The people of Western Australia – Statistics from the 2006 Census

How to use this online publication

This site contains extensive cultural diversity demographic data for each of Western Australia’s 139 Local Government Areas based on the 2006 Census. It contains informative summaries on issues such as where migrants are settling, the growth in new and emerging communities, religious affiliation, citizenship rates and employment outcomes for different migrant groups.

The online publication presents a series of tables, charts and graphics in four sections, as listed below, with the first two sections containing the most detailed data. They include:

• Section 1 – Australian overview
  
  Provides data on birthplaces, languages spoken at home, religious affiliation and ancestry for the whole of Australia.
• Section 2 – Western Australian overview
  
  Provides data on birthplaces, languages spoken at home, religious affiliation, ancestry and additional tables and charts on internet usage, citizenship, education, employment, income and household size for Western Australia.
• Section 3 – Metropolitan Local Government Areas
  
  Contains a series of four page profiles for each of the the Local Government Areas (LGA’s) in metropolitan Western Australia.
• Section 4 – Regional Local Government Areas
  
  Contains a series of four page profiles for each of the the Local Government Areas (LGA’s) in regional Western Australia.

You can obtain data on each of the sections, tables, charts and Local Government Areas by clicking on the links (below).

Contents

About this publication and notes on the data
Abbreviations and acronyms

Section 1 – Australia overview
Section 2 – Western Australia overview
Section 3 – Local Government Area 4-page profiles
Section 4 – Local Government Area 2-page profiles
Maps of Local Government Areas

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Section 1 – Australia overview

Tables

1.1Australia key facts: 1996, 2001 and 2006 Census
1.2All States and Territories compared: 2006 Census
1.3Birthplaces – Australia: 2001 and 2006 Census
1.4Birthplace by birthplace of parents – Australia: 2006 Census
1.5Generational components of the Australian population – Australia: 2006 Census
1.6Languages spoken at home – Australia: 2001 and 2006 Census
1.7Australian Indigenous languages spoken at home – Australia: 2006 Census
1.8Languages spoken at home by persons who speak English not well or not at all
1.9Religious affiliation – Australia: 2001 and 2006 Census
1.10Ancestry – Australia: 2001 and 2006 Census
1.11Ancestry by birthplace of parent(s) – Australia: 2006 Census
1.12.1–1.12.9Australia – 4-page profile

Charts

1.1Top 30 birthplace groups – Australia: 2006 Census
1.2Fastest growing overseas birthplace groups – Australia: 2001 and 2006 Census
1.3Local Government Areas with the highest number of overseas born – Australia: 2006 Census
1.4Local Government Areas with the highest proportion of overseas born – Australia: 2006 Census
1.5Top 30 overseas language groups – Australia: 2006 Census
1.6Fastest growing overseas languages – Australia: 2001 and 2006 Census
1.7Local Government Areas with the highest number of languages other than English speakers – Australia: 2006 Census
1.8Local Government Areas with the highest proportion of language other than English speakers – Australia: 2006 Census
1.9Local Government Areas with the highest number who speak English not well or not at all – Australia: 2006 Census
1.10Local Government Areas with the highest proportion who speak English not well or not at all – Australia: 2006 Census

Section 2 – Western Australia Overview

Tables

2.1Australia and Western Australia compared: 1996, 2001 and 2006 Census
2.2All States and Territories compared: 2006 Census
2.3Birthplaces – WA: 2001 and 2006 Census
2.4Birthplace by birthplace of parents – WA: 2006 Census
2.5Generational components of the population – WA: 2001 and 2006 Census
2.6Birthplace by year of arrival – WA: 2006 Census
2.7Languages spoken at home – WA: 2001 and 2006 Census
2.8Australian Indigenous languages spoken at home – WA: 2006 Census
2.9Languages spoken at home by persons who speak English not well or not at all – WA: 2006 Census
2.10Birthplace of selected language groups – WA: 2006 Census
2.11Internet connection type by age and English proficiency – WA: 2006 Census
2.12Religious affiliation – WA: 2001 and 2006 Census
2.13Birthplace of selected religious groups – WA: 2006 Census
2.14Ancestry – WA: 2001 and 2006 Census
2.15Ancestry by birthplace of parent(s) – WA: 2006 Census
2.16Birthplace of selected ancestry groups – WA: 2006 Census
2.17Local Government Area of selected ancestry groups – WA: 2006 Census
2.18Citizenship rates by birthplaces and English proficiency – WA: 2006 Census
2.19Education, employment, income and household size statistics for selected birthplaces – WA: 2006 Census
2.20Education, employment, income and household size statistics for selected religions – WA: 2006 Census
2.21Education, employment, income and household size statistics for selected languages – WA: 2006 Census
2.22.1–2.22.9Western Australian – 4-page profile

