Doing the Census

Census night is on Tuesday 11 August 2026.

Most households will receive instructions in the mail when it’s time to complete the Census.

Most households will get a letter with instructions to complete online. Some households will get a paper form. 

Some people living in remote areas and people experiencing homelessness will have help to complete their Census from one of our Census field staff.

For the first time, you’ll be able to subscribe to access the 2026 Census through myGov. People that have subscribed through myGov got updates and a link to complete the Census Test for their household to their myGov Inbox.

Census field staff may contact households when dropping off Census forms or when conducting reminder visits. 

Census field staff are identifiable by their Australian Bureau of Statistics photo identification card and also carry a yellow satchel.

The Census includes everyone who stayed in your household on Census night, including visitors and babies.

The Census form will include everyone in your household on Census night, Tuesday 11 August 2026.  This includes: 

• yourself
• your spouse/partner
• adult family members (including adult children, parents, siblings and extended family members)
• babies, children and teenagers
• unrelated housemates, flat mates or boarders
• visitors or friends who spent Census Test night in the dwelling, including those with no fixed address
• people who usually live at this dwelling who returned on Wednesday 12 August 2026 without being included on a form elsewhere (for example, shift workers who were at work on Census Test night).

We want everyone to feel included and supported when doing the Census. Supports will be in place to help everyone can participate, including for:

• people living with disabilities
• older Australians
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• people from different cultural and language backgrounds
• people experiencing homelessness.

Closer to the 2026 Census, a range of information and self-service options will be available to complete your Census. This will include:

• educational resources
• translated information flyers
• audio resources
• video guides
• large print or braille forms
• in-person help through Census Pop-up Hubs and fill in form sessions
• phone support with the Census Contact Centre and the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)
• support for deaf, hard of hearing and/or have speech difficulties, through the National Relay Service (NRS).