Details of people who are away

These questions tell us more about families in Australia. They make sure we count people who usually live at an address but were away on Census Test night.

After data collection and processing, names and addresses are removed from other personal and household information. We store names and addresses securely and separately from one another. The Separation Principle ensures no one can view your name and address with other Census data.

Our legislation is very clear that we can't release information in a way that could identify anyone.

You can find more information about privacy at the ABS.

(Q59 in the Census Household Form)

This refers to those people who usually live at this address but were away on Census Test night, Tuesday 5 August 2025.

The person may be away because they are:

• in hospital
• staying with relatives or friends
• on a short-term work assignment
• on holidays
• a student away at boarding school
• a child in shared care arrangements staying elsewhere on Census Test night.

Shift workers (including, nurses, truck drivers, guards) who spent the night of Tuesday 5 August 2025 at work, but returned home to this dwelling on Wednesday 6 August 2025, should be counted at this address instead of as away.

• Name
• Date of birth and age
• Sex recorded at birth
• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin
• Is the person a full-time student?
• Relationship to person 1/person 2.