1316.3 - Statistical Update Queensland (Newsletter), Jun 2004
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 15/06/2004
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Feature Article The National Statistical Service Web Site is now on Line! As part of the National Statistical Service (NSS) initiative, a new web site http://www.nss.gov.au was released on 14 May to assist agencies in applying sound statistical and data management principles and practices. What is the NSS? The NSS is an ABS-led initiative which supports a whole-of-government approach to the management of statistical information. Its aim is: What Can You Find on the NSS Web Site? The first release of the web site provides a core set of resources. You will find: The NSS Handbook has been released as an exposure draft and provides an overview of the statistical process for collection managers, designers or users of statistical products. It outlines issues that need to be addressed when managing a collection, using administrative sources, managing data and analysing data. Future releases of the web site will expand on the core set of resources as well as including a Directory of Statistical Sources search portal and several statistical discussion forums. Who Can Use the NSS Web Site? The web site is designed to support both producers and users of statistics. For producers it provides assistance in the collection, processing and dissemination of data, including resources on best practice and links to statistical training. For users it provides assistance in identifying statistical information suitable to their needs. The web site is maintained by the ABS Statistical Coordination Section. For further information contact Mark Lound on 02 6252 5907 or mark.lound@abs.gov.au. The ABS Catalogue Numbering System Is Changing A new ABS product numbering system will be introduced during 2004 to address deficiencies in the existing system, particularly in relation to electronic and previously uncatalogued releases. To assist users of the ABS Catalogue of Publications and Products (cat. no. 1101.0), a concordance of old product numbers to their corresponding new numbers will be published on the ABS web site later in the year. New numbers allocated to existing catalogued products and services will relate closely to the current numbers. The key benefit of the new system for users of ABS data will be the cataloguing of the complete range of ABS releases whether they be in printed or electronic formats, spreadsheets, data cubes or web pages. To coincide with the introduction of new product numbers, traditional ABS publications will be reclassified into the following four categories. The format and method of dissemination of future issues of Catalogue of Publications and Products will also be reviewed. Further details about these changes will be announced in an Information Paper expected to be released later this year on the ABS web site. For further information contact Egils Brutans on 03 9615 7898 or egils.brutans@abs.gov.au. ABS Sponsors Australian Population Association Conference
A call for papers and registration of interest brochure is now available. Mark your diaries now and see http://www.apa.org.au for further information. Australian Population Association Seminar: ‘Migration Queensland 2004’ Migration is highly significant to Queensland. More than 39,000 people from interstate and 23,000 people from overseas moved to Queensland last year (Department of Local Government, Planning, Sport and Recreation, 2004). Over the past decade, migration accounted for more than six out of every ten new people in Queensland (more than 430,000 people). But who is moving to Queensland and what are the implications of this large stream of migrants? How do we know who is moving where? Which areas are affected by migration? And how big a contribution does migration make to Queensland’s population growth? The Australian Population Association (Queensland Branch) will present a seminar ‘Migration Queensland 2004’ on Wednesday 4th August 2004 at 80 George Street, Brisbane from 9.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Experts in a range of migration issues will present an informative and entertaining series of presentations covering migration’s impact on and significance for Queensland. Speakers are: Cost of attending seminar, including morning tea and light lunch is $75 ($35 for full-time students). For further information or a seminar application form contact either Alison Taylor on 07 3235 4044, Alison.Taylor@dlgp.qld.gov.au, or Ron Casey on 07 3222 6312, ron.casey@abs.gov.au. Queensland State Supplementary Surveys It’s Submission Time for 2005! State Government agencies are invited to lodge their submissions for the Queensland State Supplementary Survey, 2005. This survey is a supplement to the Queensland portion of the Australia-wide monthly population survey where information is obtained from approximately 5,000 private dwellings in urban and rural areas of Queensland. The information collected can relate to individuals in the household, the household itself or to dwelling characteristics. The state supplementary survey presents a great opportunity to collect high quality statistical estimates for the topic selected. The following topics were selected in Queensland in recent years: Final proposals are due on Friday 16 July 2004. To assist you in preparing your submission, a proforma and guidelines are available from the ABS. For further information contact Robert Boyle on 07 3222 6213 or robert.boyle@abs.gov.au.
Measures of Australia’s Progress (MAP) — Are We Changing for the Better?
