This document was added or updated on 21/04/2010.

EXPLANATORY NOTES
The following information provides details on important changes to the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey: Expanded Confidentialised Unit Record File (Addendum), 2002 (cat. no. 4720.0.55.001). Please note that this CURF Technical Paper (Addendum) (cat. no. 4720.0) has not been updated to reflect the changes to the CURF. The following information is a replacement for details in the 'Geography', 'Data items with restricted geographic output', and 'Age standardisation' sections of Chapter 4 and the 'File contents' section of Chapter 5 in the Technical Paper.

The following topics are covered:

• Overview of 2002 NATSISS CURF Changes;
• Age standardised weights;
• Information for Users regarding using data items with geographic restrictions;
• Content differences between the two Expanded CURFs and data item changes;
• Data item SAS name revisions;
• Accessing data files;
• Data item lists;
• CURF pricing; and
• Further queries.

OVERVIEW OF 2002 NATSISS CURF CHANGES

Data from the 2002 NATSISS are now presented via two Expanded CURFs:

• a State/Territory CURF; and
• a State/Territory by ASGC Remoteness Structure CURF.

The primary differences between these CURFs are the:

• type of geography; and
• availability of non-remote restricted data items.

Each CURF contains two levels from the survey:

• household; and
• person.

The State/Territory CURF contains a data item (STATEUR) which identifies each state and territory separately except Tasmania and the ACT. Due to confidentiality considerations, the samples from Tasmania and the ACT have been combined into a single category of Tas./ACT. This has remained unchanged from the first release of the CURF. This data item is located on the household level file in the State/Territory CURF.

The State/Territory by ASGC Remoteness Structure CURF contains a broad National Remoteness data item (REMFLAG) and a special data item (REMSTAT), which contains 13 output categories that comprise selected cross-classifications of state/territory by remoteness, where sample and population size permits. Output categories can be found in Tables 1 and 2 and the revised Technical Paper Appendix 5 Data item list. These two data items are located on the household level file in the State/Territory by ASGC Remoteness Structure CURF.

Note: REMSTAT is a replacement of the previously available STXREM. The previously available ASGCREM is no longer available via the CURF. The broad item REMFLAG should be used instead.

Content differences between the two CURFs are presented in Table 3. Data items have been created or revised for the CURFs to accommodate different geography restrictions. These new or revised items are also presented in Table 3. Table 4 identifies the original SAS names and new SAS names where data items have been replaced. The data item lists have been updated to reflect these changes.

Details regarding administrative changes are at the bottom of this document.

AGE STANDARDISED WEIGHTS

Some issues have been identified regarding the age standardised weights produced for the 2002 survey. These age standardised weights (and associated replicate weights) have been removed from the release of these CURFs. Users will need to apply their own methods when age standardising from this and other sources.

For further details regarding age standardised weights, please refer to Explanatory notes for the publication National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, 2002 (cat no. 4714.0).

INFORMATION FOR USERS REGARDING USING DATA ITEMS WITH GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTIONS

Due to questionnaire differences between non-remote and remote areas, there are some differences in the data items available on the State/Territory CURF and the State/Territory by ASGC Remoteness Structure CURF.

Some questions were only asked in non-remote areas. Data items based on these questions are therefore only available for non-remote areas and have been coded so as to have no values for remote geographies.Output for these data items is restricted to the non-remote areas shown in the tables below, see 'Non-remote only data items' These items have (NR) attached to the end of the category labels and/or are identified as being for non-remote persons/households in the applicable population column in the revised Technical Paper Appendix 5 data item list. These items are only available on the State/Territory by ASGC Remoteness Structure CURF.

