ABS launches census testing across thousands of Aussie homes

News.com.au

15-07-2025

Tens of thousands of households have been selected to participate in the upcoming Australian Bureau of Statistics census test, which technicians use as an exercise to ensure IT systems and data-gathering processes are all working in the lead-up to the five-yearly survey of the Aussie population.
The ABS census general manager Jenny Telford said the test was taking place to ensure the real one happened as smoothly as possible.
'We are testing our collection processes and IT systems to ensure our processes work well and that the form captures the right information in the right way,' she said.
'You can complete your form as soon as you receive your instructions if you know who will be home on census test night.'
About 60,000 preselected homes will take part in the test across eight key regions across Australia.
In NSW, homes in Coonamble and Gilgandra will be surveyed.
In Queensland, the cities of Rockhampton and Gladstone will take part, as will the regional township of Yeppoon.
Homes have been selected in Western Australia's Wheatbelt Region, as have households in Perth and Albany.
Regional Victorian homes miss out this time, and surveying will only take place in Melbourne.
The ABS has noted that not every home in the selected locations will be required to participate in the test.
'If you don't receive instructions in the mail, there's nothing you need to do,' the organisation said in a statement.
'The information you provide in the test is confidential. The ABS is legally required to keep data secure and not release information in a way that will identify any individual, household or business.'
Test night will take place on Tuesday August 5.