Census helpers will be at the next three Soup Kitchen nights to make sure everyone gets counted in the 2021 national Census, including those sleeping rough.
Every five years, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) counts every person and household in Australia. This Census, the date is Tuesday 10 August.
Information packs are sent to households this week with instructions to complete your Census either online, by paper or with help from ABS staff. There is a national focus on ensuring people with no fixed address are also counted.
ABS staff will attend Soupie on Wednesday 4 August and next week on Monday August 9 and Wednesday August 11, from 5pm.
"We are providing an opportunity to assist people to accurately complete their forms and most importantly to ensure people without a fixed address are also counted," said Lydell Huntly, Manager at the Margaret River Community Centre (MRCC).
"Soupie is an obvious source of 'local intelligence', to help ensure the best count of people experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness in the area.
"People couchsurfing, living in a car or sleeping rough all need to be included.
"For people living in large households, with more than 6 people, an additional form is needed and the ABS team can also help with this."
The Census form asks questions like age, country of birth, religion, ancestry, language used at home, work and education.
Each form needs to be completed appropriately to ensure it is included, and the ABS team can assist people if they are having difficulty with the paperwork or the process.
Information from the Census helps governments, businesses and not for profit organisations across Australia make important decisions. It informs planning for schools, healthcare, transport and infrastructure.
