduced random error’. More general
information on data quality can be found in the same
publication on page 14 in the chapter on ‘Managing
Census Quality’.
Due both to introduced random error, and the
higher potential non-sampling error affecting small
population groups, no data is shown in this publication
for any birthplace, language, religion or ancestry
group consisting of less than 50 persons in a Local
Government Area. These groups will appear in the
“Other” category for those tables.
Birthplace
In 2006, the ABS coded the responses to the birthplace
question into 284 categories, based on the Standard
Australian Classification of Countries (ABS Cat No.
1269.0). There was only one significant change to this
classification between 2001 and 2006.
The 2006 categories of Serbia and Montenegro replace
the category “Federal Republic of Yugoslavia” from the
2001 Census. Due to large number of people stating
their birthplace as “Yugoslavia, these two categories
are not equivalent to the 2001 category of “Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia”, and where they appear in
tables, there is no equivalent 2001 data. For the same
reason “Other Birthplaces” is not comparable for
2001 and has been omitted from the tables. In 2006,
birthplace responses such as “Yugoslavia” were coded
to “South Eastern Europe, nfd”.
Language
2006 Census data for language is presented using
the Australian Standard Classification of Languages,
2005-06 edition. There have been extensive changes
to this classification between 2001 and 2006, with
the separate identification of a number of emerging
language groups. As a result, some languages have no
equivalent in 2001, so where they occur in a table, the
2001 component as been left blank.
The major languages appearing in the tables with no
direct comparison to 2001 are:
Persian (excluding Dari)
Dari
Tagalog
Filipino
Serbo-Croation/Yugoslavian so described
Karen
Dinka.
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PopDiversity in Vic LGAs p4a.ind8 8
Religion
In 2006, Religion was coded using the Australian
Standard Classification of Religious Groups. There
were 137 Religion categories, but only 36 broader level
categories are presented in this publication.
Religion has a high ‘not stated’ component as it is an
optional question on the Census form.
Assyrian Apostolic is a new category for 2006. The
2001 equivalent presented is formed from two groups,
“Ancient Church of the East” and “Assyrian Church of
the East”. The remainder of the “Oriental Christian”
category in 2001 has been included as “Oriental
Orthodox” for comparison with 2006. “Orthodox” has
been renamed “Eastern Orthodox” in 2006.
Data is presented for all religious groups which had
at least 50 persons in an LGA. “No Religion” and “Not
Stated” are included for all areas.
Ancestry
Ancestry was first included as a question in the 1986
Census. The aim of the question was to gauge the
ethnic composition of the population as a whole.
Ancestry was not included in the 1991 or 1996 Census,
but reappeared in 2001, and again in 2006.
Ancestry is coded using the Australian Standard
Classification of Cultural and Ethnic Groups (ASCCEG),
2005-06 edition (cat. no. 1249.0). Respondents were
asked to consider the ancestry they identify with back
as far as three generations. Respondents had the option
of nominating up to two ancestries.
For data in this publication, only first response Ancestry
has been used. This is subject to a bias based on the
order in which the standard named categories are
included on the Census form. This is shown below. For
instance, if a respondent ticked the boxes “Italian” and
“German”, Italian would be the first response because it
appears earlier on the form.
Order of tick-box responses on Census form:
1. English
2. Irish
3. Italian
4. German
5. Chinese
6. Scottish
7. Australian
8. Other – please specify.
Abbreviations
‘nec’ stands for ‘not elsewhere classified’,
‘nfd’ stands for ‘not further defined’.
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