LANEWAYS
A MESSAGE FROM THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Welcome to the first Statistics Victoria newsletter for 2011. What a busy and memorable year it will be.
In the last couple of weeks we have seen the impact of flooding across Eastern Australia including significant areas of regional Victoria and our thoughts are with those who have been affected by the floods. The ABS recognises that these floods have affected thousands of households and businesses and is currently reviewing its statistical collection strategies and assessing the impacts on particular ABS data series. Wherever possible, the ABS will adapt statistical methods to take account of any loss of source data. Extra commentary will be included in publications about: the real-world impact of the disaster reflected in statistics; the impact on the quality of the statistics; and any adjustments to standard methodology that occurred.
The Census of Population and Housing will be held on August 9, providing vital information to help us understand how Australia, Victoria and our communities are changing. Leading up to this, the ABS will be hosting the Census | beyond the count conference on March 2-4 to showcase the innovative ways Census data can be used.
The ABS is releasing the Australian Statistical Geography Standard which will be used for the first time in the 2011 Census, and progressively replace the current geographical framework over the next few years.
We will also be running the Agricultural Census in June 2011 to measure agricultural activity across the country and collect information about trends in farm management, water use and environmental issues.
The Australian Health Survey will also begin in 2011. This will be Australia's biggest and most comprehensive survey conducted on the health of Australians. The data produced will help inform future health strategies and policy decisions.
We will continue to collect and release economic, social and environment statistics to enable all levels of government, business, media and the general community to assess how Australia is progressing, and to inform decision making processes.
In 2011, the ABS will further work with partner agencies across Government and other agencies to build the National Statistical Service (NSS). The NSS mission is to ensure that administrative and other statistical data held by government agencies is accessible, coherent and most efficiently brought together to produce valuable high quality official statistics. The Victorian ABS Office will also be providing a range of statistical training and capability building activities this year, and we look forward to working with all our clients to make the use of high quality information easier.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for continuing to support the development, production and use of statistics that inform evidence based policy and to wish you all the very best for the year ahead.
Lane Masterton
Regional Director
ABS Victoria
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