Cultural Diversity
Frankston City is home to a community with a range of diverse cultural backgrounds, shaped by migration histories and languages.
Cultural diversity is a long‑standing and valued part of local life, contributing to the city’s identity, connections and strengths.
This story summarises key cultural diversity insights from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2016 and 2021 Censuses, showing how the community is changing over time and how this information supports transparent decision‑making.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are the First Nations of this land. Information about First Nations communities will be shared separately to ensure their history, culture and lived experience are represented in a distinct and culturally appropriate manner.
About the data
Conducted every five years, the Census provides a snapshot of the population, with the most recent held in 2021 during COVID‑19 when international travel and migration were significantly disrupted.
The next scheduled Census is for August 2026. This will provide updated insights into migration, language use and cultural diversity.
Important to know
Census data is self‑reported and reflects how people choose to describe their identity, background and language at that time.
Ancestry
Country of Birth
Recent Overseas Arrivals
Languages Spoken at Home
Religion
How Council uses this information
Find out more
Ancestry describes a person’s cultural background, regardless of where they were born or what language they speak at home.
In 2016 and 2021, Australian and English ancestries remained the most reported with little change among other groups. Compared with Greater Melbourne, Frankston City has higher proportions of residents with Australian, English and Scottish ancestries and lower proportions of Chinese.
What’s changed?
Ancestry patterns in Frankston City have remained largely consistent across recent Census periods, with Australian and UK ancestries continuing to be the most common.
Country of birth shows where people were born and highlights migration patterns within the community.
In both 2016 and 2021, most residents in Frankston City were born in Australia, with around one in five born overseas. This is a lower overseas-born proportion than in neighbouring councils and Greater Melbourne.
The most common countries of birth outside Australia are the United Kingdom, New Zealand and India.
What’s changed?
Changes between 2016 and 2021 were small and did not substantially alter the country‑of‑birth profile.
Recent arrivals are people who arrived in Australia in the five years before the 2021 Census.
The most common countries of origin were the Philippines, India, United Kingdom and China. The proportion of recent arrivals was lower than in neighbouring areas and the Greater Melbourne average.
In 2021, 9% of people born overseas in Frankston City had arrived in Australia within the previous five years, a decline from 11% at the time of the 2016 Census.
What’s changed?
Migration patterns in 2021 were affected by COVID‑19 border closures, which reduced international arrivals. Hence, recent arrivals made up a smaller proportion of the overseas‑born population compared with earlier Census periods.
Language diversity reflects cultural background, family connections and migration history.
Most people in Frankston City speak only English at home, though many also speak other languages.
The most commonly spoken languages other than English are Mandarin, Greek, Filipino/Tagalog, Italian and Russian.
Most people who speak another language also speak English well, while a small proportion require additional support. Understanding the languages spoken at home helps Council and service providers to deliver accessible information, services and community programs that meet local needs.
What’s changed?
Between 2016 and 2021, the number of people speaking Mandarin at home increased, while some European languages declined. These changes reflect gradual shifts in migration patterns over time. Changes in English proficiency between 2016 and 2021 were small, with no major shift in overall English-proficiency levels.
Religion provides insight into belief systems and cultural identity within the community.
More than half of residents reported having no religion in 2021—a higher proportion than neighbouring areas and Greater Melbourne. Christian religions remain the most commonly reported among those with a religious affiliation.
Understanding patterns of religious affiliation helps Council and service providers plan inclusive community facilities, services and events that reflect changing community needs.
What’s changed?
Between 2016 and 2021, the proportion of residents reporting no religion increased substantially in Frankston City reflecting a shift away from organised religion, consistent with wider trends across Australia.
Cultural diversity data helps Council understand community characteristics and emerging trends.
This information supports:
- Inclusive service planning;
- Accessible communication and community engagement;
- Program design and community funding;
- Long‑term planning and policy development.
More detailed and interactive cultural diversity data is available through:
- .id community demographics profiles for Frankston City (suburb‑level data, maps and trends): Home | Frankston City | Community profile
- These resources support residents, service providers, educators and researchers seeking more detailed information