Almost half of all Australians had a parent born overseas, and more than 400 languages were spoken, including over 180 Indigenous languages.On Tuesday 11 August, people will again be asked to share information about their lives for the 2026 Census.The questionnaire is compulsory for everyone in Australia on Census night, including international visitors, refugees and migrants.Here are some of the most common Census myths and questions — and what an expert says about them.Emily Walter, a Census national spokesperson at the ABS, said there are misconceptions that the Census is a test or graded assessment tool After the Census, names can be retained for up to 18 months, and addresses for up to 36 months.The ABS has spent years assessing the privacy, security and processing of its data, with all information collected during the Census protected under the Census and Statistics Act.The Census is often referred to as a national headcount or a snapshot of the nation, but it's used to inform funding for essential services like schools, hospitals, libraries and public transportation.Walter said people's responses influenced the location and availability of English classes for newly settled migrants, which "help them then build their language skills and support them through applying for jobs or driver's licences or all of the things that you need to support yourself".She added that Census responses cannot be used to make a person attend English language classes