Measuring CALD communities with Census data

I recently attended a seminar that looked at spatial patterns of a particular CALD community in Melbourne. The presenter expressed surprise at the age structure as there were very few children born in this particular country. To me, it was a classic example of "traps for young players" when analysing Census data on CALD communities. They are generally measured by birthplace, ancestry and language, but the size of the community will differ depending on the variable used. With the release of 2021 Census data later this year, it's worthwhile revisiting this topic ahead of time.

CALD communities in Australia

The latest population estimates produced by the ABS show that in 2020, 7.6 million people were born overseas, comprising almost 30% of the Australian population. The most common birthplaces were England, India and China. The England born population declined between 2016 and 2020, whereas continued strong migration from India and China saw a strong increase in the number of people born in these countries. 

Notably, the Nepalese born population more than doubled between 2016 and 2020. With a population exceeding 130,000, Nepal is now one of the larger CALD communities in Australia. 

Of the main overseas born communities, Italy and Greece recorded the largest declines between 2016 and 2020. This reflects an older age structure with mortality, and possibly emigration, outnumbering new migrants from these countries. 

Measuring CALD communities

There are a number of ways to measure the size of a CALD community. In Australia, the key source of data is the Census. Questions relating to birthplace, language, ancestry are included on the Census form. In addition to standard socio-economic variables such as age, labour force status and income, variables such as religion and proficiency in English are also useful in determining the characteristics of CALD communities. Between Censuses, the ABS estimates the size of CALD communities, incorporating data from the Dept of Home Affairs. 

I've written previous blogs that explain the key issues in measuring CALD communities. The size of a community will differ depending on whether you use birthplace, language or ancestry. Importantly, some communities can only be identified using one variable. My blog on the characteristics of the Maori community explains why ancestry is the most appropriate variable for that community. I've also looked at the definition of the "African" community and how this might be measured with better insights.

The Greek community in Australia

The wave of migration to Australia in the post-war period saw large increases in the number of people born in non-English speaking countries such as Greece. The Greek community is well established in Australia and therefore they provide a great illustration of the differences in the size of the community (and their characteristics) depending on how they're measured. 

The Greek born community is an ageing one, with Census data indicating most arrived before 1975. In 2016, there were approximately 93,740 Greek born people in Australia, but numbers have been declining for some time as mortality takes hold. In 2020, the median age of the Greek born community was 74.0 years, compared to 37.8 years for the total Australian population. Only the Latvian born community had a higher median age (78.2 years) in 2020.

The graph below shows the difference in the age structure of the Greek community depending on whether it's measured on birthplace, ancestry or language. The population of 93,740 Greek born people is dwarfed by those with Greek ancestry (297,145) and those who speak Greek at home (237,586).

The older age structure of the Greek born population is clear, with a significant proportion of the population (76%) aged 60 years and over. This includes 8% aged 85 years and over, four times the national figure. In contrast, less than 5% of the Greek born population is aged under 30 years. This is despite 6% of Greek born people arriving in the country since 2006, including a small increase in the mid 2010s coinciding with the debt crisis in that country.

Most of the Greek community are the descendants of those who settled here in the post-war period, hence the far larger number of Greek speakers and people with Greek ancestry. This is a common theme amongst all CALD communities and it's very evident in those that are well established over many decades. Children and grandchildren of original migrants are highly likely to identify with the cultural background of their family and/or speak the language at home. 

In contrast to those born in Greece, 22% of Greek speakers and 26% of those with Greek ancestry are aged under 30 years. This is a clear indication of the importance of these other variables in measuring the size of a CALD community. It's definitely not all about where you were born, but particularly in the case of ancestry, what community you identify with.

Concluding comments

Although the number of Greek born people is declining in number, this is only part of the story. The Greek community continues to be defined by the high number of Greek speakers, and those who claim Greek ancestry. This example is a key reason why different variables need consideration when measuring CALD communities. Other Census variables that offer insights into the characteristics of CALD communities include proficiency in English, year of arrival and religion. The 2021 Census data is scheduled for release in mid 2022, which will provide updated insights on a range of social indicators.