Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton - Issue No.: 782 Issue Date: 29 Apr, 2024

Hugh presented an overview of how to travel the outback and get paid for it by undertaking to be a Remote Area Team Leader in the Wiluna area during CENSUS 2016.

Hugh explained that in the remote areas CENSUS was undertaken by interviewing rather than the tradidtional methods.  Although a good number in the Outback completed their CENSUS online, many could not, and either used forms or were interviewed..

Hugh was employed as a Census Officer from April to October and led a Team of 4 based in Wiluna.  The work involved being trained in Perth, undertaking a Workload Review over a two week period before the Census.  The main aim of the workload review was to establish contacts in the community and prepare for the main Census.  Counting dwellings and preparing worload lists so that things went smoothly during the Census.

During a 4 week period during August, Hugh and his Team distributed Census forms and carried out interviews in the Town of Wiluna and the surrounding communities.  Where possible people were encouraged to complete the Census online, the same as the rest of Australia.  There  was no impact from the website crash and an excellent outcome was achieved with all the dwellings and people "enumerated."

A critical success factor was the close liaison with Aboriginal people and involving a Community Liaison Officer who could assist with engagement.

Hugh enjoyed working with the people, many of whom he had worked with before, made many new friends and enjoyed the many sights to be seen n our beautiful Outback.