1100.2 - Statistics Victoria, Jun 2008  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 14/07/2008   
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Image: What's Happening in Victoria
What's Happening in Victoria


ABS role in supporting Australia 2020
Support for the Garnaut Climate Change Review
NatStats08 Melbourne Conference
Final rebased population estimates
Workplace Growth in Victoria 2000-2007
Review of Children and Youth Information Development Plan
Childhood Education and Care Survey
StatSmart. Improving the teaching of statistics in schools


ABS role in supporting Australia 2020

Sam Thomas was an ABS-Victoria outposted officer supporting the Australia 2020 summit in Canberra, during April 2008. As part of a small team headed by Professor Glyn Davis (Summit Co-chair), Sam worked closely with consultants from Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The key organisers of the summit (Prof. Glyn Davis and BCG) are Melbourne based. During an intensive three weeks, the team prepared briefing documents on 10 long term challenges confronting Australia. Across ABS, many staff contributed directly and indirectly to support this work. This provided a wealthy resource to inspire creative ideas and debate around the 10 topics. As part of his role, Sam Thomas was also invited to attend the summit as a liaison officer.

Photo:  John Fedderson (BCG), Sam Thomas (ABS), Kevin Rudd (Prime Minister), Derryn (Qld Govt), Joseph Butler (BCG).

Caption L-R : John Fedderson (BCG), Sam Thomas (ABS), Kevin Rudd (Prime Minister), Derryn (Qld Govt), Joseph Butler (BCG).
    For further information please refer to the Australia 2020 website: http://www.australia2020.gov.au/
    Support for the Garnaut Climate Change Review

    The Garnaut Climate Change Review was commissioned to examine the impacts, challenges and opportunities of climate change for Australia. The initial Draft Report was released on 4 July, and the Final Report is due by 30 September 2008.

    The ABS has been involved in assisting the Garnaut Climate Change Review through the provision of an officer outposted from its Victorian office. Over a period of six weeks, the officer has provided statistical advice across a range of data sources, feeding into the Draft Report.

    More information about the Garnaut Review can be found at <www.garnautreview.org.au>.
    NatStats08 Melbourne Conference
    Image: NatStats08 Melbourne Conference


    The NatStats08 Conference will be held at the Crown Promenade, Melbourne from 19-21 November, 2008. The NatStats08 web site <http://www.nss.gov.au/natstats> allows you to register for the conference, download the sponsorship and exhibition document, and be informed of the latest program and social event developments.

    The conference program has been designed with policy and decision makers in mind. There will be a range of speakers from overseas organisations, government departments across all jurisdictions, academic and community organisations. The conference will offer a varied and stimulating program led by high profile policy and decision makers such as: Professor Glyn Davis (Vice Chancellor of the University of Melbourne and co-convenor of the 2020 Summit), Dr Ken Henry (Secretary Treasury), Tim Costello (Chief Executive, World Vision Australia), and Enrico Giovannini (Chief Statistician, OECD).

    The conference theme is Working Together for an Informed Australian Society. The program will look at three main topic areas: Informing the Nation; Measuring Progress in Society; and Environmental Information for Informed Decisions. Participating in NatStats08 will provide you with the opportunity to:
    • Learn from experts and experience the latest developments and future directions of key national statistics,
    • Connect with the statistical community on issues and challenges in creating a culture of evidence-based decision making,
    • Share your experiences and raise awareness of significant issues within your field,
    • Network with policy makers from across government, industry, academia and the community.

    If you would like to talk about the conference program please call Mark Lound on 02 6252 6325 or email him at inquiries@nss.gov.au. To register interest email Conference Solutions on natstats@con-sol.com.
    Final rebased population estimates

    Final rebased estimates of states, territories and Australian population were released 24 June 2008 in Australian Demographic Statistics, December Quarter 2007 (cat. no. 3101.0). The following issue will include final rebased estimates of the Indigenous population by states and territories by sex and five-year age groups.

    For information about the process of 'rebasing' population estimates, see the article on page 10 in March quarter 2007 Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0), and for calculating Indigenous population estimates see page 16. Final rebased population estimates by age and sex for states, territories and the Australian population were released on 20 June 2008 in 'Population by Age and Sex, Australian States and Territories' (cat. no. 3201.0).

