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STATISTICAL RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

A major role of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is to encourage informed decision-making in the Australian community. This role extends to secondary schools where Australia’s future decision-makers reside. The ABS offers a wide range of products and services for schools. This appendix lists a number of these products and services, and suggests other information sources that might be useful to students.


ABS PUBLICATIONS

AUSTRALIA — WORKING IT OUT! (ABS Cat. No. 1332.2)

This publication has been produced for upper secondary courses in Australian Studies. It is framed around the study design of the Year 11 Victorian Certificate of Education Australian Studies course.

The theme of work and society is explored in detail, with much historical information provided. Four chapters examine the meaning and measurement of work, profile Australia’s labour force, distribution of reward for work, and technology and work. There is also an introductory chapter on how to use statistics. First year economics students may find chapter 2 useful.


MEASURING AUSTRALIA’S ECONOMY (ABS Cat. No. 1360.0)

This publication is a general reference and information resource for students wishing to understand the major economic indicators used to measure the economy’s performance. It contains economic indicators, with additional information to assist student understanding and interpretation of presented statistics.
The economic indicators include: international accounts and trade, domestic consumption and investment, prices, incomes, and the labour force. There is a chapter devoted to international comparisons, and one that explains statistical methods and concepts used to collect, compile and present the data. Measuring Australia’s Economy is an annual publication updated for the beginning of each academic year.


SURVIVING STATISTICS (ABS Cat. No. 1332.0)

This publication is a basic guide to understanding and using statistics. Interesting examples are used to explain the collection, organisation and interpretation of statistical data. This publication will benefit anyone who wishes to have a better general understanding of statistics.


ABS LIBRARY EXTENSION PROGRAM (LEP)

School students can access ABS information through all major public libraries in Australia. Rather than travelling to your nearest ABS office, which may be hundreds of kilometres away, you may be able to go to your local library and ask for ABS information. Many universities and TAFEs now have campuses outside capital cities, and these also receive a range of ABS publications.

The ABS Library Extension Program entitles participating libraries to receive free copies of a core set of ABS publications, which can meet many of your statistical enquiries. Please contact your local library to see if they have ABS publications, or refer to the list of current LEP libraries provided on the ABS web site (http:\\www.abs.gov.au). Otherwise, you can contact your state/territory’s ABS Information Services section for the location of your nearest LEP library. A list of ABS offices occurs at the back of this publication.


USING THE LIBRARY EXTENSION PROGRAM

An ideal strategy is to investigate the ABS Catalogue of Publications and Products (held in most school libraries). Use the Subject Index to find the publication name and catalogue number that serves your information needs. Then ring your local LEP library to see if they have the publication. Note that smaller libraries are affiliated to larger regional libraries and can get ABS information, but have to do so through their regional library.

EXAMPLE

1. An Australian Studies, Social Studies or Economics student needs information on discouraged jobseekers. Looking under ‘discouraged jobseekers’ in the subject index of the ABS’s Catalogue of Publications and Products, the student is referred to the publication Persons Not in the Labour Force, Australia (ABS Cat. No. 6220.0).
The student can then ring their nearest major public library and see if they have the publication available by quoting the above catalogue number. If not, the student can ask the librarian to order a copy from the ABS.

2. Environmental Studies students may want statistical information on pollution for a class project. Again, they can first refer to the ABS Catalogue (available in most school libraries) and locate ‘pollution’ in the subject index. They will be referred to more than one publication. By examining the information provided about each publication, they can decide which will satisfy their needs and order it as in Example 1.


ABS CLASS PRESENTATIONS

The ABS may be able to provide officers to speak to classes of students in your school. General presentations are available for upper secondary students. The content may include why Australia takes a census, information and modern society, and common mistakes in the use of statistical information.

In Victoria, more subject specific presentations can be given to Economics students. Presentations may include statistical information and issues associated with unemployment, inflation, economic growth, and ‘women and the economy’. The talks can be presented in a double period and may combine some form of general presentation as mentioned above.

To inquire about possible class presentations contact the Education Servicing Officer in your State.


ABS WEB SITE

The ABS Web Site, known as ABS Statsite, is constantly expanding as a source of information about what the ABS has available. Although most of the actual publications and other sources of data produced by the ABS are not contained on the web site, it does contain:

• News about latest release ABS products and services.
• Copies of the main findings from a range of recently released ABS publications and copies of Information papers.
• Details about the ABS, such as copies of annual reports, contact details for all ABS offices, and list of all LEP libraries.

ABS Statsite also enables you to easily access information about the education services available from the ABS. By clicking on the PRODUCTS button on the ABS home page, the Education Services pages will show you:

• What’s new in education at the ABS.
• The Statspak Catalogue (lists statistical resources available for school education).
• Resources for curriculum learning areas, and
• Keydata Education Toolkit.

OTHER INFORMATION RESOURCES

Apart from the ABS, there are many other sources of information that students may find useful. Three of these are:

Australian Government Publishing Service (AGPS) Bookshops: The AGPS has bookshops in all State and Territory capital cities and runs an extensive mail order service for people in rural Australia. The bookshops contain a great deal of information published by Australia’s Commonwealth departments and agencies.

Industry and Trade Union Organisations: These organisations publish information about their members and issues associated with them. For industry organisations such as the Australian Mining Industry Council refer to the ‘Business Organisations’ section of Telstra’s Yellow Pages, and for Trade Union organisations refer to the ‘Trade Union’ section.

Public and Community Organisations: There are literally hundreds of non-government public organisations involved in a wide range of social, economic and environmental issues. The Directory of Australian Associations, published by Information Australia, is a good reference guide to locate the names and addresses of public and community organisations. The directory can be found in the reference section of most public libraries.