In 1947, the census asked if you had a flushing toilet. This is what it will ask this year

The Australian Bureau of Statistics is hoping that, for the first time in years, the national headcount goes off without a hitch.

The census will be conducted on August 11, with more than seven years of work and planning put on the line as millions of Australians answer up to 66 questions about their ancestry, religion, gender, income, and even if they rode an e-bike to work that day.

More than 30,000 staff will be employed to conduct a census available in 25 languages. They are collectively expected to travel more than 10 million kilometres.

After the COVID-interrupted count of 2021, and the 2016 census, when a series of denial-of-service attacks stopped people from completing their online questionnaire, there are hopes this year’s count will go without incident.

While census night is August 11, most Australians will start receiving census material by the end of the month. People can start filling out their census form immediately, on the proviso that the answers reflect their circumstances as of August 11.

Bureau staff will also touch base with hotels, hospitals and caravan parks to ensure people away from home can be counted.

That also extends to those without a home.

ABS staff will, through the week of the census, accompany St Vincent de Paul workers as they help people who may be using the organisation’s emergency accommodation or living rough.

Counting the number of homeless people is a perennial problem for the bureau. In some cases, those who are homeless do not want to be found, while getting census forms – either printed or online versions – to people with no fixed address can be especially difficult.

At the 2021 census, there were an estimated 122,494 people experiencing homelessness, a 5.2 per cent increase on the figure in 2016. But in terms of the total population, the homelessness rate eased slightly.

However, the 2021 census was disrupted by restrictions around COVID.

Anna Scott, St Vincent de Paul NSW director of housing and homelessness, said the census was an important opportunity for governments and social organisations to understand the extent of homelessness.

She said the surge in the cost of living had led to an increase in demand on St Vincent de Paul services. This year’s census, given the disruption that accompanied the 2021 national headcount, would provide an insight into the number of people who struggled to find a home.

“We need people to understand the scope and size of the homeless crisis that the country is facing,” Scott said.

“It’s just getting worse. The demand is getting higher; we’re very much seeing the changing face of homelessness. We’re seeing people who are employed, the cost-of-living crisis is really having an impact, a lot of older people and people who are on precarious visas.”

The first full suite of results from this year’s census will be made available next year.

The census has documented substantial community changes since it was first taken in 1911. In the first national headcount, 25 men and seven women described themselves as “wowsers” when asked for their religion. By the 2011 census, there were 64,390 Jedi.

The nation’s chief statistician, David Gruen, said questions had also changed over time. The 1947 census was the one and only time the population was asked whether they had flushing toilets.

A little over half did, while 3 per cent shared the flushing WC with a neighbour.

Gruen said that apart from counting the number of people in the country, the information gleaned from the census affected everything from the boundaries of federal electorates to the allocation of GST among the states and territories.

“Census data plays a critical role in improving Australia’s economic and social infrastructure,” he said. “It’s not just used by governments.

“Census data helps inform investment decisions by businesses large and small. It reveals emerging opportunities for new businesses and assists existing businesses to find new markets.”

Almost 80 per cent of all census forms in 2021 were completed online. The bureau is expecting an 85 per cent online completion rate this year.

But there is scope for those people who prefer a paper form to request one. And, like previous censuses, they can wait until the official night to fill out the form.

People can complete a census form separately from their household.

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