The Census might have an image problem. For many Australians, it is something to be endured, get annoyed at and resist. And it’s for the government, which sets many people’s teeth on edge.
But every five years, the Census quietly performs one of the most important acts in our democracy: it gathers information to tell the story of who we are.
On August 11, Australians will once again be asked to take part in the great national stocktake – and as always, I am excited about it. Filling out the form feels important, mature, even patriotic.
At first glance, some questions may seem mundane: Where do you live? What language do you speak at home? How do you travel to work? What is your age, occupation or educational background?
But collectively, these answers become something extraordinary. They create the most detailed portrait of this moment in time in Australia because every person must contribute to it. It is not so much a counting exercise as holding up a mirror to the nation.
The first national Census was conducted in 1911, but separate states conducted their own versions that they called ‘musters’, where people gathered at various community centres to be counted in the 1800s. Such round-ups had their roots in ancient civilisations.
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Census data has a real impact on the lives of Australians – from determining political representation through the distribution of electorates, to the allocation of government funding to projects, as well as private investment based on projected demand for goods and services.
Other nations such as the UK and the US only take a snapshot every decade, so they do not get a sense of changing trends or needs as quickly and can’t plan as well as we can.
As well as asking questions around housing type and household size, this year’s Census will seek details on sexual orientation and gender for the first time, and we can report up to four ancestries.
Answering the Census questions honestly is particularly important for groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and those with disabilities.
An accurate snapshot lets the decisionmakers know changing circumstances and real needs for greater funding and focus. So, don’t think of the Census as a bureaucratic obligation but as an opportunity to help write the nation’s important next chapter.
Dr Jane Stephens is a UniSC journalism lecturer, media commentator and writer.
