Key points:

- Data will be collected on 45 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages in August's Census, increasing the number to almost 200

- Radio adds, increase on-ground engagement and First Nations engagement teams will be present in cities and remote communities in the lead up to Census night

- August 11 is Census night in 2026, with the public able to complete the survey, on paper or online, in a period either side

Data will be collected on more Aboriginal and Torres Strait languages than ever before through the 2026 Census, with an extended period to complete the survey and local community members on the ground to assist and inform in remote areas.

The 2026 Census will be held on Tuesday August 11.

Alike 2021, households will receive instructions from late July and can begin filling out documentation as soon as it arrives.

In addition to hard copies, this year's Census can also be filled out online.

An extended period of time to do so is available for people in remote areas. They will have a block between July and September to complete the survey.

Australian Bureau of Statistics staff have outlined community facilitators and field officers with local language skills will also be on the ground to assist.

First Nations engagement teams will be present in cities and areas including Darwin and the Tiwi Islands, the APY Lands and the Torres Strait.

Recruitment measures have been put in place, with ABS staff to again conduct face-to-face assistance in communities in 2026.

Ahead of the Census, information sessions, pop-up hubs, resources delivered by local councils, community groups, organisations and more will facilitate assistance events.

The ABS says they are prioritising engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities in culturally-safe ways, ensuring early engagement and informed understanding about the census.

Radio ads will be delivered in nine First Languages across the Country.

In a considerable increase, the census will collect data on an additional 45 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages in 2026, increasing the number to almost 200 around the country.

Efforts have been made with ABS Roundtable on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics and Center of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics ahead of the national survey.

In-part, this has been done to address previous undercounts of Indigenous people, identified as among the ABS' highest data collection priorities, as explained by ABS staff.

The ABS also acknowledged some First Nations people are likely to experience survey fatigue, or that some communities are over-surveyed.

The census is Australia's largest data collection event, taking place every five years.

Information the public is asked about their household and its residents, employment and income, cultural identity and ancestry, education, health and more.

The resulting data helps form a 'snapshot' of the country, and informs policy, transport investment, community housing, education and community programs.

By legislation, information collected which could identify a person cannot be shared by the ABS.

Ensuring privacy, including mechanisms to minimise risk and impacts, security systems are critically considered, both online and paper documents.

Resources are also available to help the public protect themselves against scams.

Efforts are made to have every person counted, including those in transit, away from their homes, homeless, in hoptials and prisons.

Specialist strategies are available for those to need assistance filling in the census, ABS staff said.