The Australian Census is conducted every five years and provides the government with information about Australia's population, communities, languages, and ancestry. The data helps inform decisions on funding, education, language preservation, multicultural services, healthcare, community programs, and future government policy.
For Australia's Assyrian community, organizations are emphasizing that participation in the Census is an important opportunity to ensure the community is accurately represented.
By identifying as Assyrian under ancestry and accurately recording the language spoken at home, Assyrians can help establish a clearer picture of the size and geographic distribution of the community across Australia. "Every response matters," Assyrian community organizations have emphasized in encouraging participation. "This data plays an important role in informing decisions on funding, education, language preservation, multicultural services, health care, community programs and future policy", The Young Assyrians wrote in social media post.
Census data shows significant growth
The latest available Census figures highlight the importance of accurate participation.
According to Australian Bureau of Statistics data from the 2021 Census, Australia's population stood at 25 million with more than 60,000 people reporting Assyrian as the language spoken at home. The figures point to a growing Assyrian speaking population in Australia and provide important data for community organizations advocating for language, cultural, educational, and social services.
