4700.0 - ABS Directions in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics, Jun 2007  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 08/06/2007   
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APPENDIX 2 KEY INFORMATION STRUCTURES

The following presents the activities and governance arrangements of committees and other bodies that are concerned with Indigenous information and its management. While this represents the situation at the time of writing it may be subject to change.

ABS ADVISORY GROUP ON ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER STATISTICS (AGATSIS)

The main function of the Advisory Group on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics (AGATSIS) is to provide the ABS with a means of gathering high level, cross-cutting advice on its statistical activity relating to Indigenous Australians. AGATSIS assists the ABS in meeting its responsibility for leadership and coordination of national statistical activity about Australia's Indigenous peoples, contributes to strategic planning across a range of ABS forums and covers ABS activity relating to surveys, censuses and administrative collections as well as analytic reports. Membership of AGATSIS includes senior representatives from key user agencies responsible for Indigenous policy/program initiatives, and others with expertise in the field of Indigenous statistics.

MINISTERIAL COUNCIL FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER AFFAIRS (MCATSIA)

The Ministerial Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (MCATSIA) is the highest level policy advising and policy driving body on Indigenous affairs in Australia. It is a forum where all Indigenous Affairs Ministers meet to exchange ideas and develop Indigenous-related policies that will have an impact at a local, state and national level. ABS participates in and/or contributes to relevant working groups established when required to provide statistical and data development advice to MCATSIA and/or its standing committee (SCATSIA).

NATIONAL ADVISORY GROUP ON ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH INFORMATION AND DATA (NAGATSIHID)

The National Advisory Group on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Information and Data (NAGATSIHID) was established following a decision taken at the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC) meeting in October 2000. It provides broad strategic advice to the National Health Information Management Group (NHIMG) on the improvement of the quality and availability of data and information on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and health service delivery. NAGATSIHID also draws together the range of existing activities into a coordinated and strategic process. Following changes to national health committee structures, Health Ministers agreed that NAGATSIHID would become a standing committee of, and provide broad strategic advice to the National Health Information Ministerial Principal Committee (NHIMPC). NAGATSIHID membership includes government health bodies, peak Indigenous health organisations, and national statistical and program measurement agencies (ABS and AIHW). It oversees progress against activities in its Strategic Plan for the Development of Data and Information about the Health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 2006-2008.

NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR HOUSING INFORMATION (NCHI)

The National Committee for Housing Information (NCHI) is a national housing data committee established by the Housing Minister's Advisory Council (HMAC). It is responsible for the development and management of the national mainstream and Indigenous housing data, as outlined in the National Housing Data Agreement (NHDA) and the Agreement on National Indigenous Housing Information (ANIHI). The committee was established in October 2006 following the disbanding of three national housing data groups and their associated sub-committees. The three data groups were the National Housing Data Agreement Management Group (NHDAMG), the National Indigenous Housing Information Implementation Committee (NIHIIC) and the National Housing Data Development Committee (NHDDC).

The Policy Research Working Group (PRWG) and the Standing Committee on Indigenous Housing (SCIH) are responsible for the allocation of the housing information budget provided through HMAC. The NCHI develops and oversees the implementation of the HMAC-endorsed work plan and is directly accountable to the PRWG. It is required to provide six-monthly reports to PRWG and SCIH on the implementation of the mainstream and Indigenous housing work programs. Membership of the committee comprises representatives of the parties who are signatories to the NHDA and ANIHI, including the ABS and AIHW.

STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT SERVICE PROVISION

This committee comprises senior representatives from the central agencies of all governments to manage the Review of Government Services with the assistance of a Secretariat from the Productivity Commission. The ABS participates in Steering Committee meetings and related working groups, and provides substantial data input to various chapters of the Report.

REFERENCE GROUP ON INDIGENOUS EDUCATION

The Reference Group on Indigenous Education provides a forum for matters relating to Indigenous education. Members are drawn from federal and state/territory government departments and independent education bodies with responsibility for Indigenous education. The reference group reports to the Australian Education Systems Officials Committee (AESOC) and Ministerial Committee for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA). Its roles include: responsibility for progressing and implementing recommendations outlined in the paper Australian Directions in Indigenous Education 2005-2008, consulting with stakeholders, providing policy advice on matters referred to it by AESOC and MCEETYA and drafting the chapter on Indigenous education published in the annual national report on schooling.

STRUCTURES FOR CRIME AND JUSTICE DATA

The range of structures that oversee data development in the areas of police, the courts and corrective services institutions are listed below. These bodies guide the work program of the ABS National Centre for Crime and Justice Statistics, including the Indigenous component of that work program.

  • Australasian Police Ministers' Council (APMC).
  • Ministerial Council on the Administration of Justice (MCAJ).
  • Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) and the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General Officers (SCAG Officers).
  • Corrective Services Ministers' Conference (CSMC) and the Corrective Services Administrators' Conference (CSAC).
NATIONAL COMMUNITY SERVICES INFORMATION MANAGEMENT GROUP

The National Community Services Information Management Group (NCSIMG) is a sub-committee of the Community Services Ministers' Advisory Council (CSMAC) and is comprised of representatives of State, Territory and Commonwealth community service authorities, the ABS and the AIHW. NCSIMG was established by, and to manage the operations of, the National Community Services Information Agreement (NCSIA). The NCSIA is a multilateral agreement between government community services and statistical agencies and provides the framework for a cooperative approach to national community service information development. The NCSIMG also oversees progress against the development activities described in its strategic information plan (National Community Services Information - A strategic plan 2005-2009) and in the related National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Services Information Plan.