Hello Deaf Community.
Deaf Australia would like your attention to watch this important video.
Did you know something important is coming on 11 August?
The Australian Government is asking everyone in Australia to complete the Census. You will need to answer all the questions.
The Census usually happens every five years. The last Census was in 2021.
One of the important questions is about the language you use at home. In the 2021 Census, 16,242 people said they use Auslan.
Is that all?
No. Deaf Australia believes there are more Auslan users than this statistic shows.
Now that you know 11 August is coming soon, it is important to think about your answer. If Auslan is your primary or first language, please make sure you write Auslan in the Census.
To help you, Deaf Australia will create one or two short videos with easy visual guides. These videos will show you how to answer this question in the Census. We will share them on our website and social media. More information will be available soon.
This is important because Census data helps the Australian Government understand how many people use different languages. If more people include Auslan in their Census response, it helps show the true size of our community.
This information can support Deaf Australia's systemic advocacy work. It can help raise awareness of Auslan and support stronger recognition of Auslan as a language. It can also help governments better understand why access to information and communication in Auslan is so important.
We strongly encourage you to share this important message with your family, friends, colleagues, and other people who use Auslan as their preferred or primary language.
We believe the final result could be much higher than the previous number of 16,242. Maybe it will be 20,000 or even 30,000 - who knows?
We look forward to seeing the final Census results after 11 August.
Thank you for supporting this important awareness campaign.
The next Australian Census will take place on 11 August 2026, and Deaf Australia is encouraging all Auslan users to take part.
The Census is conducted every five years and provides important information about people and communities across Australia. One of the questions asks about the language you use at home.
In the 2021 Census, 16,242 people reported using Auslan. While this was an important result, Deaf Australia believes the number of Auslan users in Australia may be much higher.
If Auslan is your primary or first language, it is important to include Auslan in your Census response.
Accurate Census data helps governments better understand the size and needs of the Auslan-using community. It can support planning, services, accessibility, and informed decision-making. It also strengthens Deaf Australia's systemic advocacy work by increasing awareness and recognition of Auslan as a language and by highlighting the importance of access to information and communication in Auslan.
To support the community, Deaf Australia will soon release additional videos and visual guides explaining how to answer this question in the Census.
Please watch the Auslan video
We encourage you to watch our video to learn why this is important and how you can help ensure Auslan users are accurately counted in the 2026 Census.
Please share this information with your family, friends, colleagues, and other people who use Auslan as their preferred or primary language.
Together, we can help create a more accurate picture of the Auslan community in Australia.
For updates and additional Census resources, follow Deaf Australia on our website and social media channels.
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