Explanatory script (this script is provided as information for respondents)
Religious Affiliation is considered sensitive information and answering a question about it is optional in all Australian Bureau of Statistics collections (see section 14(3) of the Census and Statistics Act 1905).
Why is the question asked?
Data collected on religious affiliation informs religious organisations about how many people of their religious group there are in different parts of Australia.
The data is used by religious organisations (for planning their services to members), as well as health and aged care facilities, educational organisations, government agencies and social researchers.
Detailed question modules - alternatives one and two
The respondent selects one option for their religious affiliation from the option list. If the name of the religion is not in the option list, the respondent enters/writes the name of the religion in the 'Other - please specify' category.
People who have non-theistic religious beliefs or other life philosophies may record their response in the 'Other - please specify' category.
If a person identifies with no religion at all, select the 'No religion' option.
If alternative one of the question module is used in the survey instrument, the following optional instructions may be added to the question module or included in supplementary documentation:
If a person's religion is an Eastern Catholic religion such as Chaldean Catholic, Maronite Catholic, Syro Malabar Catholic or Ukrainian Catholic, they record the name of the religion in the 'Other - please specify' category.
Short question modules - alternatives one and two
The respondent enters/writes the name of their religion in the field/space provided.
People, who have non-theistic religious beliefs or other life philosophies, may record their response in the field/space provided.
If a person identifies with no religion at all, select the 'No religion' option.