Overview
We have outlined the important information in the sections below to help you understand the process for the 2024 February Census. A quick summary of the key information is included in the table immediately below:
Collection Reference Date | Friday 14th February 2025 |
|---|---|
Due Date | Wednesday 26th February 2025 |
Technical Specification | |
Assistance from Catholic Schools NSW |
What do you need to do?
Export your data in the format described in the CSNSW Data File Specification
Upload it to the CSNSW Census Upload portal as described in Uploading data to CSNSW using the Census Upload portal
What if I cannot supply the requested data in the timeframe provided?
We are very aware that the start of the year creates an enormous amount of work in a short space of time. If you have concerns about being able to provide the data we have requested at or within the timeframe provided, please contact the team at Catholic Schools NSW as soon as you can so that we can discuss options. We will focus on working with you to understand what is practical and possible and are open to understanding how we can better align the data collection to your capabilities.
What if I have questions or need help?
You can contact the team at any time for assistance. For support, please follow the instructions on Getting Support from CSNSW. If you would like to discuss the documentation or get a more detailed briefing on the process, you can book a briefing on this Data Collection.
Can I test my data files before the reference date?
The new file upload system we released for the 2024 August Census will be used again for the 2025 February Census process, so if you submitted data in August, the process will be familiar.
We will open the system ahead of time, ready for data submissions, and you will be able to log in and test your data files before the actual submission date so that you are familiar with the process.
You can do this process as many times as you need to and only the last file submitted will be used.
If you need information on how to prepare and upload your data, see the documentation (Uploading data for Census) here.
If there is any change to this process, we will let you know as soon as possible.
Will there be any changes to the File Specification?
We are committed to only making changes that simplify or reduce the effort required to complete the process. We have no planned changes for the February 2025 process.
Why do we still collect the February Census?
The data collected during the February Census flows into our start-of-the-year planning and reporting obligations to the Bishops and other organisations such as the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC). While we are sticking to a format similar to previous years' format for 2025, Catholic Schools NSW is exploring the best way to collect this data for the future.