In some cases, the concepts and questions asked in non-remote and remote areas may be comparable, but additional response categories were available for data items in non-remote areas. Two data items have been produced to account for these differences:

• an expanded data item restricted to non-remote areas only. In the data item list, these items have (NR) noted at the end of the category labels and have been coded so as to have no values for remote geographies. Valid output for these items is restricted to non-remote areas as shown in Tables 1 and 2. These items are only available on the State/Territory by ASGC Remoteness Structure CURF.
• a collapsed data item which outputs only those categories common to both non-remote and remote areas. In the data item list, these items have 'Non-remote/Remote comparison' noted in their label, indicating that the item is suitable for producing full Indigenous population data, as well as for undertaking non-remote and remote data comparisons. These data items are available on both the State/Territory CURF and the State/Territory by ASGC Remoteness Structure CURF.

AUSTRALIA LEVEL

Data items and versions of data items that are restricted to non-remote only cannot produce results for total Australia, due to only representing data for non-remote areas of Australia. However, Australia level non-remote data can be produced by using the following data item:

• REMFLAG - category 1 (Non-remote).

Table 1 provides information on the availability of non-remote only data items by Australia level geographic areas (where marked with an 'X', indicates data available). If an item is available (eg non-remote only) then, where it meets other population criteria, it will contain data. Where the geographic output category is Remote/Very Remote, people living in these areas will be included in the 'not applicable' category of the non-remote only data item.

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Available
Australia Non-Remote(a)	X
Australia Remote/Very Remote
Australia Total(b)
(a) Includes Major cities, Inner regional area and Outer regional area.
(b) Includes Non-Remote and Remote/Very Remote.

If more detailed non-remote geographic categories are required at the Australia level (ie. Major Cities, Inner Regional, Outer Regional) please contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics (NCATSIS) on 1800 633 216 or email ncatsis@abs.gov.au.

STATE/TERRITORY LEVEL

To obtain valid results for data items that are restricted to non-remote only at the state/territory level, it is necessary to access the State/Territory by ASGC Remoteness Structure CURF and using the following data item:

• REMSTAT (categories 1 to 7, 9 and 12)

Table 2 provides information on the availability of non-remote only data items by state/territory geographic areas (where marked with an 'X', indicates data available). If an item is available by a geographic output category (eg Major cities) then, where it meets other population criteria, it will contain data. Where the geographic output category is Remote/Very Remote, people living in these areas will be included in the 'not applicable' category of the non-remote only data item.

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Available
NSW Major Cities	X
NSW Inner Regional	X
NSW Outer Regional	X
Vic – Total(a)	X
Qld Major Cities	X
Qld Inner Regional	X
Qld Outer Regional	X
Qld Remote/Very Remote
WA Non-Remote(b)	X
WA Remote/Very Remote
NT Remote/Very Remote
Balance of Australia – Non-Remote(c)	X
Balance of Australia – Remote/Very Remote(d)
(a) As only a very small portion of Vic is considered remote and enumeration did not occur in these areas, this represents Non-Remote. (b) Includes Major cities, Inner regional area and Outer regional area. (c) Includes Non-Remote areas of SA, NT, and Tas/ACT. (d) Includes Remote/Very Remote areas of NSW, SA, and Tas/ACT.

CONTENT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO EXPANDED CURFS AND DATA ITEM CHANGES

Differences in the file contents of the 2002 NATSISS Expanded CURFs are outlined in the following table. Data items marked with an 'X' indicate available on the CURF. Items that have been revised or created since the initial CURF release have also been identified.

