3413.0 - Migrant Statistics News, Apr 2011  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 12/04/2011   
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GUIDE TO MIGRANT STATISTICAL SOURCES

The latest version of the Guide to Migrant Statistical Sources (cat. no. 3414.0) was released on 29 March 2011. The Guide is a useful way of finding and accessing relevant data on migrants and ethnicity. It contains information on around 100 data collections, including a wide range of ABS surveys as well as data sourced from academic institutions and federal and state government departments. These data sources have been brought together in one place so they can be easily searched by title or by topic.

Guide topics cover nine themes from the ABS framework:

  • Crime and Justice
  • Culture and Leisure
  • Education and Training
  • Family and Community
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Labour (including employment)
  • Personal and Household Finances
  • Population Characteristics


The Guide is an up-to-date reference to a range of data sources on migrants and ethnicity from both ABS surveys and from other non ABS sources. The Guide brings these sources together in one place and enables them to be sorted alphabetically by title or by topic. Guide entries for ABS sources reveal migrant related data items collected in ABS surveys and provide links to additional information on methodology, classifications and concepts. Non ABS sources include federal and state government departments, academic and private sources. Guide entries for these sources include the following information, where possible:
  • Overview - who collects the data, why it's collected, and its relevance to migrant statistics
  • Scope - the sample size, and selection criteria for respondents
  • Data details - for migrant related data, other data items, and any classifications used
  • Geographic details - the location(s) covered by the data
  • Products / Data availability - the most recent products associated with the data
  • Contact details - how to obtain further information
  • Other related information - the reference period, collection frequency, and historical data

A brief overview of each data collection is provided, together with how to access the data or obtain more information. The 'Guide to Migrant Statistical Sources' can be easily accessed from the Migrant and Ethnicity Topics @ a Glance on the ABS web site.

The Guide will be updated on a regular basis and we are keen to include additional sources. If you are aware of other migrant related data sources that may be of interest, please email the information to <migrant.statistics.unit@abs.gov.au>.