Charts

2.1Proportion of overseas born by statistical division – WA: 2006 Census
2.2Age – gender profiles for selected birthplace groups – WA: 2006 Census
2.3Top 30 birthplace groups – WA: 2006 Census
2.4Fastest growing overseas birthplace groups – WA: 2001 and 2006 Census
2.5Local Government Areas with the highest number of overseas born – WA: 2006 Census
2.6Local Government Areas with the highest proportion of overseas born – WA: 2006 Census
2.7Distribution by Local Government Area of selected birthplaces – WA: 2006 Census
2.8Age – gender profiles for selected Local Government Areas – WA: 2006 Census
2.9Participation in voluntary activities by birthplace – WA: 2006 Census
2.10Statistical division with the highest proportion who speak English not well or not at all – WA: 2006 Census
2.11Age – gender profiles for selected language groups – WA: 2006 Census
2.12Top 30 overseas language groups – WA: 2006 Census
2.13Fastest growing overseas languages – WA: 2001 and 2006 Census
2.14Local Government Areas with the highest number of language other than English speakers – WA: 2006 Census
2.15Local Government Areas with the highest proportion of language other than English speakers – WA: 2006 Census
2.16Local Government Areas with the highest number who speak English not well or not at all – WA: 2006 Census
2.17Local Government Areas with the highest proportion who speak English not well or not at all – WA: 2006 Census
2.18Internet connection type by language spoken – WA: 2006 Census
2.19Fastest growing religions – WA: 1996, 2001 and 2006 Census
2.20Age – gender profiles for selected ancestry groups – WA: 2006 Census

Section 3 – Metropolitan Local Government Area 4-page profiles

Perth Statistical Division (Metropolitan Perth) Armadale LGA Bassendean LGA Bayswater LGA Belmont LGA Cambridge LGA Canning LGA Claremont LGA Cockburn LGA Cottesloe LGA East Fremantle LGA Fremantle LGA Gosnells LGA Joondalup LGA Kalamunda LGA Kwinana LGA

Melville LGA Mosman Park LGA Mundaring LGA Nedlands LGA Peppermint Grove LGA Perth LGA Rockingham LGA Serpentine-Jarrahdale LGA South Perth LGA Stirling LGA Subiaco LGA Swan LGA Victoria Park LGA Vincent LGA Wanneroo LGA

Section 4 – Regional Local Government Area 2-page profiles

Albany LGA Ashburton LGA Augusta-Margaret River LGA Beverley LGA Boddington LGA Boyup Brook LGA Bridgetown-Greenbushes LGA Brookton LGA Broome LGA Broomehill LGA Bruce Rock LGA Bunbury LGA Busselton LGA Capel LGA Carnamah LGA Carnarvon LGA Chapman Valley LGA Chittering LGA Collie LGA Coolgardie LGA Coorow LGA Corrigin LGA Cranbrook LGA Cuballing LGA Cue LGA Cunderdin LGA Dalwallinu LGA Dandaragan LGA Dardanup LGA Denmark LGA Derby-West Kimberley LGA Donnybrook-Balingup LGA Dowerin LGA Dumbleyung LGA Dundas LGA East Pilbara LGA Esperance LGA

Exmouth LGA Geraldton LGA Gingin LGA Gnowangerup LGA Goomalling LGA Greenough LGA Halls Creek LGA Harvey LGA Irwin LGA Jerramungup LGA Kalgoorlie-Boulder LGA Katanning LGA Kellerberrin LGA Kent LGA Kojonup LGA Kondinin LGA Koorda LGA Kulin LGA Lake Grace LGA Laverton LGA Leonora LGA Mandurah LGA Manjimup LGA Meekatharra LGA Menzies LGA Merredin LGA Mingenew LGA Moora LGA Morawa LGA Mount Magnet LGA Mount Marshall LGA Mukinbudin LGA Mullewa LGA Murchison LGA Murray LGA (WA) Nannup LGA Narembeen LGA Narrogin Shire LGA

