The LAST census night. Where were you in 2006?

Not many things come around every five years like clockwork. Doctor’s appointments (if you’re a man), new televisions because the old one blew up. And the Census. That huge form that dictates to some degree the future of the country and where the money gets spent.

It’s the largest peacetime operation in Australia’s history, costing some $440 million ($19 per person!) and involving around 43,000 people in collecting and distributing the forms across Australia from high mountain to populated ravine.

We asked Paul Lowe, head of the Population Census Program, about some of the things you might want to know.

1. Why should people care about the Census?

Census information is used for a range of planning purposes by all levels of government and private institutions. It is used to determine such things as where infrastructure and community services are located.

By creating an accurate profile of Australia, the Census gives us a snapshot of who we are as Australians.

The number of seats each state and territory has in the House of Representatives is also based on Census figures, as are federal funding arrangements to the states and territories. Census information is used as the basis for allocation of $45 billion in GST revenue to the states and territories.

2. Is the Census mandatory? Who is least likely to fill it out?

Yes, like voting, completing the Census is compulsory. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has overwhelming community support for the Census. The vast majority of householders willingly cooperate.

3. Who decides what questions go into the form, and what to leave out?

The topics to be included in each Census are eventually decided on by the Government. The final decision is made after extensive community testing and consultation.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) consults with the users of Census information and other community groups. The ABS undertakes a public consultation process regarding the content and procedures of the Census.

4. What does ‘saying yes’ to Question 60 mean? [Question 60 asks for permission to make your information available after 99 years].

The Census Time Capsule is an optional program where people can choose to have the information on their Census forms preserved for 99 years.

The data will be stored by the National Archives of Australia and after 99 years, released for research purposes.

5. How is the information compiled?

ABS Melbourne based Census Data Processing Centre will process a total of approximately 9 million forms or 46 million pages of Census information.

6. Some are curious about Q32 and why it only counts live births. Is there a statistical reason for this? [This question asks about live births only and does not count pregnancies].

This Census question is used to analyse changes to how Australia’s population is being replaced by natural increase over time. Therefore only information on the number of live born babies is requested in the Census.

Measuring how Australia’s population is changing through natural increase is essential for social and economic planning, and for providing a range of services to the infants, children and the community.

Important information on the number of stillborn and live born babies is collected each year through the Birth Registration System and a specific Perinatal Data Collection in each State and Territory. Statistics are also published by the ABS in Perinatal Deaths, Australia, 2009 (cat. no. 3304.0) which is available on the ABS website.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) recognises that some people feel the wording of the question should be changed. The ABS expects to release a paper in late 2012 seeking public input into the questions for the 2016 Census.

7. Is it true that those overseas are not counted? If not, why not?

The Census offers a snapshot of the nation at a certain point in time so only people who are in Australia on Tuesday 9 August, 2011 are counted in the Census.

8. Judaism (and other smaller religions) are not listed on the form. Does this skew results if people have to write their religion separately?

The list is based on the answers given in the last Census and includes those religious groups most commonly reported.

And that’s that! Any other curious Census stories you’ve noted? Have you done yours yet?

And, since it has been five years since the last Census we thought it would be fun to ask: what were you doing five years ago? What’s changed for you since then?