2011 Census News Release

National Reconciliation Week - Celebrating 40 years of being counted


Today’s anniversary of the 1967 referendum which removed the Constitutional clauses that discriminated against Aboriginal Australians is particularly significant for this year’s Census on 9 August 2011.

NSW Census Director Mark Harding says that while this year’s Census marks 100 years of Census taking in Australia, Aboriginal Australians have only been counted for the past 40 years.

“The successful 1967 referendum allowed Aborigines to be counted for the first time in the 1971 Census. This National Reconciliation Week is a good time to acknowledge and reflect on this important milestone."

“For the 2011 Census, we have been working closely with Aboriginal communities and leaders for more than two years to achieve an accurate count."

"A good Census count can make a real difference. Information collected is used to show where things like health clinics, schools, roads and other important services should be."

Mr Harding says that the ABS were particularly proud to partner with youthconnections.com.au to sponsor the 2011 Freedom Ride re-enactment and promote the record number of Census jobs available.

“Charlie Perkins’ original 1965 Freedom Ride was part of the campaign that led to the 1967 referendum which allowed Aborigines to be counted in the Census," Mr Harding adds.

"At the moment we are undertaking our largest ever drive to recruit people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities."

"We have many jobs for local people who can be supervisors, collectors and assistants, and we will provide good training and support."

More information on Census jobs is available online at www.abs.gov.au/census or 1800 052 360.