First Nations peoples are often undercounted in Australia’s Census – here’s why that is a problem

Australia's Census, conducted every five years, is a vital tool for governments and researchers in understanding the nation's demographics, needs, and changes. However, the Census has a complicated history with Indigenous peoples, who have often been undercounted or misrepresented. This undercounting is problematic as it directly impacts the funding and essential services allocated to First Nations communities.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has acknowledged the need for consultation with First Nations communities before including new questions in future Censuses, including one on cultural identity. This highlights the ongoing distrust many Indigenous peoples have in national data collection due to a history of misuse and lack of community involvement in designing and interpreting census questions.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.