National Indigenous Preschool Census
CONTACT
Assistant Director
Indigenous Education Branch
Department of Education, Science and Training
PO Box 9880 Canberra City, ACT 2601
Telephone (02) 6240 8504
Facsimile (02) 6240 7176
DESCRIPTION
The National Indigenous Preschool Census is a national collection of preschool student enrolments, with a focus on Indigenous students. It is conducted to monitor the effectiveness of one of the aims of the Indigenous Education Strategic Initiatives Program (IESIP), to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander preschool participation. The collection is also used as the basis for allocation of IESIP funds to preschools. All government preschools and most non-government preschools participate in a yearly census which seeks to determine the total number of Indigenous students enrolled in preschools throughout Australia, by urban, rural and remote areas. The information includes age, sex and sessional details of all Indigenous children, as well as the total number of Indigenous and non-Indigenous enrolments by state and territory..
Scope
The collection covers government preschools which are included on each jurisdiction's census list. Non-government establishments involved in the provision of preschool education,, registered preschools and centres offering an educational program are also included.
The collection counts students as enrolled if, during the census week, they were on the roll and had attended a preschool education program in the last month.
DISSEMINATION
Publications
Various publications are produced by Data Analysis Australia Pty. Ltd. for DEST.
Also, selected data is included in:
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Year Book Australia, (cat. no. 1301.0), ABS, Canberra.
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Education and Training Indicators, Australia, 2002, (cat. no. 4230.0), ABS, Canberra.
Data Service
Queries regarding availability should be referred to the contact officer.
Release Schedule
The information is usually released in January of the following year.
DATA ITEMS
The collection produces data on preschool enrolment numbers and participation rates, waiting lists and sessional participation of Indigenous students.
Indigenous Identifier
Indigenous students are identified either by their parents or guardians upon enrolment. Teachers use enrolment information to complete the questionnaire.
Preschool details
Location of school
Number of Indigenous children currently on the waiting list
Number of all children currently on the waiting list
Whether provisions are made for priority access of Indigenous children
Number of all students enrolled in preschool education programs
Number of Indigenous students enrolled in preschool education programs
Government/non-government
Indigenous students
Age
Sex
Sessional participation
Non-Indigenous students
Total numbers
State/territory
Whether enrolled at government or non-government preschool
GEOGRAPHY
Information is available for Australia, all States and Territories and geographical regions (SLA urban, rural and remote). For some data other geographical levels may be available, depending on confidentiality.
METHOD OF COLLECTION
There are two parts to the collection. First, forms are despatched to registered non-government preschools, using the list provided by States and Territories registration authorities. All preschools are asked to return the form either by mail or facsimile even if they did not have any Indigenous enrolments in the census week. If the preschools do have Indigenous enrolments they were required to complete an extra questionnaire. Schools are given approximately four weeks to return the questionnaire. Telephone follow-up of non-respondents is also used.
Secondly, government data and data in respect of Victorian non-government preschools is requested directly from the relevant state/territory government authority.
TIMING OF COLLECTION
Reference Period
Usually the first week in August.
Frequency of Collection
Annual.
Historical Data
The collection has been conducted since 1983. Comparable data is available from 2001 onwards.
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