Narrogin Town LGA Ngaanyatjarraku LGA Northam Shire LGA Northam Town LGA Northampton LGA Nungarin LGA Perenjori LGA Pingelly LGA Plantagenet LGA Port Hedland LGA Quairading LGA Ravensthorpe LGA Roebourne LGA Sandstone LGA Shark Bay LGA Tambellup LGA Tammin LGA Three Springs LGA Toodyay LGA Trayning LGA Upper Gascoyne LGA Victoria Plains LGA Wagin LGA Wandering LGA Waroona LGA West Arthur LGA Westonia LGA Wickepin LGA Williams LGA Wiluna LGA Wongan-Ballidu LGA Woodanilling LGA Wyalkatchem LGA Wyndham-East Kimberley LGA Yalgoo LGA Yilgarn LGA York LGA

Maps of Local Government Areas

Local Government Areas in Western Australia
Local Government Areas in South-West Western Australia
Local Government Areas in Perth Statistical Division
Local Government Areas in Perth Statistical Division – Inner

Western Australian Diversity Statistics

This overview of cultural and linguistic diversity provides 2006 Census data on a range of ethnicity-related demographics for Western Australia including country of birth, ancestry, language spoken at home, proficiency in spoken English and religious affiliation. This profile has been produced for researchers, multicultural communities, government agencies, students and those in the broader community concerned with designing and delivering services that are accessible and equitable.

The 2006 Census of Population and Housing results released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) confirm that Australia is a nation of rich cultural and linguistic diversity[1] with one in five people (21.9%) born overseas and three in 20 (15.7%) speaking a language other than English at home.

The usual resident population of Australia at the 2006 Census was 19,855,288, an increase of 5.8 per cent since 2001. In comparison, Western Australia had a usual resident population of 1,959,087, representing an increase of 7.2 per cent since the previous Census.

Of all the States and Territories, Western Australia continued to have the largest proportion born overseas, with more than half a million people (531,7437 persons) or just over one quarter of the total population (27.1%) born overseas. Almost half of the total population (49.2%, 962,892 persons) had one or both parents born overseas.

Perth had the second-highest proportion of people born overseas of all Australian capital cities after Sydney (31.3% and 31.7% respectively).

Usual residents who spoke a language other than English at home (223,166 persons) accounted for 11.4 per cent of the Western Australian population.

Further evidence of the cultural diversity within the Western Australian population is provided by ancestry data. At the 2006 Census, almost two-thirds (65.5%) of the State’s usual residents indicated that they had an ancestry other than Australian, while 56 per cent of residents who had both parents born in Australia indicated they had an ancestry other than Australian.

People from more than 200 different countries live, work and study in Western Australia, speaking as many as 270 languages and identifying with more than 100 religious faiths.

The 2006 Census of Population and Housing and settlement data provides the following snapshot of cultural and linguistic diversity in Western Australia:

• Of the State’s usual resident population, 27.1 per cent (531,747 persons) were born overseas. Almost half the population (49.2%) had one or both parents born overseas.
• Perth had the second highest proportion of people born overseas of all Australian capital cities after Sydney (31.3% and 31.7% respectively).
• There were 58,711 people (3% of the total State population) who identified as being of Indigenous origin.
• The three most common ancestries reported were English (30.9%), Australian (29.8%) and Irish (6.6%).
• There were 223,166 usual residents of Western Australia (11.4% of the total State population) who reported speaking a language other than English at home. This figure had increased from 9.9 per cent of the total resident population in 2001.
• Of the total Western Australian population who spoke a language other than English at home, there was a relatively high proficiency in English with 84.1 per cent reporting that they spoke English well or very well.
• Almost one third of the overseas born (160,651 persons, or 30.2%) reported speaking a language other than English at home.
• Of the overseas born population who spoke a language other than English at home, 82.6 per cent reported speaking English well or very well.
• The Western Australian population is diverse with respect to religious affiliation. Almost six in ten usual residents (59.3%) identified with Christianity; 22.9 per cent stated they had no religious affiliation, while a further 12.8 per cent did not respond to this (optional) question in the Census.
• In Western Australia, the unemployment rate for the Australian born population decreased from 7.4 per cent (44,569 persons) in 2001 to 3.7 per cent (23,708 persons) in 2006. In comparison, the unemployment rate for persons born overseas decreased from 7.7 per cent (21,350 persons) in 2001 to 3.9 per cent (12,064 persons) in 2006.
• The labour force participation rate for the Australian born population in Western Australia increased from 67.5 per cent in 2001 to 69.7 per cent in 2006. This represents an increase of 41,529 persons. The labour force participation rate for those born overseas increased from 60.1 per cent to 62.7 per cent over the same period, an increase of 29,545 persons.
• Western Australia continues to receive high levels of skilled migrants. In the 2006/7 financial year, Western Australia ranked third behind New South Wales and Victoria in terms of intake in the skilled migration stream, receiving 8352 (14%) of Australia’s skilled migrants. In the last three financial years from 2004/5, Western Australia received a total of 25,384 (15%) of Australia’s 168,937 skilled migrants.*
• In regard to humanitarian entrants, in the 2006/7 financial year, Western Australia ranked fourth, behind New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, receiving 1557 (13%) of the 12,122 migrants who entered Australia under the humanitarian (Refugee; Special Assistance; Special Humanitarian Program) stream. In the last three financial years from 2004/5, Western Australia received a total of 4732 (13%) of Australia’s 37,329 humanitarian entrants.*

