As Australia recovers from the Federal election, we are about to embark on our next major national event – the 2016 Census. Australians will be asked to complete their Census forms on Tuesday night 9th of August.
While the team at .id are pretty excited about the Census (#populationnerds), we understand you may be asking, “What is all the fuss about?” and “Why do we need a Census anyway?”
I’m so glad you asked. Here at .id, we heart the Census because it provides us with a wealth of information that we use to help our clients plan for the future and make informed decisions about a whole range of issues.
While it may feel like the government is poking into your personal business by asking you a bunch of personal questions, you will be pleased to know the data gathered from the Census is used in a range of different ways to benefit everyone in the community, and is never used in a personally identifiable way.
Census data provides a snapshot of Australia in time that is used to understand who we are, where we live and how we are changing as a nation. Understanding the population of Australia at State/Territory and Local Government Area level is used for electoral purposes and in the distribution of funds such as GST revenue. The information gained by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) through the Census is used to help make decisions on policy and planning issues including the provision of hospitals, schools, parks, roads, transport and infrastructure.
At .id, we use Census data to fuel our demographic, economic, housing and mapping tools. We use these tools to help our clients, who range from Local Governments to all kinds of businesses, industries and not-for-profits, to plan for their future and make important locational decisions using an evidence-base. These decisions help solve issues such as where to build new schools, areas to develop housing or retail centres, or how to better deliver community services such as health and aged care.
By answering the Census questions every 5 years, you are helping to provide accurate information that will in turn be used to provide you with a better future. And don’t worry, the information you provide is not personally identifiable – names and addresses are removed from Census data and destroyed within 4 years.
So when you get online on August 9 this year, rest assured you are being counted and are helping to contribute to the future.
.id specialises in analysing and presenting Census data. Access our community profiles and see how some of the results from previous censuses relate to your local area: Community profiles for Australia and New Zealand
