The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) will conduct the next national Census of Population and Housing on Tuesday 8 August 2006.

The ABS needs to recruit 10,000 temporary staff in NSW to undertake the delivery and collection of Census forms. The recruitment of an effective Census workforce is vital to achieving accurate population estimates and other information for States, Territories and Local Government Areas.

In 2001, the ABS experienced difficulties recruiting sufficient numbers of census field staff in some parts of NSW. Therefore NSW Government agencies are requested to promote these 2006 Census field positions and encourage people who meet the selection criteria to apply.

The ABS will be recruiting for Area Supervisor and Collector positions between February and May 2006. Interested people can obtain further details and the selection criteria by logging on to the ABS website at www.abs.gov.au/recruitment or by calling 1300 236 787. Information will be available from 11 February 2006 for Area Supervisor positions, and from 8 April 2006 for Collector positions, and applications can be lodged at that time.

NSW Government agencies are requested to encourage those NSW Government employees who can be released, to apply for these temporary positions with the ABS, subject to the nature of their work, workloads and leave provisions.

In addition, NSW Government employees are encouraged to discuss these positions with their friends and family members, and to encourage them to apply. Please note that whilst it may be possible to undertake the Census Collector positions in conjunction with a full-time workload, the Area Supervisors positions can be busy at peak periods and may better suit people not working full-time or who are recently retired.

NSW Government agencies are encouraged to use their networks and communication channels to promote the Census field positions in both large population centres and regional areas of NSW.

In addition, the ABS is encouraging applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and people from non-English speaking backgrounds who speak one or more language in addition to English.

C Gellatly
Director General