POSTCODE


Technical name: Service provider organisation (address) - Australian Postcode, code (Postcode datafile) {NNNN}
METeOR identifier: 290064
METeOR link: http://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/290064
METeOR definition: The numeric descriptor for a postal delivery area, aligned with locality, suburb or place for the address of an organisation, as represented by a code.

Scope
Inclusions: The Australian postcode which identifies the physical location at which the preschool program is being delivered, for all early childhood education and care services that deliver a preschool program.
Exclusions:

• The postcode for a post office box of the service provider.

• The postcode of the head administration office, if this is not the location where the preschool program is delivered.

• Early childhood education and care services that do not deliver a preschool program.

Underlying Concepts
Concept: Postcode.
Nominal definition: The postcode component of a complete service provider address that identifies the geographical location at which the preschool program is delivered.
Operational definition: Consistent with nominal definition.
Supporting data elements: The following data elements are used in conjunction with Postcode to geo-code an address to Collection District (CD) and Mesh Block (MB)/Statistical Area Level 1 (SA1) for the data elements Geographic location of organisation - ASGC 2010 (Collection District) and Geographic location of organisation - ASGS 2011 (Mesh Block/Statistical Area Level 1).

• Address line (Service provider)

• Suburb/town/locality name (Service provider)

• Australian state/territory identifier (Service provider)

Postcode can also be used to validate CD codes, MB/SA1 codes or other supplied address data elements.
Conceptual issues: N/A

Standard Jurisdictional Output Categories
Classification scheme: Postcode datafile
Representation class: Code
Data type: Number
Format: {NNNN}, for example: 2345
Maximum character length: 4
Supplementary values:

9999 - Not stated/inadequately described

	Edit specifications	Edit resolution
1.	If field is blank.	Provide a valid postcode, otherwise amend to code ‘9999’.
2.	If field contains text or character length is greater than 4.	Provide a valid postcode.

Guide for Use
Service providers may operate preschool programs at a number of geographical localities, with the management and operational responsibilities for those preschools being run out of the same administration office. In this situation, each preschool program is required to have an individual postcode recorded, to allow identification of the geographical location where the preschool program is delivered.

Mobile preschools should record the postcode of the non-mobile preschool from which it operates.

Counting rules:

• Record the postcode where the preschool program is delivered.

• Postcode may be collected as part of the address line, or separately.

Classification Definitions
CODE 9999 Not stated/inadequately described
For use when the postcode of the service provider is unknown, not stated or inadequately described. Where the postcode is unknown, the ABS requests that jurisdictions identify the reason for the unknown response and document any follow-up processes undertaken.

Other Information
Related URL data element: Postcode.

Previous Page

Next Page