From the RDA Pilbara Chair - May 2026

Filling out the Census isn’t always seen as an exciting job, but RDA Pilbara is hoping to shift some perceptions about it over the next few months.

The last Census was all the way back in 2021. A lot has changed in the Pilbara over that time, in the same way that I'm sure a lot has changed in individual readers’ lives.

What’s crucial in 2026 is finding ways for people in the Pilbara to view the Census as something other than a chore. The Census is more important to the Pilbara’s future than people realise.

Both the scale of Federal Government funding made available to the Pilbara and the tailoring of programs and services to our region are heavily influenced by Census data. If the Federal Government doesn’t know how many people live here and sufficient details about their circumstances, it’s very difficult to get the funding mix right.

While it was encouraging to see continued funding for the Growing Regions program and other regional initiatives in last week’s Federal Budget, more targeted investment will be possible with a better understanding of the Pilbara’s demographics.

Historically, Pilbara populations have been chronically undercounted by Census data. Last Census, the Pilbara’s resident population was recorded as 55,000 – a long way short of how many people we know live and work here. This costs us investment in services and infrastructure.

Three Pilbara groups are particularly underrepresented in the Census:

FIFO workers: who are often counted as being in Perth or interstate while being physically present in the Pilbara on Census night. The ABS directive is that workers spending 6 months + 1 day at their work location should record this as their usual address...but it doesn’t happen enough.

Aboriginal communities: are often low on participation, for a range of reasons that include geographic isolation, poor digital access, government distrust and high mobility of residents. We need to break these barriers down.

Short term/transient residents: who don’t consider themselves Pilbara residents – but should. They could spend up to five years here working on contract but instead often list their usual places of residence as Perth or interstate.

To ensure the Pilbara receives its fair share of funding and services – near-term and into the future - we will be partnering with the ABS, Pilbara Development Commission, local governments (Port Hedland, Karratha, East Pilbara and Ashburton) and Prescribed Body Corporates and Aboriginal Corporations on an awareness campaign for Census 2026.

In the months leading up to Census night on August 11, our messaging will be promoted:

• On local radio

• On roadside billboards and community infrastructure

• In airport terminals

• At FIFO camp

• On community flyers

• Through social media

• On community radio and via trusted sources of engagement for remote communities

The theme will be simple yet critical: the Pilbara counts but to count the Pilbara we need everyone eligible to pitch in.

Any support you can provide by sharing campaign materials would be hugely appreciated. It's essential that as many Pilbara people as possible participate in Census 2026.

Sticking with government-related matters, it was pleasing to have a range of measures and initiatives detailed in the recent State Budget aimed at diversifying the Pilbara economy and supporting our communities.

This includes the Government Regional Officer Housing boost and Inter Regional Flight Network funding announced pre-Budget. A new fuel support payment will be made available to all Western Australians as part of a focus on cost-of-living pressures, while Pilbara-specific Budget investment included:

• $27.1m for planning and design of the Boodarie Strategic Industrial Area (Port Hedland)

• $75 million to develop residential housing lots at South Hedland Western Edge

• $60.8 million in additional investment to deliver Tom Price Hospital

• $32 million for Stage 4 of Newman Light Industrial Area

• $50 million for Channel Zone 5 Bypass at Port Hedland

• $10.6 million to build on clean energy training and research as part of the Pilbara Hydrogen Hub

• $2.4 million to continue the Aboriginal Pastoral Program in the Pilbara and Kimberley

• $7.6 million additional funding towards the South Hedland Step Up/Step Down facility.

We look forward to seeing the benefits of this funding flow through to our Pilbara communities.

At the same time, while direct budget investment in our region is always welcome, most of the issues impacting livability in the Pilbara are multi-layered and entrenched.

RDA Pilbara remains committed to working with government and stakeholders at all levels on practical, sustainable and equitable solutions that can help address key challenges.