Sikh organizations have encouraged community members across Australia to record their religious affiliation, ancestry and language accurately in the 2026 national census.
The Australian Census covers everyone present in the country on census night, including citizens, permanent residents, temporary visa holders and international visitors. Completing the census is compulsory, although responding to the question about religion remains voluntary.
Community groups such as UNITED SIKHS have urged people who identify with the Sikh faith or speak Punjabi at home to ensure that the information they submit reflects their individual circumstances. Accurate census results can help governments and public institutions assess demand for language assistance, healthcare, education and other community services.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has clarified that the religion question measures a person’s religious affiliation, which may differ from the frequency of religious practice. It has advised respondents to answer according to their own identity and beliefs rather than following campaigns seeking to influence responses.
The census information will be processed and published in anonymized form. Individual responses are protected under Australian law.