    Preliminary estimates for sub-state/territory level for June 2007 were released on 31 March 2008 in 'Regional Population Growth, Australia' (cat. no. 3218.0). The publication also contains final estimates for June 2001 and preliminary rebased estimates from 2002 to 2006, based on the 2006 Census. All estimates are available in electronic products accompanying this release. This publication comments on population change at various geographical levels and on average annual population growth rates.

    The final 2006 Census-based sub-state/territory estimates for June 2002 through to June 2006 are intended to be released in August 2008. Preliminary population estimates for June 2007 by sex and five-year age groups are intended to be released in August 2008 in 'Population by Age and Sex, Australia, 2007' (cat. no. 3235.0).

    Workplace Growth in Victoria 2000-2007

    The feature article in March quarter 2008 'State and Regional Indicators, Victoria' (cat.no. 1367.2) focused on workplace growth in Victoria using data from the Victorian WorkCover Authority (VWA).

    The article provided an analysis of VWA data by ABS for 30 June 2000 to 30 June 2007. The scope of VWA's dataset included all VWA insured workplaces which employed workers and had an annual remuneration greater than $7,500, and all workplaces (regardless of remuneration) which employed trainees or apprentices. Estimates of workplace growth and remuneration growth were produced at both a regional and industry level.

    Key findings included that WorkCover workplaces across Victoria at 30 June 2007 numbered 216,519, an increase of 5,017 or 2.4% from June 2000. Over these seven years, Victoria's total real workplace remuneration grew by 25.1%, with the fastest annual growth of 5.7% occurring in 2003-04. Over this period, the Communication Services industry (59.3%) experienced the fastest overall growth in number of workplaces followed by Construction (24.0%) and Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants (11.4%).

    The full article is presented in March quarter 2008 'State and Regional Indicators, Victoria' (cat. no. 1367.2), along with many other commentaries covering Victorian data at local government area and sub-state level.

    For further information contact John Rakopoulos on (03) 9615 7590 or email <victoria.statistics@abs.gov.au>


    Review of Children and Youth Information Development Plan

    The ABS Information Paper: Improving Statistics on Children and Youth - An Information Development Plan (cat. no. 4907.0) was first released in Dec 2006. The Plan outlines agreed priorities for statistical data development, with the aim of improving data quality and availability. The IDP is reviewed and updated annually to reflect progress and change. The first review was completed in Dec 2007 and results published on the National Statistical Service (NSS) web site. The Children and Youth team is about to begin the 2008 Review of the IDP. Over the next few months we will be contacting relevant agencies to obtain updates on progress relating to the Data Development Actions. This information will be collated and the report released toward the end of 2008.

    ABS's Children and Youth team is also currently writing a Census thematic about Australia's Children and Youth. It uses 2006 Census data to provide an overview of persons aged 0-24 years, for comparison with previous census data to show how characteristics of children and youth have changed over time. Major themes will include family and living arrangements; educational attainment and participation; transitions to independent living; and combining education and work. The publication will highlight specific populations such as children and young people from Indigenous, culturally and linguistically diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds. 'Census of Population and Housing: Australia's Children and Youth, 2006' (cat. no. 2059.0.55.001) is scheduled for release in December 2008.


    Childhood Education and Care Survey

    Successful testing and dress rehearsal for the Childhood Education and Care Survey was conducted over February-March 2008. The survey was in the field during June 2008, as a supplementary topic to the monthly Labour Force Survey. This survey will provide detailed data on child care, as well as information related to children's learning activities and learning environments in their early years.


    StatSmart. Improving the teaching of statistics in schools

    Image: StatSmart

    ABS Education Services hosted the second StatSmart conference in Melbourne on 1 & 2 May, 2008. StatSmart is a 3 year Australian Research Council Linkage project supported by ABS, University of Tasmania, University of New England, Key Curriculum Press and Noel Baker Centre for School Mathematics.

    At the StatSmart conference, participating teachers were actively engaged in a range of hands-on learning opportunities, in addition to a variety of interesting presentations from project partners. As part of the project, 40 teachers from Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania have been profiled and their students are being surveyed longitudinally to evaluate the effects of improved teaching practice in statistics.

    Outside the conference, participating teachers and their students have had access to the expertise of StatSmart's project partners, CensusAtSchool datasets, and statistical software such as Tinkerplots and Fathom. Project outcomes will inform the education community on best practice in the field of statistics education. StatSmart forms part of the ABS commitment to 'increase statistical literacy in the community, with a special focus on the schools sector' (ABS Corporate Plan).For more information please visit: <www.statsmart.org.au>.