In August 2026, Wagga Wagga City Library partnered with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to deliver four information sessions on the 2026 Census for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. The sessions were facilitated by the ABS Community Engagement Manager for CALD Communities (Regional NSW).
Three sessions were delivered through the Library's Language Cafe program, which helps participants improve their conversational English with support from community volunteers. The fourth session focused on CALD young people interested in applying for Community Field Officer positions with the census.
The initiative aimed to increase census awareness and participation while ensuring information was accessible to people from diverse backgrounds. During the Language Cafe sessions, learners completed ESL-friendly census activities with guidance from volunteers, creating opportunities for discussion and learning.
Participants responded positively, asking questions and sharing their experiences. Several young people were successfully recruited for census roles, enabling them to support their communities.
This community project helped build confidence, strengthen engagement, and support more accurate census data to inform future services and resources for the Wagga Wagga community.
More information about the Library's multicultural resources, including the Language Cafe program, can be found here.
