Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Sunshine West
10 km²
A strong migration trend has shaped Sunshine West into a diverse hub where over half the population was born overseas. This is a community of large households and a high proportion of overseas-born residents, particularly from Vietnam. While the area has a relatively young typical age of 38, it is marked by a high number of one-parent families and a significant reliance on public transport. It is a residential area where many people live in spacious, separate houses, though weekly incomes are generally well below the state and national figures.
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The typical resident is 38, which is much lower than in most similar areas. About 16.7% of the population are children under 15, and 18.2% are seniors, meaning the age split is fairly balanced.
Overseas birth is very common here, with 51.0% of people born outside Australia, a figure far above the national rate of 27.7%. Vietnamese ancestry is the most prominent, accounting for 19.4% of the community.
Language diversity is a defining feature, as 61.9% of people use a language other than English at home. This is far above the national average, and 15.6% of residents speak little or no English.
Religion plays a significant role here; only 22.3% of people report no religion, which is far below the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the most common faith at 45.5%.
While the area has a higher proportion of adults with a bachelor degree or higher than most similar areas, this figure of 18.8% is still well below the national average of 26.3%.
Household earnings are generally low, with a typical weekly family income of $1,533, which is well below the Victorian figure of $2,136. The typical personal weekly income is also much lower than most areas at $565.
A high number of people need help with daily activities, at 8.8%, which is well above the national average. However, the rate of long-term health conditions is a little below the state average.
Volunteer rates are among the lowest at this level, with only 6.8% of people volunteering, well below the national figure of 14.1%.
There are 97 First Nations people in the area, and 8.2% speak a First Nations language, which is a little above the state average.
Homes here are more crowded than usual, with 2.8 people per home. There is also a much higher rate of one-parent families at 20.7% compared to the national figure of 14.1%.
The area is dominated by separate houses, with 82.6% of homes being detached. These homes are often large, as 87.7% have three or more bedrooms, far above the national average.
Public transport use is high, and the area is very well served with 91 stops. However, transit times to the city are higher than most areas, taking about 67 minutes.
Recent overseas arrivals make up 11.2% of the population, which is higher than most similar areas, though this is still well below the national rate of 14.5%.
The unemployment rate is 8.7%, which is much higher than most areas and well above the national figure of 5.1%. People are most commonly employed in health care, transport, and manufacturing.
The area is very walkable, with 95.2% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Residents also have excellent access to groceries, with 88.3% living within a 15-minute walk.