Date for the next Census announced as 9 August 2011

Advisory services franchise, Spectrum Analysis , is pleased to note that the next Australian Census of Population and Housing will be held on Tuesday, 9 August, 2011. This was announced recently by Assistant Treasurer Sen. Nick Sherry and the Prime Minister.

The first national Census was taken at midnight between 2 and 3 April, 1911 so this will mark 100 years of national Censuses in Australia.

The ABS has released an Information Paper 2008.0 - Census of Population and Housing: Nature and Content, 2011 that describes the procedures for the 2011 Census and the topics that will be included.

The 2011 Census will be undertaken on a comparable basis to the 2006 Census and will not include any new topic. To ensure continuing relevance such as updating income ranges and revising some response categories minor changes have been made where necessary. Additionally, a new geographic classification will be implemented progressively from 2011.

The Census is one of a number of statistical collections undertaken by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and is one of the most important.

The aim of the Census is to accurately measure the number and certain key characteristics of people in Australia on Census Night. The Cencus will also cover the dwellings in which they live and provide timely, high quality and relevant data for small geographic areas and small population groups.

Further information can be found at the ABS website.