2026 Census website content - Privacy Collection Notice

In preparation for every Census, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) collects feedback from individuals to inform a consistent user experience and accessibility requirements across the ABS Website, for the Census. The purpose of collection information from these user testing sessions is to better understand users experiences when accessing the website and completing Census accordingly. 

Participation is voluntary and user testing sessions will be conducted using Microsoft Teams (MS Teams), in which the ABS will collect your personal and sensitive information through audio and visual content, including your first name, email address, whether born outside Australia, whether English is a second language, age range, locality, gender identity, image, voice and opinions.

Collected information will be used by the ABS will not be shared with other third parties, unless required by law.  We reserve the right to edit (for example, remove defamatory material or, where appropriate, de-identify personal or sensitive information) where necessary. 

Recorded sessions and notes scribed from ABS staff members present in the user testing session will be restricted with access to only relevant ABS staff and stored in secure data centres in Australia.  

The video recording of your user testing session will be deleted from MS Teams and ABS systems no longer than 4 weeks following collection. Any deidentified information will be stored by the ABS for record keeping purposes and destroyed in accordance with the relevant legislative requirements.

We comply with the Privacy Act 1988 and the Archives Act 1983 in the management and handling of your personal and sensitive information.

The ABS Privacy Policy for Managing and Operating Our Business provides more information about how we handle your personal information including information on how you can make a complaint if you feel we have not adequately protected your privacy. The Policy describes how we will respond to your complaint, and what you can do if you are not satisfied with our response.

You can contact the ABS Privacy Officer (details below) who will respond to enquiries or assist with complaints.

ABS Privacy Officer contact details

By email: privacy@abs.gov.au 

By post: ABS Privacy Officer
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Locked Bag 10, Belconnen ACT 2617