The Census is Australia's most comprehensive source of population data. Governments, researchers, service providers and community organisations use Census information to understand communities, identify needs, and make decisions about policy, funding and services.

Historically, there has been limited national data about LGBTQ+ populations. While data collection has improved, significant national data gaps remain. This makes it difficult to fully understand health disparities affecting LGBTQ+ populations, identify service gaps, plan appropriately, and advocate for targeted investment where it is most needed.

Improved health and wellbeing outcomes start with strong data. When people are more visible and counted, decision-makers have better information to:

• identify health and wellbeing needs
• understand health inequities and service gaps
• plan health and community services
• inform policy, funding and investment decisions
• strengthen research and advocacy

Stronger data provides the evidence needed to make informed decisions that can improve policy, services, and health outcomes.

The 2026 Census is an important opportunity to build the strongest evidence base Australia has ever had about LGBTQ+ people. For the first time, national Census data will be available on sexual orientation alongside improved data on gender, helping create a more complete picture of LGBTQ+ people.

The 2026 Census includes important changes. For the first time, the Census will include a question on sexual orientation alongside an improved question on gender, helping create a more complete picture of LGBTQ+ people.

The new questions have been included in the Census following extensive public consultation, engagement and testing. This included working with the LGBTIQ+ Expert Advisory Committee for the 2026 Census.

New question on sexual orientation

For the first time, people aged 16 years and over will be asked about their sexual orientation. This will provide important national information that has never previously been collected through the Census.

For more details on this question, including how to answer it, visit this webpage: Personal characteristics and education | Census Information

New questions about sex recorded at birth and gender

The Census will use a two-step approach that asks about:

• sex recorded at birth
• gender

A question on sex has been included in every Australian Census since 1911. In 2026, that question has been updated to ask about sex recorded at birth alongside the new gender question.  

This approach aligns with the ABS Standard for Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation Variables and is designed to improve information about gender diversity in Australia's population data.

For more details on this question, including how to answer it, visit this webpage: Personal details | Census Information

Why these changes are important

Asking both questions will improve the quality of the data collected. These questions will help build a clearer picture of Australia’s diversity and support planning for health and community services.  

Limitations

LHA recognises the limitations of the new questions and the absence of a question on innate variations of sex characteristics. At the same time, this Census represents an important step forward while we continue to advocate for future improvements and inclusions. LHA knows that there is more work to do and our work on the Census in partnership with the ABS continues. Every Census builds on the one before it, and we will continue advocating for future improvements so that Australia's data better reflects the full diversity of LGBTIQ+ communities.

For further information, see our Census FAQs.

Contact qlife.org.au for anonymous and affirming peer support.

The new questions in the 2026 Census are the result of many years of advocacy by LGBTQ+ organisations, researchers, health professionals and community members.

Historically, there has been limited national data about LGBTQ+ populations. While data collection has improved, gaps remain which mean it is challenging to understand all health disparities that impact LGBTQ+ communities, identify gaps, plan services, and advocate for investment where it is needed most.

The 2026 Census represents significant progress. It is the first time national Census data will be collected on sexual orientation alongside improved data on gender, creating opportunities for better evidence, research and service planning.

LHA knows that there is more work to do and our work on the Census in partnership with the ABS continues. Every Census builds on the one before it, and we will continue advocating for future improvements so that Australia's data better reflects the full diversity of our communities.

Your privacy matters

Many LGBTQ+ people have questions about privacy when completing the Census, particularly when answering questions about sexual orientation and gender.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has strict legal obligations to protect Census information. Census data is used to produce statistics about populations and communities, rather than identify individual people.

For official information about privacy, confidentiality and data protection, visit the ABS Census privacy page.

Why your participation is important

Improved health and wellbeing for LGBTQ+ people starts with strong data.

For many years, there has been limited national data about LGBTQ+ populations in Australia. The 2026 Census is an opportunity to build stronger evidence about our communities and their needs.

Stronger data helps governments, researchers, health services and community organisations make better decisions about policy, funding, services and research. While data alone does not create change, it provides an essential foundation for improving health and wellbeing outcomes.

Need support?

For some people, questions about sexual orientation and gender may feel intrusive, unsafe or be distressing. Others may have concerns about privacy, family circumstances, or whether they are included in the questions.

If you would like support before, during or after completing the Census:

• Contact qlife.org.au for anonymous and affirming peer support.
• Visit info.census.abs.gov.au for official information about Census participation, privacy and support services.

