This year marks the centenary of census taking in Australia -- the task of gathering information growing with our evolving population.
With next Tuesday the latest census night, a major push has been made to encourage the country's many ethnic communities to get involved.
SBS has helped produce a DVD in 15 different languages to explain the census program.
It's that type of information that is needed to plan spending on services and infrustructure like housing, roads, schools and hospitals.
With more and more Australians having been born overseas, this census more than any other is designed to get as many ethnic groups as possible to participate - but it's not an easy task.
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Census night is Tuesday August 9. More information can be found on the Census website.
