2902.0 - Census Update (Newsletter), Mar 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/03/2003   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

UPDATE ON SEIFA REVIEW - 2001 PRODUCTION COMMENCES

In late 2002, the ABS commenced a review of content and construction of the indexes contained in Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA). This review was designed to analyse:

  • the variables used in SEIFA;
  • the methods used to calculate the indexes;
  • the number and type of indexes released; and
  • the validation process.

The first step in this review was a literature search, which looked at overseas and Australian indexes of disadvantage. This identified a number of issues which were raised with users in a set of papers covering the variable selection process for 2001.

The papers were distributed to a variety of users who expressed an interest in the indexes. Around 200 users were contacted and a number of discussions and meetings were held. A summary of views paper was subsequently prepared for ongoing development, considering all comments and views, and with the limitations of the data and methods used for SEIFA in mind.

With a summary of recommendations now in place, production and preliminary analysis of the data has commenced, along with the calculation of indexes themselves. A description of the final content and design of SEIFA 2001 will be provided in the next issue of Census Update.