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Data item label	SAS name	State/Territory CURF availability	State/Territory by ASGC Remoteness Structure CURF availability
State/Territory of usual residence	STATEUR	X
Remoteness area flag	REMFLAG		X
State/Territory of usual residence by ASGC Remoteness Area(a)	REMSTAT		X
Indigenous status (QLD)(a)	INDSTAQN	X	X
Disability status(b)	DSTATUS		X
Disability type(b)	DTYPE		X
Whether has education restriction	DEDREST		X
Whether has employment restriction	DEMPREST		X
Whether ever used substances	SUBUSEV		X
Type of substances ever used	STYPEV		X
Whether used substances in last 12 months	SUBU12M		X
Type of substances used in last 12 months	TYSUBU		X
Multiple job holders	MULTJOBH		X
Cash flow problems	CASHFPRB		X
All types of cash flow problems(a)	TYCPRON		X
Main reason for last move(a)	RSNMOVN		X
Main reason for last move (non-remote/remote comparison)(a)	RSNMOVR	X	X
Presence of stressors in last 12 months(a)	STRESN		X
Presence of stressors in last 12 months (non-remote/remote comparison)(a)	STRESR	X	X
Type of stressors in last 12 months(a)	HHSTRSN		X
Type of stressors in last 12 months (non-remote/remote comparison)(a)	HHSTRSR	X	X
Tenure Type(a)	TENURTYN	X	X
Whether any structural problems(a)	ASTRPRON		X
Whether any structural problems (non-remote/remote comparison)(a)	ASTRPROR	X	X
Type of major structural problems(a)	STRPRON		X
Type of major structural problems (non-remote/remote comparison)(a)	STRPROR	X	X
All sources of personal income(a)	ASOPINN		X
All sources of personal income (non-remote/remote comparison)(a)	ASOPINR	X	X
Principal source of personal income(a)	PRSCEINN		X
Principal source of personal income (non-remote/remote comparison)(a)	PRSCEINR	X	X
Where used computer in last 12 months(a)	WUCOMN		X
Where used computer in last 12 months (non-remote/remote comparison)(a)	WUCOMR	X	X
Where used internet in last 12 months(a)	WUINTNN		X
Where used internet in last 12 months (non-remote/remote comparison)(a)	WUINTNR	X	X
Modes of transport(a)	MODTRAC		X
Modes of transport (non-remote/remote comparison)(a)	MODTRAR	X	X
Type of legal services used(a)	TLEGSRN		X
Type of legal services used (non-remote/remote comparison)(a)	TLEGSRR	X	X
Whether used formal childcare in last 4 weeks(a)	WHRFORN	X	X
Main reason for not using (more) formal childcare in last 4 weeks(a)	CCNOTUSN	X	X
Type of childcare used in last 4 weeks(a)	TYCCARN		X
Involvement in selected social activities in last 3 months(a)	SOCIAN		X
Involvement in selected social activities in last 3 months(a) (non-remote/remote comparison)(a)	SOCIAR	X	X
Type of social activities in last 3 months(a)	SOCACN		X
Type of social activities in last 3 months (non-remote/remote comparison)(a)	SOCACR	X	X
Presence of selected neighbourhood/community problems(a)	PRSPRBLN		X
Neighbourhood/community problems (a)	PRBLMN		X
Presence of selected neighbourhood/community problems (non-remote/remote comparison)(a)	PRSPRBLR	X	X
Neighbourhood/community problems (non-remote/remote comparison)(a)	PRBLMR	X	X
Type of organisation undertook unpaid voluntary work in last 12 months (non-remote)(a)	TVOLORN		X
Attendance at cultural event(s) in last 12 months(a)	ATTCUN	X	X
Whether working telephone at home(a)	PHONEN	X	X
Self assessed health status(a)	SAHSN	X	X
(a) New or revised data item/SAS name. Table 4 identifies the old SAS name being replaced by the new/revised item. Please refer to the revised Technical Paper Appendix 5 data item list for applicable output categories.
(b) A non-remote/remote version of these Disability items are also available and can be found on both the State/Territory CURF and State by Remoteness CURF.

DATA ITEM SAS NAME REVISIONS

The following table identifies where a data item SAS name from the original CURF files no longer exists and the applicable new SAS names on the new CURF files.