* These figures do not include migrants and refugees entering through Onshore migration programs.
   Data obtained from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, settlement report website.

Where do the overseas–born come from?

In Western Australia the percentage of people born overseas (27%) has not changed since the 2001 Census although the overall number has increased by 35,955. For usual residents born outside Australia, nearly one third were born in the United Kingdom, with New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Malaysia and India comprising the other major countries of birth.

Figure 1 shows the top ten countries of birth for the overseas-born residents of Western Australia in 2001 and 2006:

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Who speaks a language other than English at home?

Among the overseas-born, there was a high proficiency in the English language with 93.7 per cent indicating they spoke only English at home or spoke English well or very well.

See the table below for the number of Australian-born and overseas-born persons in each age group who spoke only English or a language other than English at home.

Figure 2: Birthplace, language spoken at home and proficiency in spoken English (a), Western Australia, 2006

Language spoken at home (Australian Born)
Age group	Speaks English only		Speaks language other than English										Total(b)
			Speaks English
			Very well		Well		Not well		Not at all		Total(c)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.
0–14	309201	92	12294	4	4189	1	2352	0.70	1269	0.38	20723	6	337233
15–24	193122	94	8773	4	1080	0.52	244	0.12	41	0.02	10263	5	205789
25–34	166785	94	6592	4	768	0.43	201	0.11	23	0.01	7702	4	176814
35–44	164472	94	6845	4	812	0.47	204	0.12	17	0.01	8008	5	174128
45–54	150603	95	4962	3	727	0.46	206	0.13	21	0.01	6021	4	157714
55–64	106737	97	1586	1	317	0.29	154	0.14	23	0.02	2112	2	109664
65–74	61087	97	836	1	172	0.27	117	0.19	34	0.05	1181	2	62995
75 +	52726	96	384	0.70	105	0.19	98	0.18	24	0.04	628	1	54880
Total	1204733	94	42272	3	8170	0.64	3576	0.28	1452	0.11	56638	4	1279217

Language spoken at home (overseas-born)
Age group	Speaks English only		Speaks language other than English										Total(b)
			Speaks English
			Very well		Well		Not well		Not at all		Total(c)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.
0–14	21836	66	5864	18	2723	8	1412	4	495	1	10674	32	33118
15–24	26659	53	13695	27	7219	14	1537	3	128	0.26	22794	46	50007
25–34	38748	60	14816	23	7635	12	2180	3	229	0.36	25083	39	64431
35–44	72319	73	14514	15	8257	8	3398	3	334	0.33	26737	27	99742
45–54	73723	73	13489	13	8461	8	3910	4	392	0.39	26438	26	100792
55–64	66244	76	10616	12	6581	8	3107	4	367	0.42	20841	24	87630
65–74	38142	71	5020	9	5724	11	3360	6	692	1	14934	28	53617
75 +	28334	67	3409	8	4630	11	3767	9	1,187	3	13150	31	42410
Total	366005	69	81423	15	51230	10	22671	4	3824	0.72	160651	30	531747

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

1. Excludes visitors from overseas. Relates to persons usually resident in Western Australia.
2. Total includes language at home not stated, inadequately described and non-verbal so described.
3. Total includes proficiency in spoken English not stated.

