ABS establishes Round Table on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics

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MEDIA RELEASE
15 May 2013
78/2013

ABS establishes Round Table on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics


A Round Table on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics was held in Canberra in March 2013 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The purpose of the Round Table is to improve the quality of data from ABS’s surveys and censuses, its engagement strategies and efforts to improve statistical literacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Members were nominated for their grassroots experience in working with their people; they travelled from far and wide representing remote areas of Australia, the larger capital cities in the south and various communities in between.

Debra Reid, Chair of the Round Table said; “The creation of the Round Table is a significant initiative by the ABS. The members of this group have a wealth of community based knowledge to draw upon and will provide valuable advice to the ABS on matters related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander statistics.”

The ABS is committed to improving the quality of statistics on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and already benefits from a number of active, high level forums for advice and consultation across all areas including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues.

Julie Nankervis, ABS Director of the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics said; “We rely on our Indigenous Engagement Managers (IEMs) as the main source of operational level advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people."

“These conversations are just the start. Informed decision-making leads to better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities. Our goal is to ensure our data is relevant and useful."

"The Round Table establishes an additional avenue for discussion with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from outside the ABS. This input is combined with the knowledge and experience of the IEMs to create a rich source of operational advice to draw upon,” she said.

Round Table member, Sonia Townson said; “It’s impressive to see the ABS continuing with the grassroots engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that it so successfully conducted in the lead up to and throughout the 2011 Census. We’re all excited about the opportunity to have input into how the ABS collects data and how it returns information back to the community”.

For more information on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander statistics visit www.abs.gov.au

Media notes:

  • When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.