Planning the 2021 Census

Outlines how we propose to conduct the 2021 Census and explains how we will protect the privacy and confidentiality of the information you provide

Released
16/09/2019

Preface

The 2021 Census of Population and Housing (Census) will be Australia’s 18th Census.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is planning the design and implementation of the 2021 Census in consultation with the community and relevant organisations. This document outlines the steps we are taking in that process.

The Census is one of the largest and the most important statistical collections undertaken by the ABS. The Census measures the number and key characteristics of people in Australia on Census night, including where we live, how old we are, our ethnicity, religion (optional to answer), income, education, and our living and housing arrangements.

Information from the Census helps governments, businesses and not for profit organisations across the country make informed decisions. The Census improves the accuracy of population estimates for Australia in each state, territory, and local government area. It informs decisions on electoral boundaries and underpins funding to states, territories and local governments. It informs decisions for services and infrastructure such as roads, childcare, hospitals and schools for every community in Australia. The Census is also a vital tool for a myriad of investment decisions made by businesses across all sectors of the economy, and is used by community groups to inform support for some of the most vulnerable people in Australia.

As our society changes and technology advances, so too must the way we collect information through the Census. The ABS is committed to ensuring the Census collects accurate and timely information, in ways that are cost-effective, easy for people to participate and assures the privacy of personal information.

We will continue to encourage people to complete their Census online and lessons from the 2016 Census are informing our approach to the 2021 Census. Of course, a digital Census will not meet the needs of everyone, so paper forms will also be available.

The questions asked in the Census also determine the usefulness of the data collected. Drawing on an extensive public consultation process and testing by the ABS, the Australian Government is considering its decision on the Census topics for 2021.

This publication outlines how we propose to conduct the 2021 Census and explains how we will protect the privacy and confidentiality of the information you provide.

We look forward to your participation in the 2021 Census and thank you for your ongoing support.

David W. Kalisch
Australian Statistician  

About the Census

The next Census will be held in 2021. Censuses have been conducted in Australia in the first half of August since 1991.

The Census measures the number and some characteristics of people in Australia on Census night and provides a snapshot of the economic, social and cultural make-up of our nation.

Australia’s first national Census was held in 1911. The data collected over time through the Census helps to tell the story of how Australia is changing. It informs planning for services and the level of funding to be distributed between state and local governments.

Census data is used by people and organisations from all over Australia to inform decisions on issues that impact on our lives. This includes governments and government agencies, departments, local councils, not for profit organisations, researchers, businesses and community groups.

Census data also helps to:

  • determine the number of seats allocated to each state and territory in the House of Representatives and informs decisions on electoral boundaries
  • inform the distribution of billions of dollars of annual GST revenue to states and territories - $64 billion in 2017-18
  • determine state and territory grants to local government areas.
     

Legal authority for the Census

Who is included in the Census?

Responding to our changing environment

Making the 2021 Census a success

Our approach to privacy, confidentiality and security

We understand the importance of the data we collect and hold. We respect your data and take our duty to protect it very seriously.

We never release data that could be linked to you or identify you. We abide by the Australian Privacy Principles and our legislative requirements.

We understand that keeping your data secure means we need to continuously review our practices and procedures. We do this by working closely with Australian Government security and cyber-security agencies and seeking external privacy advice.

Privacy

Keeping your data secure

Why we collect names and addresses

Consultation on how long names and addresses should be kept

Data integration

How we plan to conduct the 2021 Census

The Census is a major exercise that takes around six years to plan, develop, test, implement, deliver, and disseminate the information collected.

Cycle of Census planning

The topics​​​​

The 21st century digital service

Completing the Census

Every household, which may be comprised of one or more people, and each individual in a non private dwelling, such as a hotel, is required to complete the Census.

Completing the Census online

Completing a paper Census form

Requesting a private Census form

Away from home in August 2021

Making it easy for people to participate

The ABS is working with the public and community organisations to ensure everyone in Australia and its territories can easily participate in the 2021 Census.

People will be able to schedule when they complete the Census, either in the days before or after Census night. We will support people to complete through online and telephone help services, community networks and through personal assistance by our field staff where required.

Advertising and communication campaign

Field staff

Support services

Accessibility

Our partners

Preparing for the Census – Census tests

Testing is an important part of the Census. Field tests help us check our processes to ensure the Census runs smoothly, people can participate easily and quality data is produced.

The first field test is scheduled for October 2019 in areas around Wagga Wagga, New South Wales and areas south of Brisbane, Queensland. This will test any impact on data quality from the proposed new and changed topics and questions. It will also test whether advising people they can complete the Census a few days before and after Census night has an impact on response rates or data quality.

In 2020 there will be a series of tests. These will test remote area strategies, and examine the operational readiness of our staff, systems, processes and vendors for the 2021 Census.

National archive

Strategic risks and assurance

Planning

Assurance

Data quality assurance

Among national statistical agencies, data quality is generally assessed on whether the data is fit-for-purpose. This means that data quality is assessed not only on the accuracy of statistics, but their timeliness and relevance.

ABS has a quality framework for all its statistics, which it will be applying to Census data. More information on the ABS Data Quality Framework can be found on the website.

In order to produce high quality data from the 2021 Census, we are focussing on the design of the Census form and the procedures for data collection and processing.

Quality assurance

Statistical risk management

Data quality controls

Census Post Enumeration Survey

2021 Census Statistical Independent Assurance Panel

How we process Census data

The ABS aims to collect and process the information you provide on your Census form quickly and accurately. The way we manage this is vital to ensure high quality statistics.

We record when the ABS receives your Census form so our field staff only contact households that haven’t responded. This helps ensure coverage of all households. As with previous Censuses, a secure Data Capture Centre will be established to receive paper Census forms. A separate Data Operations Centre will process the information collected from all digital and paper Census forms.

As part of our data processing approach, we take many steps to ensure we correctly capture information from all forms we receive. A variety of quality assurance measures will be implemented throughout the data processing cycle. This is critical for providing accurate and high quality statistics for government, researchers and the community.

The ABS plans to start releasing Census data from mid-2022.

Data innovations

New approaches to undertaking a Census are being pursued by statistical organisations around the world. Australia, together with Canada, New Zealand, USA and the UK, is looking at approaches that use data obtained as Australians interact with government, businesses and other organisations (administrative data) to improve the quality of Census data, inform our operations, and collect our data more efficiently.

The 2021 Census will use administrative data to improve how we gather and process data from Census forms. For more information about these innovations, refer to Using administrative data for the 2021 Census.

Better information increases participation

Improving how we determine an occupied/unoccupied dwelling

Improving counts of Australians

Release of results

Product and services review

Throughout 2019, the ABS is seeking ideas from data users on improvements to, or on new Census products and services to meet emerging needs. Information on proposed Census data products and services will be published on our website from 2020.

Geographic boundaries

How Census data is used to inform community services

The data collected in the Census is used to reset official population estimates and is critical to setting federal, state and territory electoral boundaries. It informs the allocation of billions of dollars of government funding to states, territories and local governments, and feeds into decisions about health care, education, social security, housing, transport and infrastructure.

Census data is also used by many organisations to help plan important support services in our community. Here’s a snapshot of how some organisations are using Census data.

Public transport and roads

Local council services

Institute for Urban Indigenous Health

Orange Sky Laundry

More information

To stay up to date with progress on planning for the 2021 Census, you can:

  • visit abs.gov.au
  • subscribe to receive our newsletter straight to your inbox
  • register your interest in working as part of our field staff in 2021.

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 2089.0.
 

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