Garigarra - First time completing the Census, how to complete your Census, the benefits for communities, and where to get help

Garigarra Riley-Mundine, a proud Wiradjuri woman from Dubbo, completed the Census for the first time by herself in 2016 while staying on a university campus away from her family home and Country.

In previous years, her mother Lynette had completed the Census on paper form which counted everyone in their household on Census night. This included Garigarra’s two siblings who were living at home, and her aunty’s children who were staying the night.

Garigarra was unsure what to do when it came to completing her first Census. She went to the Census website census.abs.gov.au and found everything she needed to know. She completed it online in her student accomodation.

After graduating from university and joining the public service, Garigarra can see the how the Census can help plan for the future.

'There are many ways we can benefit from Census data. Primary schools and universities in regional New South Wales where I grew up used data to help understand where they needed to provide support for Aboriginal students, whether that was with after-school care tutoring or providing specific programs in the local TAFE and university,' said Garigarra.

'It’s important for our mob to complete the Census because our information feeds into policy which really helps us in the long-term.'

More information is available on census.abs.gov.au or 1800 512 441.