2901.0 - Census Dictionary, 2011  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 23/05/2011   
   Page tools: Print Print Page  
2011 Census Dictionary >> Glossary >> Scope and coverage


Scope and coverage

The 2011 Census of Population and Housing aims to count every person who spent Census Night, 9 August 2011, in Australia. This includes people in the six states, the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, and the external territories of Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The other Australian external territories (Norfolk Island, and minor islands such as Heard and McDonald Islands), are outside the scope of the Australian Census.

People who leave Australia but who are not required to undertake migration formalities, for example those on oil and gas rigs off the Australian coast, and expeditioners to the Australian Antarctic Territory are also included in the Census. They are coded to Off-Shore Statistical Areas Level 1.

The only groups of people who spend Census Night in Australia but are excluded from the Census are foreign diplomats and their families, and foreign crew members on ships who remain on the ship and do not undertake migration formalities.

The Census also includes people on vessels in or between Australian ports and people on board long distance trains, buses or aircraft. People entering Australia before midnight on Census Night are counted, while people leaving an Australian port for an overseas destination before midnight on Census Night are not. Visitors to Australia are included regardless of how long they have been in the country or how long they plan to stay. However, for people who will be in Australia less than one year, only basic demographic data are available.

Detainees under the jurisdiction of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, in detention centres in Australia, people in police lock-ups or prisons, are in the scope of the Census. For the 2011 Census, details will be sourced from administrative data, so only basic demographic statistics such as age, sex and marital status may be available.

All private dwellings, except diplomatic dwellings, are included in the Census, whether occupied or unoccupied. Caravans in caravan parks and manufactured homes in manufactured home estates, are counted only if occupied. For the 2006 and 2011 Censuses, unoccupied residences in retirement villages (self-contained) are included. Occupied non-private dwellings, such as hospitals, prisons, hotels, etc. are also included.

See also Other territories, Place of enumeration, Place of Usual Residence (PURP), Visitors to Australia.






Previous PageNext Page