Haven't heard about the 2026 census? Here's why you should take part

The 2026 Australian census will be held on Tuesday, 11 August. Every five years, the Australian Bureau of Statistics counts every person and household in Australia.

In the SBS Indonesian episode of "Australia Explained: Census 2026: What You Need to Know to Ensure You're Counted", ABS Census National Spokesperson Emily Walter said the census is the largest data collection in Australia, providing a snapshot of who we are and how we are changing over time. The data collected covers questions on health, education, cultural background and employment.

The census is compulsory for everyone in Australia on census night, including international students, visitors, visa holders and even babies, Walter said via Australia Explained: Census 2026: What You Need to Know to Ensure You're Counted.

Census data is used to plan services such as interpreters at hospitals, schools, community programmes, public transport and settlement support. From late July, households will receive letters with instructions to complete the form online or on paper.

SBS Indonesian spoke with Syahlafa Khairunisa, a Master's student at Monash University, about the census. Khairunisa said she had only just heard about it.

But after learning that census data is used to plan services for communities, Khairunisa said she felt motivated to take part. By completing the census, residents' skills and data are registered in the government's system, which could be useful down the track, she said.

On data privacy, Khairunisa said she trusts that Australia takes the protection of personal data seriously. She said it is better for the ABS to keep the data confidential than for it to be shared with external parties. By law, the ABS is not permitted to share census data with anyone, including other government agencies.

For more information about the census, visit info.census.abs.gov.au.

Listen to the full interview on the SBS Indonesian podcast.