The proportion of the population born overseas varied across the age groups. While 27.1 per cent of all Western Australians in 2006 were born overseas, the comparable proportion for seniors (persons aged 60 years and over) was 41 per cent.

• Of the 1,959,087 usual residents of Western Australia, 223,166 (11.4%) reported speaking a language other than English at home. This represents an increase of 20,121 persons since 2001 when the comparable proportion was 9.9 per cent.
• More than half a million (531,747) residents were born overseas, of whom 160,651 (30.2%) spoke a language other than English at home.
• Of the 1,279,217 residents of this State who were born in Australia, nearly one in 20 (56,638 persons or 4.4%) spoke a language other than English.
• In total, 32,553 Western Australians (1.7%) reported speaking English either not well or not at all. This proportion was higher for the overseas-born population (5%) while, for the overseas-born aged 65 years and over, the comparable proportion was 9.4 per cent.

Of the overseas-born in the Western Australian population aged 60 years and over[2], almost one in two (49.0%) was from the United Kingdom while one in ten (9.9%) was from Italy.

A slightly higher proportion of this age group also reported speaking a language other than English at home (12.6% compared with 11.4% for the total population).

For young people (aged 12–25 years)[3], 17.1 per cent were born overseas and 11.5 per cent spoke a language other than English at home.

The proportion of overseas born who reported speaking English not well or not at all was lower for Western Australia (5%) than for Australia as a whole (10%).

Figure 3: Age profile of overseas-born (a) Western Australia and Australia, 2006

Figure 3 provides an age profile of the overseas born for Western Australia and Australia at the 2006 Census.

• While the age profiles of the overseas-born at the State and national level were similar, there was a slightly greater proportion of Western Australian migrants in the middle age ranges (35–64 years).
• Australian migrants as a whole were more likely to be in the younger (15–34) or older (65 and over) age groups.

Of the 223,166 persons who reported speaking a language other than English at home, 48 per cent were male and 52 per cent were female. A very high proportion of these males (85.9%) reported that they spoke English well or very well. The comparable proportion for females was slightly lower (82.5%).

In every age group except 0–14 years, a greater proportion of men than women reported a high level of proficiency in spoken English. The disparity was greatest in the older age groups, with 73.7 per cent of males aged 65 years and over speaking English well or very well compared with only 62.6 per cent of females.

For both males and females, the 15–24 age group had the highest proportion who spoke English well or very well (93.3% and 92.7% respectively). This proportion declined with age, dropping to 59.6 per cent for males and 48.4 per cent for females in the age group 85 years and over.

Figure 4 provides an age-sex profile of Western Australian residents who spoke a language other than English at home but spoke English well or very well.

Figure 4: Persons speaking a language other than English at home who spoke English well or very well (a), Western Australia, 2006

In 2006, 1,603,041 Western Australians (81.8%) reported that they spoke only English at home.

After English, the Chinese languages (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien and Hakka) were most commonly spoken at home (35,690 persons, or 1.8% of the total resident population). Italian was the next most commonly spoken language (32,895 persons, 1.7%), followed by Vietnamese (13,246 persons, 0.7%), Arabic (7,696 persons, 0.4%) and German (7212 persons, 0.4%). Indonesian, Polish, Croatian, Spanish and Macedonian were all spoken at home by more than 5000 persons, with each of these languages accounting for approximately 0.3% of all languages spoken in Western Australia.

• In 2006, the Kimberley Statistical Division had the largest proportion of usual residents speaking a language other than English at home (14.9%); however, this proportion has declined from 20.0% in 1996.
• After the Kimberley, the Perth and Pilbara Statistical Divisions had the next highest proportions of residents speaking a language other than English (13.7% and 9.5% respectively).
• In the Kimberley Statistical Division, Australian Indigenous languages were spoken at home by 12.4 per cent of the resident population. Australian Indigenous languages accounted for almost half (42.8%) of all languages other than English spoken in the Kimberley.

Figure 5: Percentage of usual residents who spoke a language other than English at home, statistical divisions, Western Australia (a), 1996–2006

Figure 5 shows the per centage of all usual residents who spoke a language other than English at home, for the nine Statistical Divisions in Western Australia at the 1996, 2001 and 2006 Censuses.

