Why every response matters: The 2026 Census and its role in shaping healthier communities
Every 5 years, Australians take part in one of the country's most important national data collections: the Census of Population and Housing (the census). The census form asks questions about age, country of birth, cultural background, living situation, work and education.
On Tuesday 11 August 2026, households across Australia will complete their census forms. The data that is collected helps to shape our understanding of population demographics, where people live, and the changing needs of our communities.
Every census response contributes to shaping how Primary Health Networks (PHNs), government bodies and policy makers understand what people’s needs are.
Census data is used to inform decisions about transport, schools, health care, infrastructure and business. It also helps plan local services for individuals, families and communities.
—Australian Bureau of Statistics,
As census day approaches, all Australians are reminded that census participation is a simple but powerful way to help shape the future of health and wellbeing in your community. It is a private, deidentified way for planners to know the diversity, composition and local needs of our community.
Overview
Information gathered through the census is the most-used data source for Hospital and Health Services and PHNs in terms of local needs and planning their programs and services.
PHNs rely on high-quality population data to understand community needs, identify gaps in services, and plan for future demand. Census data informs many aspects of health system planning, including:
understanding population growth and demographic change
identifying communities experiencing inequity or poorer health outcomes
planning services for youths, older people and culturally or gender diverse communities
supporting workforce planning and health infrastructure decisions
improving access to care in areas of greatest need.
Census data fundamental to how PHNs plan and fund services
For Brisbane South PHN, an in-depth understanding of our region’s population demographics is required for evidence-based planning, commissioning and service design to improve health outcomes for local communities.
The census provides one of the most comprehensive datasets available for understanding Australian communities. It supports decisions not only for healthcare services, but other important aspects that influence health and how people access healthcare e.g., education, transport, housing and social services.
The information collected through the census helps to inform where health services are delivered and where these services are needed the most.
As such, census data is foundational to informing our regional Health Needs Assessments.
‘Accurate census data is important to reaffirm what we know about our region or to identify new populations or areas of need. Up to date data also helps to check if our services or understanding of the region is still accurate, because populations, their locations and needs change and shift over time,’ says Odewumi Adegbija, Senior Health Data Analyst at Brisbane South PHN.
‘For PHNs, robust data enables more targeted commissioning, stronger partnerships and better outcomes for communities. Simply put, better data leads to better decisions.’
What's new in the 2026 Census?
The 2026 Census will introduce several changes designed to better reflect Australia's population.
For the first time, the census will include new questions on sexual orientation and gender for people aged 16 years and over. These additions aim to provide more comprehensive data to support policy development, service planning and community wellbeing.
The 2026 Census will also update several existing questions, aligning to the current best standards including:
refining the question on sex to refer to ‘sex recorded at birth’
adding an optional gender question as it may differ from sex
updating household and family relationship terminology to be more inclusive
expanding ancestry reporting options to better capture cultural diversity.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has advised that respondents will have the option not to answer some questions. A ‘prefer not to answer’ option is available for those who choose not to respond.
The ABS also deidentifies, combines and supresses all data to ensure people can never be identified.
Key messages for your patients about the census
Participating in the census helps to create clearer visibility of the community. This visibility of the populations contributes to national, state and local decision-making, including the planning and delivery of primary healthcare services.
‘Census data helps create a picture of who we are, and the more complete the picture, the better equipped governments and healthcare organisations are to respond to emerging needs and address existing barriers to care,’ says Irina Strauss, Health Access and Equity Project Lead at Brisbane South PHN.
Where possible, healthcare professionals are encouraged to remind patients that:
answering census questions helps you to receive the healthcare support you need
it is safe to fill out the census because it is completely anonymous. Information that could identify you is removed, so the data can show trends about communities but not about you as a person.
Census resources for patients and the wider community
Resources for healthcare professionals providing care to diverse patient groups
Healthcare professionals working with patients from diverse population groups can use the following resources to enhance the care they provide in their day-to-day practice:
View the toolkit to help gather your patient’s cultural background information sensitively and accurately in your practice.
View the RACGP Standards for general practices (5th edition) fact sheet — Collecting and recording information about patient sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation.
Information about available interpreting services.
Further resources and support for healthcare professionals
The Brisbane South PHN region is home to a diverse and growing population. Find support that is tailored to specific primary care needs on our following webpages: