MELBOURNE, 7 July, 2026: With Census night just six weeks away on Tuesday 11 August 2026, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is urging Australia’s Indian community to use the free support available to complete their Census form.
“Census night is on Tuesday 11 August, and it’s important that our Indian community knows what support is available to help them participate,” said Emily Walter, Census national spokesperson.“
You 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.
Help available in your language
ABS is offering multiple ways for multicultural communities to participate confidently:
Translated resources: Information and materials available on the Census website in multiple languages.
Phone support: Speak with someone in your preferred language through the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450.
In-person sessions: ABS will hold in-person information sessions in different languages during August. Find a session near you at census.abs.gov.au/helpNeed help with the form?
Pop-up Hubs: ABS will set up hubs in public spaces like shopping centres for Census info and paper forms.
Fill-in sessions: Free sessions to help you answer questions on the Census form.
Why it matters
Census data directly shapes funding and planning for transport, schools, healthcare, infrastructure and local services.
“Across the country, Census data is used to help meet the needs of multicultural communities. For instance, workplace safety organisations use Census data to deliver targeted health and safety information to migrant workers,” Walter said.
Ahead of Australia’s 2024 ban on engineered stone to address increasing cases of serious worker illness, Census data identified the most commonly spoken languages in the industry.
This insight helped develop translated work health and safety resources in Chinese, Vietnamese and Arabic. Without Census data, important safety information may not have reached at-risk workers.
The Census counts every person in Australia on Census night, including temporary visitors. All responses are confidential and protected by law.
For more details, visit census.abs.gov.au
