1996 Census of Population and Housing
CONTACT
Consultant
Client Services
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Telephone (02) 6252 6627
Facsimile (02) 6207 0282
DESCRIPTION
The Census provides information on the number and key characteristics of people in Australia and the dwellings in which they live. The Census is an important source for family statistics as it provides information collected on a standard basis for the whole country and because census data provide the most detailed classification of living arrangements and family composition. Data are suitable for analysis at small geographic areas and available for small population groups (e.g. country of birth groups).
SCOPE
Persons: every person who spent census night in Australia, except foreign diplomats and their families. Dwellings: all private dwellings, except diplomatic dwellings, whether occupied or unoccupied; occupied non-private dwellings, such as hotels, hospitals and prisons are also included. For further details on scope see Census Dictionary (cat. no. 2901.0).
DISSEMINATION
Publications
These include population and dwelling counts, summaries of key census characteristics, social atlases and thematic publications (which analyse topics like Australia's Indigenous population, and social and demographic change). Selected publications include:
Census of Population and Housing: Selected Social and Housing Characteristics for Statistical Local Areas (cat. nos. 2015.0 - 2015.8)
Census of Population and Housing: Selected Characteristics for Urban Centres and Localities (cat. no. 2016.0 - 2016.7)
Census of Population and Housing: Selected Family and Labour Force Characteristics for Statistical Local Areas
(cat. nos. 2017.0 - 2017.8)
Social Atlas series (cat. nos. 2030.0 - 2030.8) - colour maps of the key characteristics of each capital city.
Census of Population and Housing: Australia in Profile - a Regional Analysis (cat. no. 2032.0).
Census Dictionary (cat. no. 2901.0) - designed to assist users to determine and specify their output requirements.
Directory of Census Statistics (cat. no. 2910.0) - a guide to census products and services.
Data Service
The Census Consultancy Service provides customised data reports, tables, profile data and mapping services. Data are available as hardcopy, cartridge, floppy disk and CD-ROM. Where appropriate, information can be supplied by email.
The Community Profile Series (cat. no. 2020.0) contains sets of tables based on key characteristics of persons, families and dwellings. Profiles include the Basic Community Profile (BCP), Time Series, Usual Residents and Working Population Profiles. The BCP is available for any census geography.
The BCP and Time Series Profile are available through CDATA96. This CDROM product includes MapInfo mapping software, topographic mapping data and statistical boundaries to enable users to prepare customised thematic maps.
Other profiles in the series are available for Statistical Local Areas and aggregates of Statistical Local Areas. Indigenous Profiles are available for Indigenous Locations, Indigenous Areas, ATSIC Regions, States/Territories and Australia.
The Thematic Profile Service, (cat. no. 2021.0) contains sets of tables covering the themes of family, youth, older persons and ethnicity. For each of these population groups, the profiles comprise a set of tables which cross tabulate census variables relevant to policy making, planning and research. Clients can select an individual table or a selection of tables from any of the thematic profiles for any census geography.
Census KeyData contains the full set of community profiles, basic digital boundary data as well as software demonstrations and census classifications.
Data Details
Data are primarily available at person level. Extensive data are also available at family and household levels.
Main topics
Sex and age
Family relationship
Marital status (social and registered)
Usual residence at census time
Internal migration
Religion
Australian citizenship
Birthplace (including birthplace of parents)
Year of arrival
Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander origin
Main language spoken at home/Proficiency in spoken English
Attendance at an educational institution
Education qualifications
Age left school
Number of children ever born
Income (including family and household income)
Labour force status
Occupation
Industry
Hours worked
Journey to work (destination zone coding)
Mode of travel to work
Number of motor vehicle garaged
Number of bedrooms
Type of tenure (nature of occupancy)
Housing loan repayments
Rent
Structure of private dwelling (classification)
Location of private dwelling (classification)
Non-private dwelling (classification)
Note: Appendix 3 for a complete list of variables available from the 1996 Census.
GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE
Geographic data are classified according to the Australian Standard Geographic Classification and are available from the Collection District level (about 250 households) through to Statistical Local Areas, Statistical Divisions, States/Territories and Australia. Most data are also available for non-standard areas such as Census Postal Areas, Local Government Areas and, in some States, suburbs.
FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION
Five-yearly. The next Census will be held in August, 2001.
METHOD OF COLLECTION
The Census is a self-enumerated collection distributed to all households in Australia. A collector leaves the questionnaire to be filled in by a respondent and returns to collect the questionnaire at a later date.
HISTORICAL DATA
The first Census conducted by the Commonwealth of Australia was in 1911. Subsequent Censuses were conducted at irregular intervals up until 1961. Since 1961, the Census has been conducted every five years. The Directory of Census Statistics (Cat no. 2910.0) contains a table showing the topics included in every Census from 1911 to 1996.
Until the Census held in 1971, full blood Aboriginal people were excluded from the count of the population and were not included in census output.
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