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Media release –
Victoria

Australian Bureau of Statistics celebrates NAIDOC Week across Victoria

5 July 2016 | VIC/52

As part of NAIDOC Week, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders culture, history and achievements throughout Victoria (VIC), and is encouraging people to make sure their voice is heard on Census night, Tuesday, 9 August 2016.

VIC Census Director, Annette Kelly, says the NAIDOC Week is an important time to talk with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about the Census and why it’s important they take part and identify their origin.

“We know that language and stories passed on from one generation to another maintains Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ connection to country and helps them identify themselves,” Ms Kelly said.

“The Census also provides an opportunity for every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person to identify their origin and be counted - which helps planning for important services like schools, healthcare and housing in communities across Australia.”

Census Field Officer, Alan Brown, said the Census is an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait people to stand up to be counted and recognised in this year’s national Census.

“It’s so important to know what we have around us, in terms of community size and demographics for service delivery and much more.

“Part of understanding our cultural narrative is asking people who they are and what they do. I think it would be great for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to contribute to that through the Census,” Mr Brown said.

From early August, households in urban areas will receive a letter which provides information on how to complete the Census online. It also provides information on how to request a paper form.

The information provided in the Census is kept private and not shared with anyone, including the Police, Housing, Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or Centrelink.



Background information on the 2016 Census of Population and Housing


The 2016 Census of Population and Housing aims to count 10 million dwellings and approximately 24 million people in Australia on Tuesday, 9 August to help shape Australia’s future.

Data from 2006 and 2011 Census showed one in eight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people spoke an Australian Indigenous language at home. Out of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons who spoke an Australian Indigenous language, 18 per cent spoke a language from the Arnhem Land and Daly River Region, 14 per cent spoke Western Desert languages and 11 per cent spoke a Torres Strait Island language.

Data from the 2011 Census told us the largest populations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians lived in New South Wales (208,500 people) and Queensland (189,000 people). Out of Victoria’s total population (5,354,040 people) there were 37,991 people (0.7 per cent) who identified themselves as either Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin.

For further information on the 2016 Census, visit www.census.abs.gov.au.


Key 2016 Census dates:

Late July to late Aug 2016Census Mobile Teams and Local Census Field Staff visit remote communities
Late July to early Aug 2016 Instruction letters and forms will be delivered
9 August 2016Census night
Mid Aug to late Sept 2016Field visits
April 2017The first results from the 2016 Census released



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