Census

chris & terry · Senior Member

Census

glassies · Guru

i dont even understand what its all about ,i always thought what is it to know whos missing
in australia or what.

Senseless census to me

Sheba · Guru

Can't believe you're serious Glassies. But just in case you are, I believe it's to do with Infrastructure Etc. They need to know how and where to organise things according to Numbers of Aged, Young, Employed, Sick, unemployed etc. They need to work out how much money to allocate to the states for Public Works etc. [ like Roadworks, and Hospitals.]

There's probably a lot more, but this will give you some idea. And if I've got it wrong, some-one will let us know.

Cheers,

Sheba.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I reckon you're right Sheba - it needs to be taken seriously, for all our benefits.

gordon_adl · Senior Member

We just realised we never got a census doc delivered to us. Went online but can't seem to do it because they want some number. Hmm...

tonyd · Guru

The only point I challenge in Sheba's reply is the word "organise".
Our present Federal Government has proved, time and time again, that it could not organise the proverbial drinking party in a brewery.
There are a couple of impertinent questions in the form which I have left blank. What has my "ancestry" got to do with anybody in Canberra?
Saw a bumper sticker on another site today which summed it all up (and this will probably get this thread closed and me banned, but there you go):

What's happened to Australia?
We used to kick arse, not lick it.

Cheers, Tony

Happywanderer · The Master

I agree with Sheba. They need to know where to supply goods and services to and to how many people. Thats it in a nutshell.
Without figures the world would be in a shamozzle.

yeoeleven · Guru

Hadn't thought much about the census for my reporting. Had helped my wife who was confused about the whole thing.

I was amazed to have a visitor whilst I was putting up the annex here in Lawrence, I thought I was being moved on but no it was the census collector who asked me if I would be here on Tuesday night.

Apparently there are many free camping areas around here and he was visiting them all each day and so caught me up in his net.

I wasn't going to bother but now will fill in the census as required due to his diligence.

John

Happywanderer · The Master

How hard can it be to fill in the form.. I have heard so many say they don't understand the form. Read the question, answer it.
Your name, your address, how many live in the residence on the night of 9th, etc
Do you mind people in 99 years time knowing all about you. Yes!! Too right. Would love to be remembered by someone that far ahead.

milo · Guru

i dont mind it all if its used for good reasons, but i dont know why they need your name and all that,

any ways..

Happywanderer · The Master

I assume they need your name milo so that can know it was you who filled in the form at that address on the night and not someone else. So they end up with the right amount of people and no double ups.

Dreamcaster51 · Senior Member

Hi guys and gals,
I just got off the phone to the ABS re an online census number. I was told that because i did not have a permanent addy ( street address) i was homeless and was not required to fill in a form. I advised the young lady that there was probably in excess of 20 or 30 thousand people in the same boat and didnt we count!
I rang back and got a guy that, after explaining what happened, told me she must have put it into the "too hard" basket. I now have a form number and a CFN number and feel wanted again

-- Edited by Dreamcaster51 on Monday 8th of August 2011 10:35:33 PM

jonathan · Guru

.. I'm also classsed as no fixed abode .. Itinerant .. and as a traveller I was catered for .. as per the guide lines, I picked up a (numbered) 'travellers' census pack which also provided me with an online census number too .. even though certain requirements (they're instruction) did prevent me from doing it online ..

so .. have the envelope here to drop into a mailbox at any time now ..

Jon

Sheba · Guru

gordon_adl wrote:
We just realised we never got a census doc delivered to us. Went online but can't seem to do it because they want some number. Hmm...

As Dreamcaster said Gordon, ring the Number, 1300 338 776 and they'll give you a Census Form Number, so you can do it online.

Cheers,

Sheba.

Helena · Guru

If anyne out there traces their family history they would know how useful this census will be for future generations although I must agree I don't know why some of the questions are in there. Helena.

chris & terry · Senior Member

Hi Sheba & HW, you are dead right with regards to statistics re numbers & infrastructure, however, like I said we baby boomer travelers, grey nomads of no fixed address are said to be increasing in number & as such are going to require increased infrastructure & I see no questions pertinent to those.

Terry

Rip and Rosie · Guru

In my past life (before I retired) I was involved in the health care service, and I actually used the census data, so I can tell you a bit about how its used.

