Pat Brahim is encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to tell their story (Media Release)

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MEDIA RELEASE
9 February 2015
Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra time)
14/2014

Pat Brahim encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to tell their story

For Pat Brahim, CEO of Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation (JCAC) the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS) provides an opportunity for people to share their story. It also ensures government policies and funding decisions are made with the best knowledge of what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people need.

NATSISS 2014-15 is part of an established program of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander statistics collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Specially trained Interviewers started collecting information from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia in late September and will continue to do so until May this year. The first results will be released from March 2016.

“Information from the survey will be used to inform government decisions and policy direction, and assist with research into the circumstances of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia,” said Fiona Shalley from the ABS.

For the first time, the 2014-15 NATSISS will collect information on the experiences of homelessness.

“Rent and house prices are at historically high rates and represent significant barriers for low and moderate income households." said Pat Brahim.

"Collecting data on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience of homelessness will help identify what factors contribute to homelessness and what may help people transition back into housing,

“If your house is randomly selected to take part in the survey, please open your door and share your story with the ABS.

"When people don’t participate only part of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander story is heard.”

This year NATSISS will expand on the information collected in previous social surveys to explore the strength of leadership in Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander communities, and whether people think that life in their community is getting better. A total of 11,500 randomly selected people will be surveyed, 3,000 of whom will be from Australia’s remotest areas.

Further information and a video describing NATSISS is available for viewing at www.abs.gov.au/natsiss

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

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