Australian Bureau of Statistics partners with Indigenous supplier Darkies Design to produce 2021 Census shirts

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) announced its partnership with Indigenous supplier Darkies Design today, as the company designing polo shirts for the 2021 Census staff.  

The company was selected following a competitive tender process. Darkies Design was established in 2010 by Dion Devow, 2018 ACT Australian of the Year.

Mr Devow is of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. The company collaborates with Indigenous artists and designers from its Canberra base.

Census Community Engagement Officers will wear the 2021 Census polo shirt when working within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.  

ABS Census Executive Director and national spokesperson, Andrew Henderson, said partnerships with Indigenous suppliers are important for the ABS.

“As the Census touches the lives of every Australian, our Census suppliers should reflect the diversity of the community across Australia.”

Mr Devow said, “the ABS collects valuable information to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the country. I am honoured to be part of that and it’s great to see the ABS supporting First Nations businesses”.

The Census will take place on Tuesday 10 August 2021 and households will have the opportunity to complete the Census online or by paper form.

Delivering a successful Census is more important now than ever before, as Census data has been crucial during the coronavirus pandemic to help model the economic and social impacts of COVID-19.

Additionally, Census data is used to plan and deliver infrastructure and services across the country – things that individuals, businesses, families and communities use every day like public transport, libraries and community services.

For more information about the Census, visit www.census.abs.gov.au.

More information

Further information about the 2021 Census is available at www.census.abs.gov.au

What is the Census?

The Census is the most comprehensive picture of Australia’s population and housing. Census data tells us about the economic, social and cultural make-up of the nation.

How is the data used?

Census data informs important decisions about transport, schools, health care, infrastructure and business. It also helps plan local services for individuals, families and communities. For example, knowing the number of people living in regional and remote areas informs where doctors are needed, and understanding local births and languages spoken at home links Australians to the community services they need.

Learn about how community organisations use Census data through our Census stories.