Our Diverse Community

People who live, work and visit the City of Greater Dandenong have different cultural, religious and language backgrounds.

This diversity also means that people are different in many ways, such as their age, gender, race and colour. Some people have a disability, are married and have kids. People also have different political beliefs and sexual preferences. 

Understanding the strength of diversity is challenging, rewarding and ongoing.  All Council staff have a role in meeting the needs of residents and ratepayers through good customer service.

Council offers services to support diversity, such as:

• culturally appropriate family services
• interpreters 
• information in languages other than English
• support groups and more.

Greater Dandenong welcomes around 2700 newly arrived people each year. Our residents come from a range of countries, which adds to our diverse and vibrant community.

When people arrive in Australia though, many face challenges adapting to new a culture and language. Often they have few financial resources and little or no family support. That's why Council and volunteers provide new arrivals with support services. 

Major birthplaces of residents

• Australia - 38 per cent
• Vietnam - 9 per cent
• India - 7 per cent
• Sri Lanka - 4 per cent
• Cambodia - 4 per cent
• China - 2.5 per cent
• Afghanistan - 1.8 per cent
• New Zealand - 1.6 per cent
• Italy - 1.5 per cent
• England - 1.5 per cent

Top 10 languages spoken in Greater Dandenong

• English
• Vietnamese
• Khmer
• Cantonese
• Punjabi
• Greek
• Sinhalese
• Mandarin
• Arabic
• Italian