Disability, Australia Released Disability, Australia (cat. no. 4446.0), released by the ABS on 6 May 2004, presents preliminary results relating to disability from the 2003 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC). The publication also includes some comparisons with results from the previous survey in 1998. Findings Almost one in five Australians (3,951,000) had a disability, with the rate being similar for both males and females. The rate increased with age, reaching 81% for those aged 85 years and over. The age-standardised disability rates for total males, females and persons showed little change between 1998 and 2003 and the pattern across age groups was very similar. The 2003 SDAC found that one in 17 people (6%) had a profound or severe level of core activity limitation (i.e. they needed help with one or more self-care, mobility or communication activities), similar to 1998. However, the rate for persons aged 85 years and over dropped more substantially, from 65% in 1998 to 54% in 2003, with the decrease more marked for males than females. The pattern of prevalence of profound or severe level of core activity limitation differed across age groups from that of the overall disability population. There was a gradual increase in the rate for age groups 0-4 years (3%) through to 65-69 years (9%) and then it increased sharply to 54% of those aged 85 years and over. This contrasted with the overall disability rate which increased steadily from 4% of 0-4 year olds to 41% of 65-69 year olds and 81% of those aged 85 years and over. Education People with a disability were less likely to have completed a higher educational qualification than those without a disability. In 2003, one in five people aged 15-64 years living in households and who had no disability had completed a bachelor degree or higher, compared with one in eight people (13%) with a disability. ALL PERSONS, Disability status, 1998 and 2003 Employment Employment-related findings, for people aged 15-64 years living in households, from the 2003 SDAC include: Further information about SDAC and final results will be included in Disability, Ageing and Carers: Summary of Findings, Australia, 2003 (cat. no. 4430.0) and Disability, Ageing and Carers: User Guide, Australia, 2003 (cat. no. 4431.0), expected to be released in September and October 2004, respectively. For further information contact Ken Black on 02 6252 7430 or ken.black@abs.gov.au. Coordination of Reporting on Children In recent years there has been an expanding array of strategies and plans relating to children, many of which have an associated reporting mechanism or system. At the national level, initiatives such as the federal government’s Stronger Families and Communities Strategy, the National Agenda for Early Childhood and the National Obesity Taskforce, as well as the establishment of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, reflect a convergence of attention on improving the wellbeing and life chances of children. Initiatives such as these require statistical support in order to determine how children are faring and to track how this may be changing over time. A number of government and other organisations have developed statistical reports, frameworks and/or indicator sets for measuring these issues (e.g. the Families First initiative in NSW, Best Start in Victoria, Our Kids in Tasmania and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s report, Australia’s Children: Their Health and Wellbeing) while others have projects in development. Given the intensive effort that is being applied to reporting on children and the potential duplication of effort in this field, there exist opportunities to bring together work and knowledge in order to provide a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to reporting. 'A Picture of Australia’s Children' (a workshop auspiced by the Australian Council for Children and Parenting) brought together a wide range of research bodies, policy organisations and data professionals to discuss and further these issues. The workshop provided an impetus for developing an information framework for measuring the health, wellbeing and development of children, establishing key indicators within this framework and strategies for improving reporting on this important population group. As well as enabling the creation of an overall picture of how children are doing, these initiatives will promote consistency and comparability across data collections and between jurisdictions, drive a single whole-of-nation approach to reporting, improve identification of emerging issues and prevent duplication. As an initial output from this work, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (in consultation with an advisory committee, including ABS and other key stakeholders) will release the framework and indicator set in 2005 as a report to be titled ‘A Picture of Australia's Children’. For further information contact Carrington Shepherd on 08 9360 5255 or carrington.shepherd@abs.gov.au. Snapshots of Asthma and Diabetes Released Two articles: Asthma in Australia: A Snapshot (cat. no. 4819.0.55.001) and Diabetes in Australia: A Snapshot (cat.no. 4820.0.55.001), were released on the ABS web site in April. Asthma in Australia: A Snapshot covers topics such as the prevalence of asthma, managing asthma, quality of life and hospitalisation, using data from the 2001 National Health Survey and other data sources. For further information contact Lishani Naidu