The Executive Council of Australian Jewry is urging Jewish Australians to accurately record their Jewish identity in the 2026 Census, saying the data will help governments and community organisations plan essential services.
ECAJ president Daniel Aghion KC said Jewish residents completing the Census should select “Other” in the religion question and enter “Jewish” or “Judaism” for each Jewish member of their household.
“There is no box you can tick marked ‘Jewish’ or ‘Judaism’,” Aghion said.
“This makes it all the more important to select the box marked ‘Other’ and insert the word ‘Jewish’ or ‘Judaism’ as the answer for each Jewish member of your household.”
Aghion acknowledged that Jewish identity is not limited to religious belief.
“We know that Jewish identity is ethnic and cultural as well as religious,” he said.
“However, inserting the word ‘Jewish’ or ‘Judaism’ in answer to the question on religion is the simplest and most recognisable way to identify as Jewish in the Census.”
ECAJ said it understood concerns among some Jewish Australians about privacy, confidentiality and security when identifying themselves as Jewish to government authorities.
“Given our history and recent events in Australia, it is understandable that there are some sensitivities in the Jewish community about privacy, confidentiality and security when identifying oneself as Jewish to governments in any context,” Aghion said.
He said Census information was protected by strict laws, with significant penalties, including imprisonment, for anyone who improperly disclosed identifiable personal information.
“The ECAJ believes the Census is extremely secure, and it is very much in the interests of the Jewish community that the Census questionnaire is completed with full accuracy, including the optional question on religion,” he said.
Aghion said accurate Census figures were important for planning services in areas including education, welfare and aged care.
“Census data affects government’s allocation of resources to assist the Australian community in a host of vital areas,” he said.
“The Jewish community also depends on the Census for accurate planning information for services in fields such as education, welfare and aged care.”
Most Australians are expected to complete the 2026 Census online, although paper forms will remain available for those who request one. Census night is Tuesday 11 August 2026.
“The Census will provide vital data for all people in Australia, including the Jewish population,” Aghion said.
“That information will help Jewish community bodies represent the community’s needs to government more effectively and will help us to plan for the future and ensure appropriate provision of critical services and programs for years to come.”
To answer community questions about the Census, ECAJ, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, the Jewish Community Council of Victoria and Jewish state and territory roof bodies are hosting a national webinar on Sunday 2 August at 6pm.
The webinar, Making Sense of the Census: Top Tips for the Jewish Community, will feature representatives from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and explain why accurate demographic data matters, how Jewish identity should be recorded and the safeguards protecting personal information.
“I ask all Jewish Australians to complete the questionnaire, including the religion question, with full and accurate details,” Aghion said.
Jewish community members can register for the webinar, Making Sense of the Census: Top Tips for the Jewish Community, here.