3106.0 - Demography News, Nov 2011  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 22/11/2011   
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RELEASE OF DISCUSSION PAPER - ASSESSMENT OF METHODS FOR DEVELOPING ESTIMATES FOR REGIONAL INTERNAL MIGRATION


The ABS is exploring the development of a new series of demographic estimates, to provide better information on movement patterns of Australia's population at regional level. Currently, the the main source of migration data below state/territory level collected by the ABS is the five-yearly snapshots from the Census. Change-of-address information based on Medicare data from the Department of Human Services is being used to develop an experimental series of regional internal migration estimates, based on the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC), which may be able to provide more frequent and timely estimates of regional migration. Medicare data has not previously been deemed suitable for smaller regions mainly because it is supplied to ABS by postcode, which is not directly compatible with the ASGC.

The ABS will be releasing Discussion Paper: Assessment of Methods for Developing Estimates for Regional Internal Migration (cat. no. 3405.0.55.001) in December 2011. This discussion paper will provide an overview of the current sources of migration estimates and will include information about the data sources and methods used to develop an experimental series of regional internal migration estimates. It will summarise a method to convert postcode-based migration data to ASGC boundaries using a population-weighted correspondence, discuss challenges with this approach and potential solutions to these challenges. The paper will give stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback about the methodological issues associated with producing a regular series of regional internal migration estimates, which will be considered in any further development of these estimates.