The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is encouraging members of the Indian community to participate in the 2026 Census, with a range of support options available for people who may need language assistance or help completing the form.
The Census will take place on Tuesday 11 August 2026, with everyone in Australia encouraged to take part. The ABS said support is available for both first-time participants and those who have completed the Census previously.
“Census night is on Tuesday 11 August, and it’s important that our Indian community knows what support is available to help them participate,” Emily Walter, Census national spokesperson, said.
“People can complete the Census online, by paper or with help. Whether you are a new migrant completing the Census for the first time or you’ve done it before, you can access translated information materials, as well as support in person or over the phone.”
The ABS provides information and assistance in multiple languages to make participation easier. Community members can access translated resources through the Census website, speak with an interpreter through the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450, or attend language-specific information sessions being held in August.
For those who need assistance with the Census form, Pop-up Hubs in public locations such as shopping centres will provide information and paper forms. Fill-in-the-form sessions will also be available to guide people through the process.
The ABS said Census responses help shape decisions about services and infrastructure, including transport, schools, healthcare, housing and local community planning.
Census data is also used by organisations supporting multicultural communities. One example is Safe Work Australia, which uses Census information to better understand Australia’s workforce and deliver workplace safety resources to people working in higher-risk industries.
Phillip Wise, Director of the Data Improvement and Analysis team at Safe Work Australia, said Census data provides a detailed picture of the jobs people are doing and the workers involved across the country.
“It’s the only time we get that detailed snapshot of the jobs people are doing across the country and the workers doing them,” Mr Wise said.
The information helps identify workplace risks in industries including transport, agriculture, construction and healthcare, while also helping organisations communicate safety information more effectively.
Marianne Gordon, Director of Communications at Safe Work Australia, said understanding the languages spoken within different industries helps ensure important safety messages reach workers who need them.
Ahead of Australia’s 2024 ban on engineered stone due to concerns about serious worker illness, Census data helped identify commonly spoken languages among workers in the industry. This information supported the development of translated workplace health and safety resources in Chinese, Vietnamese and Arabic.
As Australia’s workforce continues to change, updated Census information helps organisations better understand the needs of workers from different backgrounds and improve access to safety information.
“We’re talking about real people, not just numbers,” Mr Wise said.
The ABS said every response contributes to a clearer understanding of Australia’s communities and helps governments, organisations and service providers plan for future needs.
People can find more information about Census support and available language resources here .
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