Digital-First Census Leaves Regional and Elderly Australians Scrambling for Paper Forms

As Australia prepares for the upcoming Census on August 11, residents nationwide are raising concerns about a lack of clear communication and confusion surrounding how to participate in the population count.

Regional Communities Left Behind?

Sally Goode, a South Australian Justice of the Peace in the Riverland, reported that she and her fellow JPs have been inundated with requests for assistance. Local residents are searching for guidance on navigating the online system or obtaining traditional paper forms.

"People are concerned that they have not received a letter and just presume that one will hopefully come along," Ms Goode said.

She noted that the push toward digital completion is causing significant anxiety, particularly for seniors who lack technology. "The thing I have found to be the most worrying for people is the fact they need a computer in order to do this." she explained. "For elderly people who don't have access to a computer, it frightens them."

According to Ms Goode, there has been a rush of elderly individuals visiting the library signing room who are completely bamboozled by the information they have received. "Many of them are not in any way computer literate, and to get a letter that says go to a website it flabbergasts them," she said.

Ms Goode believes that physical paper forms should have been distributed to regional public spaces, such as local libraries. "I think it's very short-sighted to have not made printed forms readily available," she said.

Federal Representative Questions Digital-First Approach

While the default method for the Census is online, households that prefer paper must proactively request a physical form, though some are mailed directly. Federal Member for Barker, Tony Pasin, expressed concern that this digital-first focus could lead to decreased participation, noting that his constituents are feeling frustrated.

"I just think there's a tendency in government for everyone to think digital is best, but I'm not sure in this case," Mr Pasin said. "If you've got this slip, you have to use your digital prowess to convert it into an online document that you fill out."

Similar Hardships in Small Victorian Towns

The struggle is mirrored in Quambatook, a small Victorian town of 230 residents. Following the closure of the local post office in May, general store owner Chelle Espagne has been making trips to Kerang multiple times a week to retrieve mail for the town.

"No-one's got any of the forms yet," Ms Espagne said, expressing concern about the potential impact on data accuracy if residents cannot access forms. She explained that efforts to secure paper forms in advance were met with strict limitations, stating that when they called, they were only given two forms because there were two people in her household.

Ms Espagne had hoped to turn her shop or the neighborhood house into a support hub. "If we had the forms we could help the elderly who could come into the stores, or our neighbourhood house, and we would help them fill out the form or get online," she said.

Support and Deadlines Explained

In response to these worries, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) confirmed that field staff will be hand-delivering paper forms in specific locations, including the Wimmera and Riverland regions, while mail deliveries continue. Officials also confirmed that there will be no immediate fines for those completing forms after August 11 if they have not yet received their materials. However, individuals who actively refuse to complete the survey after being directed to do so could face prosecution and fines of up to $364 per day.

Census national spokesperson Emily Walter emphasized that assistance is available. "For most of the country they'll receive a letter in the mail if they haven't already," Ms Walter said.

The letters contain a unique 16-digit login code. For those who are still waiting, Ms Walter pointed to alternative options. "If people haven't received a letter in the mail or are still waiting to hear, there is a call centre." she said. "They can request a paper form there, or there is a very easy method through our Census website to request a paper form."

Additionally, residents can request physical copies directly from field staff. "They might also see field officers who will be carrying a bright yellow satchel and wearing an ABS identification tag, so they can request a paper form from them," Ms Walter added.

Ms Walter clarified that forms completed after the official date simply need to reflect the household's status on the designated night. "We ask everyone to complete their Census form as soon as they can, based on who spends the night at their house on Census night, Tuesday 11 August," she said.