Melbourne, July 20: The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today briefed multicultural media and community representatives on the upcoming 17th Census of Population and Housing (Census), which will take place on August 9.
The 2016 Census Program Head, Duncan Young, stressed the importance of the Census in gaining an accurate snapshot of Australia’s cultural make-up.
“We are fortunate to enjoy so much diversity in Australia. In 2016 we expect to see for the first time that more than half of Australia’s population are either born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas,” Mr Young said.
The data collected is used to plan for services and allocate billions of dollars of funding in communities around Australia.
“Making sure everyone takes part on August 9, across all of Australia’s 200 different countries of birth and the 300 different languages spoken at home, helps us understand the needs of each community. Census data informs planning for services used in these communities every day, such as translation, migrant, settlement and English language services.
“It’s heartening to see community organisations representing cultural groups in Australia showing so much goodwill and commitment to raising awareness of the Census among multicultural communities,” Mr Young said.
Community and media briefings are being held in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and a major launch in Sydney on 27 July, with attendance by media, government and community organisations.
In 2016, 16 million people are expected to complete the form online, making this the largest online event in Australian history.
Later this month, most households will receive a letter addressed ‘To the Resident’, containing a unique login and instructions on how to complete the forms online, as well as details on how to request a paper form.
The form can be completed wherever there is internet access, using a desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile device.
All information provided is private and will not be shared with anyone else, including other Government agencies.
Key dates:
- August 1, 2016 Delivery of instruction letters and forms begins
- August 9, 2016 Census night
- August 26, 2016 Field Officers begin household visits
- April 2017 2016 data released
More at: census.abs.gov.au