on 02 6525 6391 or lishani.naidu@abs.gov.au. Diabetes in Australia: A Snapshot provides a brief overview of the differentials in prevalence, risk factors, actions taken after diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and resultant conditions from diabetes mellitus, using data from the 2001 ABS National Health Survey. A study is also made of the health of persons aged 45 years and over, comparing those in the population diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, with the rest of that age group. The article also draws on data from the ABS Causes of Death collection. For further information contact Jane Griffin-Warwicke on 02 6252 6535 or jane.griffin-warwicke@abs.gov.au. Seven in Ten Queenslanders Have a Mobile Phone Over 68% of Queenslanders aged 18 years and over (1,892,900 persons) had use of a mobile phone in October 2003, according to figures released in late April by the ABS in Household Telephone Connections, Queensland, October 2003 (cat. no. 8159.3). PERSONS: HAD USE OF A MOBILE PHONE BY AGE AND SEX There were similar proportions of males (50.1%) and females (49.9%) with the use of a mobile phone, living in households with at least one fixed telephone connection. Of all Queensland households surveyed, approximately 95% had a phone connected in October 2003. An estimated 77,000 Queenslanders (4%) with the use of a mobile lived in households with no phones connected. Of these, 56% were aged 18 to 29 years and 35% in the 30-49 years age group. Most connected Queensland households (99%) had at least one phone connection able to receive standard telephone calls, even if it was used mostly for facsimile or the Internet. Approximately 82% of these households had at least one phone connection listed in the residential section of Telstra's White Pages. For further information contact Rob Boyle on 07 3222 6213 or robert.boyle@abs.gov.au. On Your Bike! Queenslanders Cycle for Fun Recreation and social purposes were the most popular reasons why over three-quarters of a million Queenslanders aged 15 years and over rode a bicycle in the 12 months to October 2003, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released in late April. Exercise and training were other popular reasons for cycling. More than one in three Queensland cyclists (37%) rode at least once a week and 8% rode daily - but 40% cycled less than once a month. Almost half of all cyclists rode on both weekdays and weekends. Half of all Queensland homes contained a working bicycle. There were more male cyclists (60%) than females (40%). More than twice as many males than females cycled to and from work. An estimated 85% of cyclists aged 15 years and over also had a motor vehicle licence. Cyclists without a licence rode more regularly than cyclists with a licence. Almost two-thirds (63%) of cyclists without a licence rode daily or at least once a week, compared to one-third of cyclists with a licence. Further details are in Bicycle Usage, Queensland, October 2003 (cat. no. 9215.3). For further information contact Robert Boyle on 07 3222 6213 or robert.boyle@abs.gov.au. Subscriptions to Demography Publications for 2004 The ABS will continue to release and print the quarterly publication, Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0) in 2004. Unfortunately this publication was mistakenly omitted from the list of Publications to be Released in 2004 which was issued with ABS 2004 publication subscription renewals. ABS is contacting 2003 subscribers to this publication to offer continuing subscription for the printed publication. Clients also have the option of subscribing to a publication delivered by email, purchasing an electronic copy of the publication from the ABS website or subscribing to a free email notification service In addition, from 2004, the ABS will be converting the previously printed publication on Marriages and Divorces (cat. no. 3310.0) into an electronic release on the ABS website, on AusStats and ABS@. The release of a printed publication will cease. To accompany the electronic release of marriage and divorce statistics, a special article summarising the key results each year will be included in Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0). For further information contact Rachael Hill on 02 6252 6296 or rachael.hill@abs.gov.au. A New Path to Regional Statistics Have you found it hard to find data on the ABS web site related to your local government area? The ABS has now released the National Regional Profile from which you can quickly obtain essential information on your council area. This free, web based product, allows you to download a spreadsheet containing a range of indicator information for a standard area of your choice. The National Regional Profile will assist in the consistent quantitative measurement, evaluation and comparison of the performance of regions. Access to the National Regional Profile facility is through the new ‘Regional Statistics’ icon on the ABS home page . Clicking on this icon will take you to the Regional Statistics Program Theme Page, which contains not only a link to the National Regional Profile, but also information about other aspects of the program that may be of interest to you including additional regional products with state specific data series and comparative information. Information is available for local government areas, statistical local areas, statistical subdivisions, statistical divisions, states/territories as well as the Australian level. The