Where do the overseas-born live?

• The Perth Statistical Division[4] continues to have the highest proportion of overseas-born persons. In 2006, almost one-third of the usual resident population (452,891 persons) of Perth was born overseas.
• Between 2001 and 2006, the proportion of the overseas-born population increased in the South Eastern, Midlands, Upper Great Southern, Lower Great Southern and South West Statistical Divisions. However, there was a decline in the overseas-born populations of Perth, Kimberley, Pilbara and Central.
• In total, there were 77,087 overseas-born persons (14.5%) residing in non-metropolitan Western Australia in 2006. This represents a 7.6 per cent increase in overseas born persons living outside the Perth metropolitan area since the 2001 Census.

Figure 6: Percentage of overseas-born, statistical divisions, Western Australia (a), 1996–2006

Figure 6 shows the proportion of overseas-born persons resident in each of the nine Statistical Divisions in 1996, 2001 and 2006.

How diverse are religious beliefs?

Figure 7 Breakdown of religious diversity for Western Australia between 1996 and 2006

	1996		2001		2006
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
Christianity	1,120,301	65.67	1,156,272	63.24	1,161,691	59.30
Buddhism	18,509	1.08	29,963	1.64	34,354	1.75
Islam	12,571	0.74	19,460	1.06	24,188	1.23
Hinduism	3,640	0.21	4,971	0.27	8,160	0.42
Judaism	4,671	0.27	5,057	0.28	5,294	0.27
Sikhism	800	0.05	1,090	0.06	1,393	0.07
Other religions	10,781	0.63	39,652	2.17	13,422	0.69
No religion	366,837	21.50	361,088	19.75	448,434	22.89
Not stated	165,190	9.68	196,442	10.74	250,209	12.77
Inadequately defined	2,649	0.16	14,298	0.78	11,942	0.61
Total population	1,705,949	100	1,828,293	100	1,959,087	100
(a) Excludes visitors from overseas. Relates to persons usually resident in Western Australia.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Religious diversity is an important and inseparable part of Western Australia’s cultural diversity. As indicated in the table above, religious diversity in Western Australia has increased since 1996.

• In 2006, six out of ten Western Australians (59.3%) reported an affiliation with Christianity (down from 65.7% in 1996 and 63.2% in 2001).
• After Christianity, the next most commonly reported religions were Buddhism (1.8%), Islam (1.2%) and Hinduism (0.4%).
• The numbers of adherents to Buddhism (34,354 persons) and Islam (24,188 persons) had almost doubled since 1996 while, over the same period, those affiliated with Hinduism had increased by 224 per cent from 3640 to 8160 persons.
• Other religious affiliations with more than 1000 adherents in 2006 included Judaism and Sikhism.
• The proportion of the population with no religious affiliation increased from 19.8 per cent in 2001 to 22.9 per cent in 2006.

[1] The broad definition of cultural diversity used in this information sheet and that of the ABS Census data varies from that used in the Western Australian Equity and Diversity Plan for the Public Sector Workforce 2006–2009. The ABS uses all overseas-born in its statistics relating to culturally diverse people whereas the Equity and Diversity Plan targets minority groups such as those from non-English speaking countries.

[2] The age category and statistics mentioned for seniors are those provided and defined by the Office for Senior Interests and Carers. The age breakdown for seniors differs from the standard age breakdowns provided by ABS in the figure 2 table.

[3] The age category and statistics mentioned for young people are those provided and defined by the Office for Youth. The age breakdown for young people differs from the standard age breakdowns provided by ABS in the figure 2 table.

[4] Statistical divisions are unit boundaries defined by the Australian Standard Geographic Classification and used for censuses and surveys within the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Statistical Divisions are the largest unit within each State or Territory. Within Western Australia there are nine statistical divisions – Perth, South Western, Lower Great Southern, Upper Great Southern, Midlands, South Eastern, Central, Pilbara and Kimberley.

Disclaimer
This publication has been prepared by the Office of Multicultural Interests to provide general statistical information on cultural diversity in Western Australia. The information contained herein is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of publishing. It is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment and for verifying all relevant representations, statements and information.
© April 2008 Office of Multicultural Interests

New and emerging communities in Western Australia

The purpose of this fact sheet is to assist State Government agencies to understand the term ‘new and emerging communities’. The information is designed to help agencies to better identify Western Australia’s new and emerging communities for the purpose of policy, program and service development, implementation and evaluation.

