Have your say on our Cultural and Ethnic classification.

Media Statement
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Released
9/04/2025

Australians have an opportunity to have their say on a minor review of the Australian Standard Classification of Cultural and Ethnic Groups (ASCCEG). The purpose of the review is to ensure Cultural and Ethnic groups are accurately represented at the 4-digit level of the classification. Broader aspects of the classification including the conceptual underpinning will not be reviewed as part of this process.

The ASCCEG is the Australian statistical standard for classifying cultural and ethnic groups. 

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is beginning consultation as part of a regular review of the ASCCEG. The classification was first published in October 2000 and has had four minor updates since: in 2005, 2011, 2016 and 2019. 

This consultation is an opportunity for the public to comment on different aspects of the classification and advise the ABS on how the ASCCEG is currently used in Australia. The review will be informed by feedback from individuals and organisations, data from the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, and feedback from the 2026 Census topic consultation.

More detailed information of the review, including scope and timing, is available on the ABS Consultation Hub.

Changes to the Ancestry Standard were considered in the 2026 Census Topic Review process and are not part of the ASCCEG review. 

The first phase of the consultation on the ASCCEG review is now open and will close on 16 May 2025.

 

Media Notes
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