For questions about the Census please contact the Australian Bureau of Statistics on 1300 214 531 between 8:00am and 8:00pm. From August 8 to August 10 the telephone line will be open between 7:00am and 10pm. You can also visit the Australian Bureau of Statistics website or Facebook page.
The following information is provided on behalf of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
The Census of Population and Housing (Census) is Australia’s largest statistical collection and is undertaken by the ABS. For more than 100 years, the Census has provided a snapshot of Australia, helping to shape our nation’s education, health, transport and infrastructure.
The next Census will be held on August 9.
The Census provides important information about Australia’s people and their housing. It helps estimate Australia’s population, which is used to distribute government funds and plan services for your community.
In 2016, the Census will count close to 10 million dwellings and approximately 24 million people, the largest ever to date.
Completing the Census
From August 1, most households will receive a letter from the ABS, addressed ‘To the Resident’. The letter will include your household’s unique Census Login and instructions on how to complete the Census online, as well as directions on how to order a paper form. Some households will receive a paper form upfront.
The online Census form has been built with accessibility in mind. It has undergone extensive technical and user-based testing by Vision Australia to ensure people using assistive technology have a smooth experience.
The online Census form is compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) to Level AA standards. It was certified accessible against these standards by Vision Australia.
Accessible formats
The Census form can be requested in Braille or large print format. An audio version of the Census and accompanying help documentation is also available on CD from the Census Inquiry Service or digitally on the CensusAustralia YouTube channel.
To request the Census form in an alternative format please contact the ABS on 1300 214 531.
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, please contact the National Relay Service.
Support to complete the Census
Support is available for anyone who needs help completing the Census. The ABS encourages people to seek help from someone they trust to complete their form. This person may be a family member, friend, carer or neighbour. In some locations, such as hospitals and nursing homes, Special Field Officers will be employed to provide assistance.
Privacy
The personal information collected in the Census is not shared with any other government departments or agencies, including the police, Australian Taxation Office or Centrelink.
The ABS is legally bound to protect the privacy of all Australians and will not release your information in a way that will identify any individual or household.
Census data availability
The first results from the 2016 Census will be released in April 2017.