Australian Census 2011
Australian Census 2011

Census Night 9 August 2011

Australian Census 2011

Resources and quick access to the latest updates

The first Australian Census 2011 results were released on 21 June 2012, with more data to be released in the coming months.

The population experts at .id convert this raw data into an accessible resource for decision makers. We have updated all of our online community profiles (profile.id) with the 2011 Census data and have a rolling program for updating our other products.

You will find a detailed timetable here of Census release dates and .id’s schedule for updating our online resources.

Register here and we will email you when our online demographic resources have been updated with 2011 Census results.

You can keep up to date with .id's ongoing 2011 Census commentary at our blog.

Other services

Did you know that .id are specialists in combining Census data and population forecasts with spatial business data (location of customers, service centres) for strategic decision making?

The Australian Red Cross, Australian Football League, Catholic Education Office, The Smith Family and Uniting Aged Care are all using this service to identify and target demand for their services. Learn more...

 

About the Australian Census 2011

The 2011 Australian Census of Population and Housing represents 100 years of national Census-taking in Australia. The 1911 Census was the first one after federation and the 2011 Census can provide us with 100 years of time-series , a rich data source on the changing nature of Australian society. Censuses are now conducted every 5 years in Australia, with the next one being in 2016.

This Census was a snapshot of the population for the date August 9th, 2011.  The Census is always conducted on a Tuesday night in winter, outside school holidays to maximise the number of people likely to be at home. All people staying in Australia on that night, excluding diplomats and their families, were required to complete a Census questionnaire.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is responsible for conducting the Census. In 2011 a team of approximately 43,000 people worked on the 2011 Census field process. The majority of these are Census Collectors, who are responsible for ensuring that all households within their designated area are delivered a Census form prior to Census night and have it collected soon after. Special teams worked in remote areas, large hotels and hospitals, offshore shipping, overnight trains and buses and outback travellers to ensure maximum coverage.

The 2011 Census form had the same set of questions as the 2006 Census form, including topics such as age, marital status, ethnicity, language, religion, income, tenure, housing costs, education, employment and disability.

In 2011, households had the option to fill in their Census form online, with the eCensus. Around 30% of Australian households took up this option.

An interpreter phone service was available in many different languages to assist recently arrived migrants and people with English language difficulties to fill in their Census form.

Between September 2011 and June 2012, the ABS collated and processed the approximately 10 million Census forms, and produced the dataset for release. The release dates are as follows:

  • 1st release (about 75% of Census topics)- June 21st, 2012   
  • 2nd release (the remaining more complex Census topics) – October 30th, 2012
  • 3rd release (Socio-Economic Indexes and mesh-block data) – March 2013.

2011 Census data are available at a wide range of geographic areas, from SA1s (a few street blocks in urban areas) through to the entire country. This makes it the most effective tool for understanding local population change and the characteristics of communities.

.id’s takes Census data and converts it into accessible and understandable information resources that bring the data to life, and present it in a way to enable users to tell the story of the demographics of their area, rather than spending too much time crunching numbers.

Access Census data for the whole of Australia in our Demographic Resource Centre.