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Celebrating their heritage The 2021 Census data has highlighted that more than one in every 10 Maribyrnong residents has Vietnamese heritage, placing it as the most prevalent within Maribyrnong outside of Australian and English. Maribyrnong mayor Anthony Tran said the community was “incredibly proud” of its strong and rich Vietnamese heritage and culture. “As the son of Vietnamese refugees, I know first-hand how welcoming our community is,” he said. “Vietnamese culture is ingrained in the inner west and contributes to the strong social fabric of Maribyrnong. “This can be seen in our local eateries, shops, and festivals and events that celebrate and embrace Vietnamese culture.” Braybrook’s Quang Minh Temple Venerable Abbot Thich Phuoc Tan said the hard work of a number of people has created a welcoming place for Vietnamese people. “Many migrants and refugees have called this place home and shared our cultural treasures with other communities to enrich this city’s multicultural heritage,” he said. Matthew Sims Maribyrnong mayor Anthony Tran and the Venerable Abbot Thich Phuoc Tan at the Quang Minh Buddhist Temple. (Damjan Janevski) 287872_01
Mental health toll shows By Matthew Sims
12533599-HC07-22
The proportion of Maribyrnong residents suffering from a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety, has been recorded above the state and national figures, according to the 2021 Census data. Released on Tuesday, June 28, the data highlighted that 9.9 per cent of Maribyrnong respondents indicated they suffer from a mental health condition, which was 1.1 per cent more than the proportion of Victorian and Australian respondents who detailed they had a mental health condition.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Australian Statistician, Dr David Gruen, said the 2021 Census was the first time a question about long-term health conditions was included. “This is critical data to inform planning and service delivery decisions about how treatment and care is provided for all Australians,” he said. “Census data complements existing ABS health surveys by providing additional insights about the communities that require services to support complex health needs.” In Hobsons Bay, 8.4 per cent of respondents indicated they suffer from a mental health
condition, which was slightly below the 8.8 per cent figure across Victoria and Australia. Across the Maribyrnong local government area, there was an extra 2921 residents since the 2016 Census, with a total of 85,209 respondents. In Hobsons Bay, there was a 2.9 per cent population increase from the 2016 Census data to 2021, with a total of 91,322 respondents in the 2021 Census. Spotswood was among the biggest growth suburbs, with 216 new residents joining the community during the 2016 to 2021 period, representing a 8.3 per cent jump. Other significant population increases
included Altona (6.8 per cent), Brooklyn (6.6 per cent) and Braybrook (5.3 per cent). Altona Meadows’ population decreased by 3.6 per cent over five years, from 19,160 to 18,479. In Maribyrnong, 44.5 per cent of respondents said they followed no religion, while 18.9 per cent were Catholic and 8 per cent followed Buddhism. In Hobsons Bay, 38.2 per cent of those surveyed indicated they followed no religion, while 25.7 per cent were Catholic and 5.6 per cent were Eastern Orthodox. ■
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Kenyon-Smith Denture Clinic A family tradition for 60 years 100 Pier Street, Altona 9315 9231 • 27 Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing 9748 8204
Dental Prosthetists Full dentures, Partial dentures, Repairs - relines • Victorian Denture Scheme • Veterans’ Affairs John, Andrew, Simon and Paul Kenyon-Smith