Western Australian community profiles – 2006 Census

The short profiles for 12 selected CaLD communities are based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2006 Census data. They include 10 established communities based on size and length of establishment, and two new and emerging communities (Somalia and Sudan). These will facilitate trend analysis and identify issues with implications for government policy and the delivery of services.

The community profiles are provided below in PDF format.

Western Australian community profiles – 2001 Census

In 2004, community profiles were released based on socio-economic and ethnicity-related demographic data from the ABS 2001 Census. The profiles were designed to assist service providers in delivering services to their diverse client base.

The community profiles are provided below in PDF format.

Western Australian diversity and economic snapshots

The Office of Multicultural Interests has developed a series of diversity and economic snapshots for Western Australia’s major birthplace groups and trading partners. The snapshots contain community, trade, demographic and consular information.

Selected 2011 Census data on cultural and linguistic diversity in WA by Local Government Area

The profiles below provide cultural diversity demographic data for each of Western Australia's 140 local government areas based on the 2011 and 2006 Census. It contains informative summaries on indicators such as country of birth, ancestry, religious affiliation and languages spoken.

Metropolitan Local Government Area profiles

Armadale LGA Bassendean LGA Bayswater LGA Belmont LGA Cambridge LGA Canning LGA Claremont LGA Cockburn LGA Cottesloe LGA East Fremantle LGA Fremantle LGA Gosnells LGA Joondalup LGA Kalamunda LGA Kwinana LGA

Melville LGA Mosman Park LGA Mundaring LGA Nedlands LGA Peppermint Grove LGA Perth LGA Rockingham LGA Serpentine-Jarrahdale LGA South Perth LGA Stirling LGA Subiaco LGA Swan LGA Victoria Park LGA Vincent LGA Wanneroo LGA

Regional Local Government Area profiles

Albany LGA Ashburton LGA Augusta-Margaret River LGA Beverley LGA Boddington LGA Boyup Brook LGA Bridgetown-Greenbushes LGA Brookton LGA Broome LGA Broomehill-Tambellup LGA Bruce Rock LGA Bunbury LGA Busselton LGA Capel LGA Carnamah LGA Carnarvon LGA Chapman Valley LGA Chittering LGA Cocos-Keeling LGA Collie LGA Coolgardie LGA Coorow LGA Corrigin LGA Cranbrook LGA Cue LGA Cuballing LGA Cunderdin LGA Dalwallinu LGA Dandaragan LGA Dardanup LGA Denmark LGA Derby-West Kimberley LGA Donnybrook-Balingup LGA Dowerin LGA Dumbleyung LGA Dundas LGA East Pilbara LGA

Esperance LGA Exmouth LGA Gingin LGA Gnowangerup LGA Goomalling LGA Greater Geraldton LGA Halls Creek LGA Harvey LGA Irwin LGA Jerramungup LGA Kalgoorlie-Boulder LGA Katanning LGA Kellerberrin LGA Kent LGA Kojonup LGA Kondinin LGA Koorda LGA Kulin LGA Lake Grace LGA Laverton LGA Leonora LGA Mandurah LGA Manjimup LGA Meekatharra LGA Menzies LGA Merredin LGA Mingenew LGA Moora LGA Morawa LGA Mount Magnet LGA Mount Marshall LGA Mukinbudin LGA Murchison LGA Murray LGA (WA) Nannup LGA Narembeen LGA

Narrogin Shire LGA Narrogin Town LGA Ngaanyatjarraku LGA Northam LGA Northampton LGA Nungarin LGA Perenjori LGA Pingelly LGA Plantagenet LGA Port Hedland LGA Quairading LGA Ravensthorpe LGA Roebourne LGA Sandstone LGA Shark Bay LGA Tammin LGA Territory of Christmas Island LGA Three Springs LGA Toodyay LGA Trayning LGA Upper Gascoyne LGA Victoria Plains LGA Wagin LGA Wandering LGA Waroona LGA West Arthur LGA Westonia LGA Wickepin LGA Williams LGA Wiluna LGA Wongan-Ballidu LGA Woodanilling LGA Wyalkatchem LGA Wyndham-East Kimberley LGA Yalgoo LGA Yilgarn LGA York LGA