Your 5 minute guide to the Census — what to do and what to avoid

TODAY is officially Census day — here’s everything you need to know before you fill out your form and what to avoid.

Some of the Census team preparing for Census, Jess Dent and Tony Grubb. Picture: Supplied.

TODAY is officially Census day.

The general manager of the Census and statistical network services division, Chris Libreri, spoke to News Corp Australia about what to expect and what not to do.

Do I need to complete the Census in full on Tuesday night?

No, you don’t. You have until around mid-September to complete it.

Will I get fined if it is not done by mid-September?

Fines will only apply to those refusing to do the Census, not those having difficulty.

How long does it take to complete online?

Head of the 2016 Census Duncan Young said 220,000 households across the country have already submitted forms online. “So far people have taken an average time of under 27 minutes to complete the census online, compared to 35 minutes in the 2011 census,” he said.

The online Census form will take around 27 minutes to complete. Picture: Supplied.

Can I get assistance if I’m having trouble?

You can call 1300 214 531 for assistance. Alternatively if you are filling out a printed form the Census collectors sent to gather the forms can help you at your home.

What happens if my internet has a meltdown?

Each online page of the Census saves as you go so if you were to get disconnected you can log back in and retrieve your answers.

Can I opt out of completing the Census?

Everyone who is in Australia on Census night needs to take part. If you’re an international visitor, in a remote area, interstate or staying away from home, arrangements have been made for you to complete the Census.

Go here for more information: http://help.census.abs.gov.au/about/do#backtotop

Will my same-sex relationship be counted?

Yes, a basic set of questions about family structure is asked and those questions are gender agnostic.

Don’t forget to include your baby as part of the household when completing your census forms. Pictured are new parents Rosie van Krieken and Max Friend with baby Saskia. Picture: AAP/Judy Skatsoon

What questions don’t I have to answer?

You don’t have to specify what religion you practice and you can mark yourself down as having “no religion” instead if you don’t consider yourself tied to a faith.

What happens if I put a joke response? For example identifying my religion as ‘Jedi’

It is advisable to be accurate and avoid humorous responses. If you described yourself as ‘Jedi’ for example it makes the country appear more religious than it really is.

Do I have to count my baby?

Universally across the country people forget that their baby is part of the household Mr Libreri said. He said birth records and Census data are always inconsistent so remember to include your baby when completing the form.

Are there any age groups the census is looking for?

The whereabouts of 18 to 24-year-old males on Census night often causes confusion Mr Libreri said and leads to incorrect recording. He advises parents of boys in that age group to try and pin down the location of their sons.

What is the Census Time Capsule?

Australians can chose to have their name identified on Census information and saved for future generations via the Census Time Capsule initiative. The National Archives of Australia will hold the information securely for 99 years, before publicly releasing the information.

Steve Pearce, census remote area mobile team leader, preparing for the census in the remote indigenous community of Warburton, north east of Perth. Picture: AAP/Census WA

How much should I write for the Census Time Capsule?

People tend to go overboard on the time capsule element and record things to their future descendants like their favourite songs and sports etc. Libreri said it is better to stick to recording your demographics and leave the personal information aside.

How long will my data be kept online?

This year’s Census will not be anonymous. Names and addresses collected will be retained for up to four years after collection.

How will the ABS protect my privacy?

The ABS states it never has and never will release identifiable Census data. Key measures to safeguard information include strong data encryption, restricted access on a need-to-know basis and monitoring of all staff, including regular audits. After data collection and processing, the ABS removes names and addresses from other personal and household information. Names and addresses will be stored securely and separate from one another. No one working with Census data will be able to view your personal information (name or address) at the same time as your other Census responses (such as age, sex, occupation, level of education or income). Stored separately and securely, individuals names will also be substituted with a linkage key, a computer generated code, completely anonymising the personal information. Only these anonymous linkage keys will be used by the ABS to bring data sets together.

Will personal information be shared with other government departments?

No. The personal information you provide in the Census is not shared with any other government departments or agencies including the police, Australian Taxation Office or Centrelink. The ABS is legally bound to protect the privacy of all Australians and will not release your information in a way that will identify any individual or household.