2011 Census News Release

Census joins the 2011 Freedom Ride

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is proud to be partnering with youthconnections.com.au to sponsor the 2011 Freedom Ride and promote the record number of Census jobs available in New South Wales (NSW).

NSW Census Director, Mark Harding, says that Census staff are joining the Freedom Ride in areas where they have strong local links to promote the 1,100 part-time Area Supervisor positions now available.

"ABS staff on the Freedom Ride include Will Swain our Local Engagement Manager in Dubbo and Bill Makin who begin the trip and hand the Census baton over to Alana Freeburn, Lorrelle Kennedy and lastly Rod Ella.”

Mr Harding says the partnership is a perfect fit.

“Youthconnections.com.au's mission is to turn education into jobs, and the ABS has more than a thousand jobs available right now.”

“The ABS has been working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and leaders for more than two years to show how important an accurate Census count is for local services,” Mr Harding added.

"More than 10,000 Census jobs will be available in local communities across NSW. By working on the Census local people can make a real difference to their community.”

"Census information is important for every town's future to assist with planning housing, hospitals, roads and schools," Mr Harding added.

Youthconnections.com.au are retracing Charlie Perkins’ historic 1965 Freedom Ride which travelled 2300km around NSW to highlight Aboriginal rights.

The original Freedom Ride had a significant impact on the awareness of Aboriginal rights and was part of the campaign that led to the 1967 referendum which allowed Aborigines to be counted in the 1971 Census.

More information on Census recruitment is available online at www.abs.gov.au/census.