The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates about two thirds of the country’s residents will complete the August 9 census online.

Horsham Rural City Council chief executive Peter Brown said there was growing demand for all levels of government to move towards online platforms.

However he said a digital forum in the city earlier this year identified some residents found it difficult to access the internet or complete forms online.

He said the sub-committee would host a drop-in session at Horsham Civic Centre on census night, with staff and computers available to help people complete the survey.

One-on-one and group sessions will follow at Volunteering Western Victoria’s Horsham offices, Wimmera Business Centre in Horsham, and the Horsham Library between August 9 and September 17, the final date census forms can be completed.

Mr Brown said the sub-committee was also looking at sessions at Natimuk.

Horsham councillors discussed the census at a meeting on Monday night.

Cr Sue Exell said it was ridiculous for the bureau to expect two thirds of people to complete the census online.

“I know every time I try to do a survey online I pretty much end up throwing the computer off the table,” she said.

Cr Pam Clarke was also worried.

“Not everyone has a computer, and not everyone knows how to use a computer,” she said.

“I believe there will be groups of people who will not be able to get out and do the census.

“I think it will be quite a difficult process for a lot of people.”

Cr Mark Radford said it was important council offered help.

“I remember in the 1990s we happened to be camped on the side of the road near Alice Springs, and a guy came through with a torch to do the census,” he said.

"That actually happened.

“It’s important we make as many opportunities as possible to help our residents complete the census this year.”

Mayor Heather Phillips said completing census forms online was easier than completing paper-based forms.

“I think we’ll be pleasantly surprised by how smoothly it will run,” she said.

The session at Horsham Civic Centre is from 4pm to 8pm.