The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933, 1947, and 1954. Participating in the census is compulsory. The census counts all people who spend census night within Australia and its external and internal territories other than Norfolk Island, with the exception of foreign diplomats and their families. A separate census of Norfolk Island has been conducted by the Norfolk Island Government every five years since 1981, and occurs on the same day as the Australian census.

The Census and Statistics Act 1905 (Cth) led to the 1906 establishment of the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics (CBCS). The Bureau was renamed the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 1975.

The census is collected and published against geographic areas defined by the Australian Standard Geographical Classification. The ASGC provides a set of geographic classifications (called structures) for the dissemination of all ABS statistics. In 2007 the ABS published an experimental set of spatial units called mesh blocks. The primary aim of mesh blocks is to provide a building block for constructing alternative and more relevant geographies. Only data on total persons and total dwellings is released at the mesh block level. Mesh blocks will form the basis of a new statistical geography, the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS).

Australia ( /əˈstreɪljə/), officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent as well as the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area. Neighbouring countries include Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north; the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east.

For at least 40,000 years before European settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians, who belonged to one or more of roughly 250 language groups. After discovery by Dutch explorers in 1606, Australia's eastern half was claimed by Great Britain in 1770 and settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales from 26 January 1788. The population grew steadily in subsequent decades; the continent was explored and an additional five self-governing Crown Colonies were established.

Ernie Dingo AM (born 31 July 1956 at Bullardoo Station) is an Indigenous Australian actor and television presenter originating from the Yamatji people of the Murchison region of Western Australia.

Born Ernest Ashley Dingo on 31 July 1956, at Bullardoo Station, he was the second child of nine. He grew up in Mullewa with his family. He went to Prospect Primary and then Geraldton High School.

He came to acting after moving to Perth and meeting Richard Walley, with whom he played basketball in a local team. Ernie went on to play state league first division for the East Perth Eagles.

Dingo has had a distinguished career as an actor and presenter in film and television. has also promoted the Generation One "Hand Across Australia" which was a promotion for Indigenous equality.

With Richard Walley created a controversial "welcome to country" ceremony after dancers from the Pacific would not perform without one in Perth in 1976.

Dingo's film career commenced in the 1980s and he appeared regularly on screen through the 1990s. He appeared in Bruce Beresford's 1987 drama The Fringe Dwellers and worked on the 1988 docu-drama biopic Tudawali. He had a major supporting role in the international comedy blockbuster Crocodile Dundee II in 1988. He appeared as himself in the 1989 comedy Capuccino had a major role in the 1991 Wim Wenders film Until the End of the World. In 1993 he starred in Blackfellas and he had a lead role in 1996's Dead Heart. In 1998 he starred in Somewhere in the Darkness. In 2010 he returned to the silver screen with a role in the Aboriginal musical Bran Nue Dae along with Jessica Mauboy and Geoffrey Rush.

Kitty Flanagan is an Australian comedian.

She is best known in Australia for her work on the television series Full Frontal and in the United Kingdom(UK) for her work on The Sketch Show. Before getting a job at Full Frontal, Kitty spent 5 years masquerading as a copywriter before moving into stand-ups. Flanagan moved to the UK in 2001 to further her comedy career.

Well known for sketch comedy as well as stand-up, Kitty has also appeared on TV shows such as The Micallef Program and Good News Week and had numerous TV stand-up appearances, including The World Stands Up on Comedy Central.

She also hosted the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2010.

Flanagan returned to live in Australia in 2009.

In 2009 Flanagan starred in the Comedy Channel's I Can't Believe It's Not Better.

She is the sister of singer/songwriter/author Penny Flanagan.

On, 28 March 2011, Flanagan mentioned on Good News Week that she has a kitten.