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Old item SAS name	New Non-remote version SAS name	New Full population version SAS name
ASGCREM(a)	n/a	n/a
AS_N_WT(b)	n/a	n/a
AS_N_001–250(b)	n/a	n/a
AS_R_WT(b)	n/a	n/a
AS_R_001–250(b)	n/a	n/a
AS_S_WT(b)	n/a	n/a
AS_S_001–250(b)	n/a	n/a
AS_G_WT(b)	n/a	n/a
AS_G_001–250(b)	n/a	n/a
INDSTATQ	n/a	INDSTAQN
STXREM	n/a	REMSTAT
RSNMOVE	RSNMOVN	RSNMOVR
STRESS	STRESN	STRESR
HHSTRSS	HHSTRSN	HHSTRSR
TENURTYP	n/a	TENURTYN
TYCPROB	TYCPRON	n/a
ASTRPROB	ASTRPRON	ASTRPROR
STRPROB	STRPRON	STRPROR
ASOPINC	ASOPINN	ASOPINR
PRSCEINC	PRSCEINN	PRSCEINR
WUCOMP	WUCOMN	WUCOMR
WUINTNT	WUINTNN	WUINTNR
MODTRAN	MODTRAC	MODTRAR
TLEGSRV	TLEGSRN	TLEGSRR
WHRFORM	n/a	WHRFORN
CCNOTUSE	n/a	CCNOTUSN
SOCIAL	SOCIAN	SOCIAR
SOCACS	SOCACN	SOCACR
PRSPRBLM	PRSPRBLN	PRSPRBLR
PRBLMS	PRBLMN	PRBLMR
TYCCARE	TYCCARN	n/a
TVOLORG	TVOLORN	n/a
ATTCUL	n/a	ATTCUN
PHONE	n/a	PHONEN
SAHS	n/a	SAHSN
(a) This item is no longer available. Users are advised to use REMFLAG (available only on State/Territory by ASGC Remoteness Structure CURF) for broad non-remote/remote geography. Note: Placement of REMFLAG in the data item list has been moved from the Identifier section to Geography and is located on the State/Territory by ASGC Remoteness Structure Household level file.
(b) Age standardised weights are no longer available on the CURFs. For further information please refer to the age standardised weights section above.
n/a Not applicable

ACCESSING DATA FILES

The file names associated with each CURF are identified in the following table:

	State/Territory CURF	State/Territory by ASGC Remoteness Structure CURF
SAS
Household level	ISST02HH.sas7bdat	ISRM02HH.sas7bdat
Person level	ISST02PN.sas7bdat	ISRM02PN.sas7bdat
SPSS
Household level	ISST02HH.sav	ISRM02HH.sav
Person level	ISST02PN.sav	ISRM02PN.sav
STATA
Household level	ISST02HH.dta	ISRM02HH.dta
Person level	ISST02PN.dta	ISRM02PN.dta

The two Expanded CURFs are still available via cat. no. 4720.0.55.001.

Access to the CURFs is granted through the ABS Remote Access Data Laboratory (RADL). As the two 2002 NATSISS Expanded CURFs may not be merged, users of the two CURFs will require a separate RADL log-in for each CURF. More information on this will be provided to applicants. Previous users of the NATSISS 2002 Expanded CURF will also be notified and a second RADL log-in created.

Further information on CURF products and the RADL is available on the ABS website (see Services>CURF Microdata).

DATA ITEM LISTS

The CURF Data item lists have been updated to reflect the changes to content. They are attached as Data cubes to this CURF Technical Paper (cat. no. 4720.0).

• Appendix 4 Data item list contains a list of all data item labels, SAS name, and identification of the availability of the item on each CURF
• Appendix 5 Data item list contains all data items with labels and categories, population, and identification of the availability of the item on each CURF
• Appendix 6 Data item list contains a list of all data item labels in alphabetical order based on SAS name and identification of the availability of the item on each CURF

CURF PRICING

From 1 January 2009 the recommended retail prices for accessing CURFs are:

• $1,430 (including GST) per CURF access type (ie $1,430 to access each of the Expanded CURFs on RADL).
• $2,140 (including GST) for access to both Expanded CURFs. However, clients must request access to both CURFs in one single application.

For more information on pricing and payment refer to the ABS website (see Services> CURF Microdata).

Users who already have access to the 2002 NATSISS CURF should refer to the information they have been sent regarding the administrative changes. New applicants should refer to current pricing when requesting access.

FURTHER QUERIES

If you have any further queries regarding the changes to the 2002 NATSISS CURF, please forward your questions to Microdata Access Strategies Section via email: microdata.access@abs.gov.au, or telephone: (02) 6252 7714.