The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is to deliver the most accessible Census to date, to make it as easy as possible for everyone to participate on 10 August.
Executive Director of the Census at ABS, Andrew Henderson said a range of help and support options had been developed and information on the Census would be provided in different ways, including in Braille; large print formats; audio; Auslan videos; and easy-to-read guides.
“Everyone can play their part in helping paint a picture of the economic, social and cultural make up of Australia,” Mr Henderson said.
“There are 66 Australian Sign Language (Auslan) video guides including an introduction to the Census and assistance for each question on the paper form,” he said.
“All video content includes closed captioning and transcripts.”
Mr Henderson said the Census website also included a link to the National Relay Service (NRS) to make it easier for people to receive assistance.
The Census Executive Director said people could request a Braille or large print form online, or by calling a 24-hour automated paper form request service, or the ABS’s Census Contact Centre.
“The 2021 Census website meets the Australian Government’s web accessibility requirements and the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.0 (WCAG 2.0) at level AA,” he said.
“Both the website and online forms have been designed to allow for the use of a host of assistive technologies.”
Mr Henderson said Census information had been translated into 48 languages, including radio advertising in 19 Indigenous languages.
He said people did not have to wait for Census night and could complete their Census as soon as they received their instructions if they knew where they would be on 10 August.
Mr Henderson said there were also two new questions in the 2021 Census, the first changes to questions collected since 2006.
“The new questions are on long-term health conditions, such as arthritis and diabetes, and on defence force participation,” Mr Henderson said.
