Census 2021

Census 2021 – the protocol for entering apartments

The 2021 Census will be held on Tuesday 10 August 2021.

The information collected in the Census is used to inform decisions about transport, schools, health care, infrastructure and business. It also helps plan local services for individuals, families, and communities.

Census staff are permitted by law to enter secure apartment buildings and may leave Census materials under apartment doors or in letterboxes.

What to Expect

Authorised Census staff will contact building managers to obtain access keys and coordinate access to the apartment building. After Census night, 10 August, Census staff will access buildings to follow-up people who have not completed their form. This will involve providing the residence with paper forms and/or leaving them a reminder card.

They will carry out this work between 8 am and 8:30 pm, Monday through to Sunday. All work will cease on 19 September 2021.

Resident safety

Census staff have been vetted and have passed police integrity checks. They are identifiable by their Census Identification Card and yellow satchel. If there is a concern about the legitimacy of callers claiming to be from the ABS, Census field officers are always able to provide a letter outlining the work they are conducting or you can call the ABS. Go to the ABS website contact us page for contact numbers.

There are strict protocols for safely handling access keys including ensuring they are securely stored when not in use. Census staff will not enter the home of anyone in the building. The staff will also follow all COVID-19 safety requirements for your local area.

For further information, you can also visit the Australian Bureau of Statistics website.