Have your say on proposed changes to our Cultural and Ethnic classification

Media Statement
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Released
4/08/2025
Release date and time
04/08/2025 11:30am AEST

Australians can now have their say on proposed changes to the Australian Standard Classification of Cultural and Ethnic Groups (ASCCEG). The ASCCEG is the Australian statistical standard for classifying cultural and ethnic groups and in the ABS this classification is used to output data on Ancestry.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is continuing consultation on a minor review of the ASCCEG to ensure Cultural and Ethnic groups are accurately represented at the 4-digit level of the classification.

The classification was first published in October 2000 and has had four minor updates in 2005, 2011, 2016 and 2019. These updates help us collect high-quality data, improving data analysis and decision-making.

This consultation is an opportunity for the public to comment on proposed changes to the ASCCEG, including:

  • Addition of new Cultural and Ethnic groups.
  • Update of labels to appropriately represent existing Cultural and Ethnic groups.
  • Retirement of Cultural and Ethnic groups that no longer meet the ASCCEG criteria.

The proposed changes are based on the classification criteria, research, analysis of 2011, 2016 and 2021 Census data, and feedback from the first phase of ASCCEG consultation and from other stakeholders.

The Ancestry Standard and the broader aspects of the classification including the conceptual underpinning are not part of this ASCCEG review.

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

The consultation will close on 29 August 2025.

 

Media Notes
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