Looking for official Census information?

Information on this website has been informed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

• Visit the Census website for official information: Census website.
• Visit this page for help completing your form: help completing your Census form.
• Visit this webpage for dedicated information for LGBTQ+ people, including privacy, participation, support services and detailed guidance about the Census questions: Information for the LGBTIQ+ community
• Visit this webpage for dedicated information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

LGBTQ+ people are diverse. People will have different experiences of the Census and hold different views about the new questions.

While the 2026 Census is a significant step forward, the new questions do have limitations and some people may feel dissatisfied with them.

The below information is designed to help people navigate the 2026 Census.

Trans and gender diverse (TGD) people

Responses to the two questions will be used to produce information on gender diversity to improve how trans and gender diverse people are reflected in national data.

The two-step approach is used as it aligns with the ABS The Standard for Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation Variables, 2020 ("2020 Standard"). The 2020 Standard is the current leading practice for collecting the highest quality data on gender diversity within general population surveys. Data collection specifically for TGD communities may take a different approach.

Having gender diversity reflected within the national data set is important to inform policy and services. This better meets the needs of TGD people and helps to address current health disparities impacting TGD people.

Some TGD people may find questions about their sex recorded at birth distressing, invalidating, intrusive or not relevant to them. If answering this question is not comfortable, the ABS recommends selecting the ‘Another term’ response option.

If thinking about or completing the Census raises concerns or difficult feelings, support is available. Contact qlife.org.au for anonymous and affirming peer support.

LHA recognises the Census questions have limitations and continues to work with the government and the ABS so that the 2031 Census rectifies these disparities. Participation in the 2026 Census remains important because Census data helps inform policy, services and advocacy. For further information on why the ABS uses a ‘two-step process’, see our FAQs.

People born with innate variations of sex characteristics

The 2026 Census does not include a dedicated question about innate variations of sex characteristics.

This is a significant omission which compounds existing challenges in how people born with innate variations of sex characteristics are represented in data collections, surveys and research. Without national data, the needs and experiences of people born with innate variations of sex characteristics risk remaining poorly understood in research, policy and service planning.

All Australian’s are legally required to complete the Census. If you are uncomfortable answering the question on sex recorded at birth, the ABS recommends selecting the ‘Another term’ response.

LHA continues to work with the government and the ABS so that the 2031 Census rectifies these disparities

Young LGBTQ+ people

The new questions on sexual orientation and gender will only be asked of people aged 16 years and over. As a result, many younger LGBTQ+ people will not be represented through these questions.

Some young people may have concerns about privacy or safety when completing the Census at home. If needed, a person can fill in a separate Census form to keep their answers private from others in the household. Safety and wellbeing always comes first.

For guidance about privacy and participation, please refer to the ABS website.

If thinking about or completing the Census raises concerns or difficult feelings, support is available. Contact qlife.org.au for anonymous and affirming peer support.

Older LGBT+ people

Many older LGBT+ people have lived through periods when being open about their sexual orientation or gender carried significant personal and social risk.

We know some people feel cautious about providing personal information, even in a confidential Census. At the same time, the Census data can help improve understanding of the experiences and needs of older LGBT+ people in areas such as healthy ageing, aged care, housing and health services.

If needed, a person can fill in a separate Census form to keep their answers private from others in the household. 

If thinking about or completing the Census raises concerns or difficult feelings, support is available. Contact qlife.org.au for anonymous and affirming peer support.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQ+ Sistergirls and Brotherboys

Better data can help strengthen evidence for culturally safe services, policy development and community-led advocacy.

Some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may feel cautious about sharing information through a government-run process. Distrust of governments and services can run deep due to the ongoing impacts of colonisation, discrimination and historical trauma, and these concerns are understandable.

At the same time, improved Census data about LGBTQ+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy (LGBTQ+SB) communities can help counter the erasure of diverse genders and sexual orientations that colonisation has imposed, strengthening recognition that LGBTQ+SB Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have always been part of our communities and cultures.

LHA supports approaches to data collection that are guided by cultural safety, self-determination and respect, and we will continue working alongside First Nations organisations and leaders to advocate for data that better reflects the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQ+SB communities.

For further information please see the ABS’s dedicated webpage: Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people seeking culturally safe wellbeing support can contact 13YARN (13 92 76). People who would like additional support can contact qlife.org.au for anonymous and affirming peer support.