National Regional Profile combines a range of ABS and non-ABS information within an easy to use facility including data on population, births and deaths, remoteness, unemployment, income support customer numbers, wage and salary earners, new vehicle sales and building approvals. To obtain information about the region of your choice, use the drill-down map facility or choose the selected region’s name from a pick list. The choice is yours, and remember, the National Regional Profile is free. At the moment the National Regional Profile contains data for only one year. The next version, expected to be released early in 2005, will contain a five year time series for each region. It is also anticipated that, over time, the suite of indicators will grow. This National Regional Profile does not, however, contain data from the 2001 Census of Population and Housing. Information from the Census is available through the 2001 Census Page on the ABS web site. For further information contact Cynthia Millar on 08 8237 7348 or cynthia.millar@abs.gov.au. Local Government Finance Data Released Local government finance information for 2002-03 was released on 1 April 2004 in Government Finance Statistics, Australia (cat. no. 5512.0). This publication contains consolidated financial statements together with a dissection of expenses by purpose aggregated to the total state/territory level. Some preliminary findings from the 2002-03 survey are:
There has been a good response by councils to the 2002–03 data collection forms dispatched and collected by each state/territory local government agency. Information provided on these forms is the basis for the ABS data holdings relating to local government financial activity. It is from this database that requests for data about various aspects of local government activity are serviced. Important policy decisions concerning the sector can be based on this information and consequently it is important that accurate and timely information is returned by councils in the questionnaire. The quarterly collection for June 2004 will be initiated on 21 June when the customary request will be made to selected units to provide the usual limited range of data items to the ABS. As with the annual collection, information is returned electronically but in this case, to the ABS. A return date of 13 July 2004 will be set for the June quarter’s survey. During the months of April and May, personnel from the Local Government Statistics Unit of the ABS visited Departments of Local Government and/or Local Government Grants Commissions throughout Australia to review the 2002–03 annual survey and to commence preparations for the 2003–04 cycle. Issues under discussion included the likely incorporation of the Local Government Purpose Classification into most collection forms. Data at a finer level of detail are available for purchase through any state office of the ABS. [Note: Enquirers for these data are advised to contact the ABS (see contact details below) in the first instance to determine how requests are best serviced in their jurisdiction. In some jurisdictions, it is the preference of the state/territory local government agency that requests for data be directed to them rather than to the ABS. Other agencies do not have appropriate data provision systems in place and prefer to leave the data dissemination role with the ABS.] For further information contact Dean Bloom on 07 3222 6257 or dean.bloom@abs.gov.au. Recent and Expected Unit Record File Releases The ABS recently released the following Confidentialised Unit Record Files (CURFS): More information about the content of these CURFs is available via the List of Available CURFs page on the ABS web site. The ABS expects to release the following CURFs later in 2004: Basic CURFs are available on CD-ROM and via the ABS Remote Access Data Laboratory (RADL). Expanded CURFs are available via the ABS RADL only. For the most up to date information on all CURF matters including which CURFs are going to be released or have been released, please refer to the Access to CURFs, CURFs Expected to Be Released and List of Available CURFs pages on the ABS web site. New Expansion Factors for Estimating Interstate Migration 2001 to 2006 To estimate quarterly net interstate migration for 1996 to 2001, a combination of 1996 census data and Medicare movement data was used to determine, for selected ages, ‘expansion factors’ for inflating quarterly Medicare changes of address data. These factors allow for the fact that changes of address advised to Medicare may not adequately cover all interstate movements of persons of these ages. Using interstate migration information from the 2001 census, ABS investigated the calculation of new expansion factors. The effects of different sets of expansion factors on intercensal error had they been used for the period 1996 to 2001 were considered. The best performing set of factors was chosen for use in estimating interstate migration for 2001 to 2006. The new expansion factors were introduced for the June quarter 2003. For further information contact Matthew Montgomery on 02 6252 6487 or matthew.montgomery@abs.gov.au. The Importance of Survey Pilot Testing ‘Pilot testing’ means conducting a scaled down rehearsal of a survey, where a draft questionnaire is put to members of the public in the field. A pilot test is designed to identify potential problems and solutions before conducting the full scale ‘real’ version of the survey, from which data will be