For the first time, the Australian Census will ask people aged 16 and over about their gender identity. On census night, Tuesday 11 August 2026, transgender, gender diverse and non-binary (TGD) Australians have a real chance to be seen in the national count. Here’s what’s changing, why it matters, and how to answer in a way that’s right for you.
After years of advocacy from Transgender Victoria, along with countless individuals partner organisations, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) will ask everyone aged 16 and over about their gender, alongside a separate question on sex recorded at birth. It’s a long-overdue step, and it means TGD people can finally be reflected in the data that shapes the country.
Census data is the backbone of how Australia plans and funds the things we all rely on: transport, schools, health care and community infrastructure. Governments at every level - federal, state and local - use it, and so do businesses, healthcare providers and community organisations. When TGD communities aren’t counted accurately, we become invisible in those decisions.
In 2021, the only available non-binary option captured roughly 50,000 people - out of an estimated 200,000-plus trans, gender diverse and non-binary people in Australia. An accurate 2026 count helps direct gender-affirming healthcare, mental health support and education funding to where it’s genuinely needed.
Completing the Census is compulsory, but your answers are confidential by law. The ABS has safeguarded Census data for more than 100 years without a breach, and keeps your identifying details separate from your responses.
If you share a household with people who don’t know you’re TGD, you can complete a private form so no one else sees your answers. There are two ways to do it:
Either of these will record you as a trans, gender diverse or non-binary person:
Tip: the ABS codes the first response to the gender question, so write in the descriptor that matters most to you first.
