Household Social Surveys simplified Collection Notice

This notice explains how the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) collects and uses your personal information for our household surveys. We give you this notice because the Privacy Act 1998 requires it.

This notice applies to these surveys:

• Family and Community Experiences Survey (March 2025)
• Family and Community Experiences Survey (from October 2025 to June 2026)
• General Social Survey (from May to June 2025)
• General Social Survey (from March to May 2026)
• Survey of Income and Housing (from June 2025 to June 2026).

The ABS collects your information so we can produce statistics. We are allowed to do this under the Census and Statistics Act 1905.

You may take part in our surveys:

• online
• over the phone
• in person with an interviewer.

If an interviewer visits your home, they will show you their official ABS photo ID and explain what information they are collecting.

If you complete a survey online, we also collect some personal information when you create an online account.

Some surveys ask you to choose a household representative. This person may:

• answer general questions about everyone living in the household
• provide contact details for people aged 15 or over.

If this option is not suitable for your household, contact us using the 1800 number on your survey letter or through our contact us page.

The information we collect depends on the survey. It may include:

• name, address, phone number and email
• age, sex, gender and other personal details
• education, work, income and expenses
• health and disability information
• racial or ethnic background
• religious beliefs
• sexual orientation
• criminal record
• political or union involvement
• views and experiences, including wellbeing or experiences with crime.

Your survey information letter explains exactly what your survey asks about. You can also read more about the survey you have been selected for by selecting the name of the survey on the household survey information page.

The ABS uses your information to produce statistics. These statistics help governments, businesses, and communities make decisions about important issues, like health, education, money, and the environment.

We also use your contact details to:

• stay in touch with you
• send reminders
• manage and improve how we run our surveys.

We may contact you by mail, email, phone, or SMS.

We use your information to produce statistics. These statistics are released in a way that does not identify any individual.

Yes.

If you do not complete the survey, you may receive a notice in writing requiring you to do so. Under the Census and Statistics Act 1905, we can require you to complete the survey or answer the questions.

You can find more details on legal obligations and consequences at Household Social Surveys full Collection Notice.

Our privacy policies explain how to:

• make a privacy enquiry or complaint
• request access to your personal information
• request corrections to your information.

You can contact us for more information or to request a hard copy of our privacy policies:

Email: privacy@abs.gov.au
Phone: 1300 135 070
Post: Privacy Officer
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Locked Bag 10
Belconnen ACT 2616

For more information about the ABS’ legal authority and the laws that guide our work, visit Household Social Surveys full Collection Notice.