Households across Australia are beginning to receive letters inviting them to take part in the 2026 Census, with community leaders reminding people that being counted can have a direct impact on the services and funding their communities receive.
As Census night on Tuesday, 11 August approaches, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is encouraging people to check their mailboxes for instructions on how to complete the national count, either online or by requesting a paper form.
“People can complete the Census online, by paper or with help from the Census team. Please check your mailbox,” said Emily Walter, the Census national spokesperson. She said translated information, pop-up hubs and in-person support would also be available for people who needed assistance.
“Every answer matters in the Census, because Census data is used to inform decisions about transport, schools, health care, infrastructure and business.”
For multicultural communities, however, the Census is about more than statistics.
Darwin City Councillor and multicultural advocate Dr Edwin Joseph says reliable data has long been the foundation for ensuring governments and organisations understand where communities live and what they need.
“Accurate and reliable data is the foundation for securing support for our communities,” Dr Joseph said.
“Before governments, businesses and service providers allocate funding and resources to us, they need to know where we are and what we need.”
He said many people mistakenly believed the Census only counted Australian citizens or permanent residents.
“It doesn’t just count citizens or permanent residents. It captures everyone in Australia on Census night,” he said.
“Whether you are a temporary visa holder, an international student, a visitor or a newborn baby, if you are in Australia on Tuesday 11 August, you need to be counted.”
Dr Joseph, who has worked with multicultural communities in the Northern Territory for more than a decade, said Census information plays an important role in shaping public policy and community services.
“I have seen firsthand how organisations lean on Census data to understand the community they serve,” he said.
“It helps settlement service providers decide on centre locations for new arrivals and allows early childhood education providers to translate resources for children new to Australia.”
He said Census figures often form the starting point for government planning before further consultation takes place.
The ABS says most households will receive instructions to complete the Census online, while paper forms remain available for those who prefer them. Some households will receive a paper form automatically but can still choose to complete the Census online.
Unlike previous years, people do not have to wait until Census night to complete the form. Once they receive their instructions, households can fill it in immediately if they already know where they will be staying on the night of Tuesday, 11 August.
The average household is expected to take around 30 minutes to complete the form.
Everyone staying at a home on Census night must be included, regardless of their visa status. This includes international students, temporary visa holders and visitors.
Dr Joseph said Australia’s changing multicultural landscape made participation more important than ever.
“In the past five years alone, we have witnessed wonderful growth within emerging communities like the Latin American and Nepali communities,” he said.
“Capturing that change in the Census is exactly how we show government, organisations and service providers how they can adapt to keep pace with today’s Australia.”
As a local councillor, he said Census data also helped validate what communities were experiencing on the ground.
“Whether we need to advocate for change or plan for public spaces, we need concrete proof points to back our decisions, and Census data plays an important role in validating our community’s lived experience.”
His message, he said, was straightforward. “When every one of us participates in the Census, we see a full picture of Australia and how it has changed over the years. When the data shows a need, the funding and resources can follow.”
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