Dubbo is the "quintessential Australian town", according to the last census in 2016.
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Compared to the rest of Australia, we're slightly younger, have a higher population of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, we're more religious, and most of us were born in Australia. We also tend to move away from Dubbo to pursue university or career paths, but the Covid-19 era has seen a big shift in that trend.
The next Australian Census is on August 10, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics is looking for up to 130 workers to assist in delivering papers to rural properties, and working in town.
"We've got some part-time, short-term work from July through to September, we need field officers who can deliver the papers out to the properties and help do the follow-up in town if people forget to submit their census form in town," Census spokesman Andrew Henderson said. "Across the whole Dubbo region we need about 130 people in total."
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Most of us will be able to complete the Census online, through the ABS website. Instruction papers have been posted and should be received in the next week or so. However, paper forms will be delivered to rural properties.
The Census gives us a snapshot of each Australian community.
"What's striking, is how quintessentially traditionally Australian Dubbo is, compared to the rest of Australia," Mr Henderson said. "Sixteen per cent of the population are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, compared to three per cent for Australia.
"Where it gets interesting is that when you look at things like ancestry - 35 per cent of the Dubbo population identify as Australian, compared to 23 per cent for Australia. Twenty-eight per cent have English ancestry compared to 25 per cent for Australia."
For country of birth, 84 per cent of Dubbo residents were born in Australia compared to 67 per cent nationally, while only 19 per cent said they did not have a religion (Catholic and Anglican being the most prominent - 30 per cent and 23 per cent respectively).
Our median age was 35 compared to 38 for the nation.
"We're looking at a community that's not only very traditional in terms of birthplace and profile, but it actually sees itself that way as well.
"The most recent internal migration figures for Australia show that, in the Covid-era, the migration patterns have shifted quite significantly - people appear to be making different choices, so the net flow of population out of regional NSW into Sydney has reversed and more people are moving out of Sydney proportionally, and into the regions."
For the first time, there will be questions around long-term health conditions, as well as a focus on Defence Force service.
Anyone interested in applying for work can go to www.census.abs.gov.au/careers.
"It's a chance to earn some money and also help tell your community's story," Mr Henderson said.
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