Why this year’s Census matters for your kids
On the first day of kindergarten, migrant and refugee children begin to understand there’s an expectation to speak English.
fka Children’s Services helps make sure their identity is present and valued in the classroom. It could be hearing Peruvian songs, children’s books sourced from Bangladesh or games from South Sudan and utensils from Vietnam.
Behind their work is Australia’s most important survey: the Census.
“We use the Census data when we do our library refresh each year to see what languages we’re going to need,” explains Emma McGrath, a Partnerships and Project Manager at fka Children’s services. “So children can see themselves reflected in their learning environment.”
The organisation also uses Census data to identify where people might need help enrolling their children in kindergarten.
“If Census data shows a certain community nearby, but none are enrolled, we start to ask why.”
Sometimes the answer is simple. Families might not know kindergarten is free in Victoria. The result? More effort is put into helping people learn about how to access this support.
“Without that information, children can miss out on an education that shapes their entire future,” Ms McGrath says.
For fka Children’s Services, every answer matters in the Census because it impacts how accurately families are counted.
“It’s all anonymous but it means we can understand who needs support and where,” Ms McGrath says.
Take part in the 2026 Census
The next Census will take place on Tuesday 11 August 2026.
Visit census.abs.gov.au/multicultural to find out more.
