The Parish Social Profile is a profile of the Catholic population of an Australian parish. An initiative of the National Centre for Pastoral Research, the data is derived from the latest Australian census (taken in 2021).
Hear from Dr Stephen Reid from the National Centre for Pastoral Research as he explains what is in the Parish Social Profile and how you can use it to understand who lives in your parish.
This is a recording of a workshop from Vital Parishes: Leading in Hope, 22 February 2025.
Small group activity
Bring together a small group—such as your Parish Leadership Team or Parish Pastoral Council members—to explore your Parish Social Profile. Reflect on what the data says about your community and use it to inspire and guide your parish’s journey of missionary renewal. The document below will walk you through the process.
Australian Catholic Mapping Online
Quick access to selected demographic information (eg. families, birthplaces etc.) about the Australian Catholic population is now available in the Australian Catholic Mapping Online Portal. Using Census data from the 2021 Social Profiles, the maps provide thematic information about dioceses and parishes. Please note that parish boundaries are as at the 2021 Census.
Further resources:
Other reports that can help you understand rates of disadvantage in our community can also assist in making informed decisions of how your parish may serve people's needs.
