The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is rolling out a major multilingual campaign ahead of the 2026 Census, with translated information, community champions and in-language support services aimed at improving participation across multicultural Australia.
Speaking at a Census launch event in Melbourne, Shannon Kenna, Program Manager, Communications Branch, said the ABS wanted to ensure people understood both the importance of the Census and the support available to complete it.
“We’re really keen to make sure people get the message that the Census is coming and that it’s important for everyone to take part,” Kenna said.
The ABS will roll out translated material in up to 28 languages across television, radio, print, online platforms and public transport advertising as part of a nationwide campaign beginning in July.
Community champions, multilingual social media outreach and in-language pop-up hubs will also be used to help people complete Census forms.
“We think this will be a really valuable opportunity for communities to sit down with someone and work through how to complete the Census,” Kenna said.
ABS General Manager of Census and Population Jenny Telford said every household would receive instructions on how to complete the Census online, while people could also request paper forms or receive in-person help.
“We really are trying to prepare a range of strategies to make sure everybody can participate, no matter who they are, no matter where they are, no matter what help they need,” she said.
Telford also addressed concerns around privacy and artificial intelligence.
She said the ABS would use a limited AI chatbot to answer basic questions and machine-learning tools to process written responses, but stressed the systems were tightly controlled.
“It is not meant to replace people talking to humans at our call centre,” she said.
Telford also reassured communities that personal information would remain confidential.
“When we receive Census forms, the names and addresses get separated out from the rest of the data very early on,” she said.
Participation in the Census is compulsory in Australia, although Telford said fines were used only as a last resort.
“Held every five years, the Census gives us a snapshot of Australia at a point in time,” she said.
“It asks questions on things like health, education, work, cultural background and living circumstances, helping us understand how our population is changing and what communities need now and into the future.”
She noted that Census data helps governments and organisations identify where services are needed and better understand the changing needs of migrant communities.
The ABS is also partnering with TIS National to provide language support, while a workforce of around 30,000 Census staff will assist communities around the country.
Telford called on multicultural media and community leaders to help spread awareness.
“Your reach, your language skills and your connection to communities make a real difference,” she said.
The 2026 Census will be held on Tuesday, August 11.
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