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Media release –
National

Australians apply in the tens of thousands to help make a difference this Census

23 May 2016 | CO/89

Media note: video, audio and stills available via download link

Tens of thousands of Australians have taken up the call to become 2016 Census Field Officers, but with just six days until applications close, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is appealing to others to apply before it’s too late.

For the past three weeks the ABS has searched the country to find 38,000 paid Field Officers who can work for up to three months on the country’s largest ever peacetime logistical operation.

Head of the 2016 Census Program, Duncan Young, said that while the response has exceeded expectations, people are encouraged to apply this week so they don’t miss their chance to be part of this one-in-five-year event.

“Applications close on May 29, so this week is your last chance to get some flexible paid work and be part of one of the country’s most important projects,” Mr Young said.

“We’re looking for people who hold a valid driver’s licence, are comfortable with basic technology and know their communities well.”

So far Tasmanians have taken up the call for Census Field Officers with the most enthusiasm, followed closely by Victorians, South Australians and Western Australians.

The numbers of applicants in Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT, and the Northern Territory are steadily increasing, but more are needed in their key regions.

Mr Young said he wants to see Australians from all walks of life applying for these positions to make sure no one is left out.

“There will be hundreds of thousands of people doing the Census for the first time in 2016, from young Australians to recent arrivals from all around the world. It’s therefore important we have a diverse group of Field Officers who understand their communities and can explain to people why the Census is important for them, their families and their communities,” he said.

“Census data will guide some of the biggest decisions of our future, so we need to make sure everyone has their voice heard.”

The 2016 Census is shaping up to become the biggest online event in Australia’s history, with more than two-thirds of people expected to complete it online.

For the first time Census Field Officers will carry mobile devices out in the field, allowing them to receive and communicate up to date information in real time, as well as collecting traditional paper Census forms.

Field Officers will earn up to $21.61 per hour and receive motor vehicle allowances.

Applicants must be Australian citizens or have the legal right to work in Australia. To view the applicant information kits and to apply online, visit www.abs.gov.au/careers. Applications close on 29 May 2016.



Video, audio and stills are available for download through the following link
https://abs-au.sharefile.com/d-s271a80c1b72439aa

Video can be previewed at https://vimeo.com/164669209
Password: August92016



Background information on the 2016 Census of Population and Housing

Data collected from the 2016 Census will support funding decisions for services and infrastructure including housing, transport, education, industry, hospitals, and the environment.

Data from the 2011 Census revealed that Australians come from more than 200 countries, speak more than 300 languages, belong to more than 100 religious groups and work more than 1,000 occupations.

It also revealed the most common industry of employment is School Education (467,373), and the most common language spoken at home other than English is Mandarin (336,410). What will the 2016 Census show?

For further information on the 2016 Census, visit www.census.abs.gov.au

Key 2016 Census dates:

2 May 2016Field Officer recruitment begins
Late July to early Aug 2016Instruction letters and forms will be delivered
9 August 2016Census night
Mid Aug to late Sept 2016Field visits
April 2017The first results from the 2016 Census released



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