Client Liaison
Summary of Events

Linking Up
A discussion between David Satterthwaite of Scitech and the ABS Client Liaison Unit’s Hayley Priestley has developed into a plan to hold a Data Linkage workshop later this year.

Data linkage refers to the linking of records from different databases, allowing researchers to track interactions, i.e. between the health and education systems.

At David’s suggestion the Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) at UWA and Population Health Research Network (PHRN) have also expressed interest in being part of what the ABS hopes will be an opening dialogue on data linking.

July 2010 is the planned date for the conference which will cover not only existing linked data but look at issues such as ethics and linkage systems.

CPI Hits Perth
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) Roadshow recently came to Perth, giving people a chance to have their say on where they think the CPI should be heading.

Susan Kluth, along with Michael Abbondante and Caley Forrest from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, presented a CPI review which focussed on the principal purpose, compilation methods, relevance and timing of the CPI.

Discussion was lively, to put it mildly. Of particular concern was how the CPI was being used to adjust the pension rates of retired public servants.

After consultation has been completed an advisory group will look at all the issues raised and from approximately October next year a new iteration of the CPI will come into effect.


Indigenous Roll Call
The Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare have been commissioned by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to lead an analysis of the level of Indigenous identification in key school administrative data sets.

This includes investigation into collection methodologies, strategies for improving identification rates and drivers for change.

Hayley Priestley of the WA Client Liaison Unit is currently visiting WA regions to collect data for this project. So far she has visited schools in Broome, Exmouth, Esperance, Bridgetown and Bunbury. This data is vital for the Government to gain the true picture of Indigenous participation in education today.

Data is expected to be presented to COAG in May 2010.