Data is more than just numbers; it has the power to define who is made visible and, more importantly, who remains unseen. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Census “is the most comprehensive snapshot of the country and tells the story of how we are changing”. However, with the decision to exclude ethnicity as a question in the 2026 Census, it begs the question: How can we truly measure change when not everyone is included in this story?
The next Census in 2026 will continue to ask about ‘ancestry’, a category that implies someone’s biological and genetic makeup, which may or may not be linked to someone’s ethnicity. Despite the ABS classifying the ancestry data into ethnic and cultural groups, many experts warn that a question on ancestry alone, is not an adequate measure of someone’s identity, and it can be misleading for respondents. Rather, ethnicity is a more nuanced measure encompassing, someone’s self-perceived belonging to one or multiple ethnic groups and their cultural affiliation, as indicated by Stats NZ. Data related to ethnicity can also provide a more meaningful understanding of someone’s lived experience and their health and wellbeing.
The lack of comprehensive data has been a long-standing structural issue that is rooted in discrimination and racism. Writing about data bias and gender, Caroline Criado Perez states that, ‘It’s not always easy to convince someone that a need exists if they don’t experience it themselves.’ Failure to acknowledge the importance of inclusive data is not a recent issue, especially when it comes to the Census. Historically, the Census has excluded various groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, migrant and refugee people and people who identify as LGBTIQA+. For instance, the 1971 Census of Population and Housing was the first time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were included in the population count, almost two centuries after the first census was conducted in 1828. More recently, during the 2021 census, LGBTQIA+ people were ignored as information on sex, sexual orientation and gender diversity was not accurately collected.
In Australia, and worldwide, there are deep-rooted health disparities across ethnicity groups resulting from structural and systemic barriers that contribute to migrant and refugee people’s access to healthcare and treatment. These disparities are not comprehensively understood, because Australia’s health data regularly exclude migrant and refugee women and gender diverse people in reporting. When the health of migrants and refugees or ‘culturally and linguistically diverse’ groups are reported on, it is often solely based on country of birth. For example, COVID-19 mortality data showed that residents born in the Middle East and North Africa were over 10 times more likely to die from the condition than people born in Australia. While country of birth data can show disparities that exist – this data point alone does not paint the full picture. In order to design and implement health policies and programs that can effectively address all social determinants of health, including gender, we need data that goes beyond a person’s country of birth. For example, data about someone’s ethnicity (in addition to information about ancestry, language spoken, occupation and visa type) can help us understand people’s lived experience, and how to reach and engage with people in culturally responsive and meaningful ways.
In our quest to have intersectional data and amidst Australia’s growing diversity, limiting the 2026 census to a singular question of ‘ancestry’ can risk perpetuating the “under-recognition of ethnic and racial health disparities and discrimination when they do exist”. As health inequalities widen, now more than ever, we need a national framework for the collection and provision of publicly accessible national health data, which is disaggregated by age group, gender, sexual orientation, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status, ethnicity, place of birth, disability, English language proficiency and visa status. For Australia to be successful in tackling the ongoing inequities and effectively plan for equitable future for all, as a starting point, we need a Census that is designed for everyone.
This article was first published in edition #134 of The WRAP on June 2024.