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Indigenous Statistics for Schools
 



About Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander Statistics ABOUT ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER STATISTICS

Census Indigenous Identification Question post 1967 Referendum

From 1971, the Census Indigenous identification question went through a number of revisions before a standard Indigenous identification question was developed in 1996. The standard question continues to be used today.

Below are the Indigenous identification questions asked in each Census from 1971 as they appeared on the Census form. Questions regarding ancestry have always been included on Census forms, but it is only from the 1971 Census that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were counted as part of the population. Prior to 1971, the question was used only to exclude Indigenous people from population counts.

1971 What is this person's racial origin?
(if of mixed origin indicate the one to which he considers himself to belong)
1971 Indigenous Census question.
1976

What is each person's racial origin?
(if of mixed origin indicate the one to which the person considers himself/ herself to belong).
1976 Indigenous Census question
1981 Is this person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Origin?
For persons of mixed origin indicate the one to which they consider themselves to belong.
1981 Indigenous Census question
1988 Is the person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Origin?
For persons of mixed origin indicate the one to which they consider themselves to belong.
1991 Is the person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Origin?
For persons of mixed origin indicate the one to which they consider themselves to belong.
1996 Is the person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait islander Origin?
For persons of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander origin, mark both 'yes' boxes.
2001 Is the person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Origin?
For persons of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander origin, mark both 'yes' boxes.
2006 Is the person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Origin?
For persons of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander origin, mark both 'yes' boxes.


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