Snapshot of a Typical Student in CensusAtSchool 2013

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MEDIA RELEASE
23 September 2013
Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra Time)
167/2013

Snapshot of a Typical Student in CensusAtSchool 2013

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has today released national data from its 2013 CensusAtSchool questionnaire.

‘CensusAtSchool is a free and voluntary online questionnaire and analysis resource for students in Years 5 to 12', said Frances Mawdsley, from the ABS.

‘This year's data has revealed that reducing bullying in schools and having healthy eating habits are the two leading social issues highlighted by students across Australia.

‘Our 2013 CensusAtSchool questionnaire has also included a question relating to students' resting pulse rate.

‘We found that primary school students tend to have a resting pulse rate 3 beats per minute slower than secondary students’, she said.

CensusAtSchool asks students around Australia to submit real data about everyday interests and opinions on various environmental and social issues.

‘Since its national launch by the ABS in 2006, approximately 1 in 3 Australian schools have participated. In 2013, this represented participation of 23,745 students.

‘It's exciting that students who are part of the 2013 questionnaire can now use the data in their classrooms for further investigation and to enhance their statistical understanding,’ she added.

CensusAtSchool data can also be compared over time using our 2006 to 2013 time series.

‘We found that in 2013, female students most often used the Internet for the purpose of social networking, whereas male students used it most often for playing games.

‘Environmental issues, such as conserving water, continue to be a concern for the majority of students across all states and territories’, said Ms Mawdsley.

The National Summary and National Time Series tables are sources of rich information, which reveal a picture of interesting facts, trends, changing lifestyles and opinions of Australian students over time.

Further data from the 2013 questionnaire can be obtained through our CensusAtSchool web page https://www.abs.gov.au/censusatschool

The 2014 CensusAtSchool questionnaire will open on the 17th of February 2014.


Media note:
When reporting ABS data, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source.