used. Survey pilot tests are usually conducted on previously untested questionnaires. A pilot test involves a small proportion of respondents representative of the sample population (for the ABS state supplementary surveys in Queensland, around 14% of the sample or about 0.04% of the whole population). Pilot testing provides an opportunity to refine the survey questionnaire and complete further checks of the data. This can help identify possible changes to questions, interview sequencing, and ways to improve data quality. Pilot tests are critical in evaluating: When the ABS conducts a pilot test, an interviewer debrief session is conducted to gain a further understanding of the performance of the survey. Talking to interviewers about their experiences in the field with respondents adds an important qualitative dimension to evaluating survey design. This can help us to comprehend how respondents interpret questions, and whether the correct information is being obtained. Pilot testing a survey can allow inferences to be made on the data collected (likely standard errors, etc.). Compiling and analysing the data collected from a pilot test gives an indication of response rates to particular questions. Results from pilot tests are often used to develop and confirm reliability and validity of the information collected. This offers a chance to evaluate whether the survey instrument is accurately collecting the data requested by the client. It also provides an opportunity to check whether the results agree in general with what may be inferred from other surveys or data. For further information contact Caitlin James on 07 3222 6305 or caitlin.james@abs.gov.au. Other Recent and Expected Releases General 1269.0 Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC), 1998 (Revision 2.02) 1353.0 Integrated Regional Data Base (IRDB), Australia, 2004, CD-ROM 1351.0.55.001 Working Papers in Econometrics and Applied Statistics: No 2004/1 Measuring the Stock of Human Capital for Australia, Sep 2001 7121.0 Agricultural Commodities, Australia, 2002–03 Census Papers 2054.0 Australian Census Analytic Program: Australians' Ancestries, 2001 2051.0 Australian Census Analytic Program: Caring Labour in Australia's Community Services, 2001 2053.0 Australian Census Analytic Program: Australia's Most Recent Immigrants, 2001 Social and Population 3412.0 Migration, Australia, 2002–03 3311.0.55.001 Demography, Australia, 2002, Electronic delivery 3236.0.55.001 Household and Family Estimates, Australia - Electronic Delivery, Jun 2001 4510.0 Recorded Crime - Victims, Australia, 2003 4102.0 Australian Social Trends, 2004 3236.0 Household and Family Projections, Australia, 2001 to 2026 4714.0 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, 2002 4159.0.55.002 General Social Survey: Users' Guide, 2002 4523.0 Sexual Assault in Australia: A Statistical Overview, 2004 3235.0.55.001 Population by Age and Sex, Australia - Electronic Delivery, Jun 2003 Health 8934.0 AIHW Heart, Stroke and Vascular Diseases Australian Facts, 2003 (Produced by Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) 4821.0.55.001 Cardiovascular Disease in Australia: A Snapshot, 2001 4826.0.55.001 Occasional Paper: Health Risk Factors - a Guide to Time Series Comparability from the National Health Survey, Australia 2004 8916.0 AIHW Cancer in Australia, 2001 (Produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) 8906.0 Australian Hospital Statistics, 2002-03 Finance 5506.0 Taxation Revenue, Australia, 2002-03 5518.0.55.001 Government Finance Statistics, Education, Australia - Electronic Delivery, 2002-03 5362.0.55.001 A Guide to Australian Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Statistics, 2003, Electronic publication 5609.0 Housing Finance, Australia, Apr 2004 5209.0 Australian National Accounts: Input-Output Tables, 1998-99 4183.0 Cultural Funding by Government, Australia, 2002-03 Business/Industry 8663.0 Real Estate Services, Australia, 2002-03, Electronic delivery 8127.0 Characteristics of Small Business, Australia, 2003 8698.0 Waste Management Services, Australia, 2002-03 8567.0 Hire Services, Australia, 2002–03 8635.0.55.001 Tourist Accommodation, Expanded Scope Collection, Australia, 1 Jan to 31 Dec 2003 4512.0 Corrective Services, Australia, Mar 2004 8679.0 Television, Film and Video Production, Australia, 2002-03 8415.0 Mining Operations, Australia, 2001-02 Education/Training 8111.0 Research and Experimental Development, Higher Education Organisations, Australia, 2002 4232.0.55.001 Measuring Learning in Australia: Dictionary of Standards for Education and Training Statistics, 2003 4231.0 Information Paper: Measuring Learning in Australia - Plan to Improve the Quality, Coverage and Use of Education and Training Statistics, 2003 Labour 1380.0.55.001 Occasional Paper: Perspectives on Women's Employment in Regional Australia, 2001 Census 2001 6342.0 Working Arrangements, Australia, Nov 2003 6348.0.55.001 Labour Costs, Australia, 2002-03 6105.0 Australian Labour Market Statistics, Jul 2004 Information Technology 8146.0 Household Use of Information Technology, Australia, 2003 8119.0 Government Use of Information Technology, Australia, 2002-03
If you wish to subscribe to Statistical Update and receive it free of charge to your computer or change your subscription in any way, please contact Arthur Poulter on 07 3222 6084 or arthur.poulter@abs.gov.au. Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window.
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