Completing the Census Test where you are

The Census Test allows everyone in the selected areas to complete their form, no matter where they live or their living situation.

During the Census Test, field staff may visit places like:

• retirement villages
• aged care facilities
• boarding houses
• hospitals
• hotels
• caravan parks
• camping grounds.

This makes sure as many people as possible are counted. 

If you were asked to complete the Census Test, please do so. This helps us test our processes.

If you were staying in a caravan park or camping ground in one of the selected areas and were asked to complete the Census Test, there’s still time to complete. Please send back the completed form in the Reply Paid envelope provided. Completed forms will then be collected by Census field staff.

The paper form allows for up to six people to complete. If there were more than six people staying with you on Census Test night, you can either complete the Census Test online or get an extra paper form.

You can complete your Census Test separately from other people you're travelling with.  

Tips on responding to questions

• Enter the detailed address of the caravan or tent.
• Include site number, lot number, cabin number, campsite number, park name and street address.
• If someone is completing the Census Test at your usual address, you’ll need to be marked as ‘away’ but usually living at the dwelling.
• If you don't have a usual address, enter ‘NONE’ in the suburb field for the ‘where does the person usually live?’ question.

If you were staying in a hotel, motel or other holiday accommodation in one of the selected areas and were asked to complete the Census Test, there’s still time to complete. Please return your completed form back to the accommodation staff using the envelope provided.

Tips on responding to questions

• Enter the detailed address of the hotel, motel or other holiday accommodation.
• If someone is completing the Census Test at your usual address, you’ll need to be marked as ‘away’ but usually living at the dwelling.
• If no one was at your home on Census Test night, you can let us know.

Prefer to complete online

You can still complete the Census Test online wherever you can access the internet. 

If you prefer to complete online, use the instructions on the paper form to log in and complete your Census Test.

Find more information about completing your Census Test online.

If you were living in a retirement village or housing estate in one of the selected areas and were asked to complete the Census Test, there’s still time to complete.  Please send back the completed form in the Reply Paid envelope provided.

If you prefer to complete online, use the instructions on the paper form to log in and complete your Census Test.

If you need help, you can ask a family member, friend, or trusted person to assist you.

If you were asked to complete a Census Test while in a hospital or care facility, please do so. This helps us test our processes.

Census Test materials were delivered to all hospitals and assisted living facilities in the selected areas. This ensures patients and residents of these facilities can complete the Census Test. 

If you need help, you can ask a family member, friend, or trusted person to assist you.

Please return your completed form back to staff using the envelope provided. Completed forms will then be collected by Census field staff.

If someone was at your usual address, they should mark you as away on their Census Test form.

If no one was at your home on Census Test night, you can let us know.

If your apartment building was in one of the selected areas and you were asked to complete the Census Test, there’s still time to complete. Please send back the completed form in the Reply Paid envelope provided.

Census field staff will talk to your building management to arrange access and discuss the process. 

If you were on a working holiday or working at a holiday location in one of the selected areas, you should still complete the Census Test. Please send back the completed form in the Reply Paid envelope provided.

If you were working a night shift on Census Test night and went home when your shift was finished, you should be counted at your usual address. Please send back the completed form in the Reply Paid envelope provided.

Prefer to complete online

You can still complete the Census Test online wherever you can access the internet. 

If you prefer to complete online, use the instructions on the paper form to log in and complete your Census Test.

Find more information about completing your Census Test online.

Census staff ran the Test in communities in and around Katherine in June and July 2025.

If you were living in a group or share house in one of the selected areas and were asked to complete the Census Test, there’s still time to complete. You'll need to include everyone who was at home on Census Test night. Please send back the completed form in the Reply Paid envelope provided.

If you want to fill in your Census Test privately, you can complete it separately from your household.

If you’re using a shared computer, make sure you log out and close your browser when you finish your Census Test session.

If you were staying in another household in one of the selected areas and were asked to complete the Census Test, please make sure you’re included. 

Instructions will be provided on how to complete the Census Test. 

If you want to fill in your Census Test privately, you can complete it separately from your household.

If you’re using a shared computer, make sure you log out and close your browser when you finish your Census Test session.

If you were sleeping rough or staying in short-term accommodation, such as a homelessness shelter in one of the selected areas, you don't need to complete the Census Test. Full support will be in place for the 2026 Census to make sure everyone experiencing homelessness can take part.

If you were temporarily staying with family or friends, or if a homelessness service has arranged temporary accommodation for you, such as a motel, and you were asked to complete the Census Test, there’s still time to complete.

If you were in a property in a Census Test area that was vacant on Test night, please let us know.

If an address was unoccupied on Census Test night you can report an empty dwelling.

We may follow up with households in the selected Census Test areas that haven’t completed a form. This includes second homes, investment properties and holiday houses.

Examples of why a house or property may be unoccupied or vacant include:

• everyone who lives there is away
• it’s a second home
• it’s an empty investment property
• it’s under construction
• it’s a deceased estate
• it’s a commercial property
• it’s a holiday home
• it’s a vacant block.