Part of my job was planning new services- you know, applying for money to set up a new team or project. In order to get the powers that be to understand that it was needed I used to go to the census data (available on the internet) to show them that the population was changing in a certain area etc.

So PLEASE fill in your census form.

In this life (after retirement) I am involved in genealogy (family history) and I use census material regularly to find family, and to confirm individuals as members of my family. The census data is immensively valuable for this research......... in every country EXCEPT AUSTRALIA, because (except for the 1828 census) all individual data is destroyed.

Preservation of your data will not make any difference to you - nothing will be released for 100 years- but it will help your family find you, and know a bit about you and your life in 2011.

So PLEASE do not let them destroy your data.

ozjohn · Guru

We have just completed the Census form on line at 2.30pm.
Only took a 20 minutes and was not invasive in anyway.
Cheers, Ozjohn.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Was going to do it online today - but internet reception is a bit patchy in our area at the moment - so will fill out the form and hand it in to collector.

Was working at Visitors Info Centre this morning when a couple came in asking what should they do about the census, as they were intending to camp in a roadside stop tonight - our Centre Co-ordinator was told by local Cenus Co-ordinator that some forms would be left at centre for this purpose - they weren't left - after much chasing around got on to Cenus Co-ord - who said she had been looking out to see if anyone was staying in our overnight spot, and she would have dropped forms in then. But we also have people camped in the National Park campground, as well as the couple who came in to us.

Solved it in the end - the couple went on to the next Visitors Info Centre, who had been left forms, and our local Census Co-ord was going to drop some over to us -

I hope other areas are better organised that ours here - these people are being paid good money to organise their area - and if this is the way they are doing it - pity help us.

jonathan · Guru

I do agree with you Jules .. but I'm not really sympathetic for those that tend to leave it all to the last minute and expect others to run around after them ..

Jon

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I agree Jon - but what do you do - especially being the visitors info centre - we want to give people a positive feeling, so sometimes go out of our way to help -
but sometimes you do wonder how people manage to get anywhere, they are not very well organised - have had some come in at 3pm, wanting to walk at Mt Barney - that day - we are about three quarters of an hour from the area, it is winter, so getting dark earlier, and most of the walks at Mt Barney are challenging - don't know what they are thinking of.

Pejay · Guru

Just finished our census form(s) over a cuppa. Yes I mean plural when it came to the form, because the caravan park in Devonport did not get given any 'household' forms where Pete and I would be on the one form, so we sat here and filled out a form each - no worries, but it does not show or make any reference to the 'relationship' between us, and I like being part of a couple in the one 'abode'!!

PS Blowin' an absolute gale here at present - will be on the boat heading back to the 'main island' on Friday.

jonathan · Guru

.. Well .. you're right Jules .. you do what you do .. thats life and it wont change.

We're lucky to still live as individuals ..

Jon

Sheba · Guru

chris & terry wrote:
Hi Sheba & HW, you are dead right with regards to statistics re numbers & infrastructure, however, like I said we baby boomer travelers, grey nomads of no fixed address are said to be increasing in number & as such are going to require increased infrastructure & I see no questions pertinent to those.

Terry
But they will have a better idea than 5 years ago of how many people are using our Highways on a [more or less] permanent basis. Could also be useful in deciding whether or not to put more Rest Stops around the country.
Cheers,
Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Tuesday 9th of August 2011 05:42:44 PM

Esmeralda · Guru

Just checked into caravan park at Goondiwindi and was asked if I wanted a form or was I going to do it online. When I said online I was given a envelope with a number - so will get it done before bed.

I have been waiting for nearly an hour for the census site to accept my online form furious

-- Edited by Esmeralda on Tuesday 9th of August 2011 08:49:48 PM

Happywanderer · The Master

Did you finally get it submitted Esmerelda or are you still waiting.

Esmeralda · Guru

After nearly 2 hours I started clicking on everything in sight and it brought the form back again so I just resubmitted it and it went in seconds!!

Hylda&Jon · Guru

We were camped at Fountain Springs roadside stop east of Mt Isa with close to 40 other vehicles(it'snearly time for the Mt Isa Rodeo day so it was packed though we were heading the other direction) & at about 7pm a nice lady knocked on our caravan door with census forms & info if we needed though we had already picked up the stuff from a roadhouse so we could get the number etc needed so we can complete the online ecensus. A pain to do but helps the Government with their infrastructure etc

Cheers

Jon