Census 2011 – Relay Service friendly

29 July 2011

The Australian Census happens only once every five years but it’s coming very soon. Census staff are now out in the field delivering census forms to households and on Tuesday 9 August, every household in Australia will have to fill in the form.

A Census phone inquiry line – phone 1300 338 776 – will handle any questions about filling in the census form or any other part of the census process. The inquiry line will be open 8:30am to 8:00pm, seven days a week to 5 September.

NRS callers will receive priority and will be directed to a specially trained group of inquiry line staff. NRS has developed resources for these staff to help make sure they are Relay Service friendly – that they understand what relay calls are and can handle them professionally, efficiently and in a welcoming manner. Also this year, the Census form will include a note on the front page about how to contact the inquiry line through the NRS.

You can find out more on the Census website including an information video in Auslan.

You can also do the Census online if you prefer. This option is fast and secure, can be done at any time of day and includes online help. The Census collector will give you all the information you need when they first visit. If you decide to do the form online, the collector won’t need to return to your house to collect the form.

We’d be interested to hear about the experiences of people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment filling in the Census this year. Let us know – whether good, bad or indifferent – after 9 August.