2007.0 - Information Paper: Census of Population and Housing: ABS Views on Content and Procedures, 2011

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 26/10/2007

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Contents >> Topics to be Excluded From the 2011 Census >> Residential Status (for People in Non-private Dwellings)

RESIDENTIAL STATUS (FOR PEOPLE IN NON-PRIVATE DWELLINGS)

DIRECTIONS FOR 2011 CENSUS

For the 2011 Census, the ABS is considering the use of one form type for people in all dwelling types, to enhance the capture of family related information in non-private dwellings and to simplify procedures for the delivery of Census forms. Previously, each private dwelling (e.g. house, unit, flat, etc.) received a Household Form while every person in a non-private dwelling (e.g. hotel, motel, hostel, etc.) received a Personal Form which captured responses for one person only. The residential status question was included on the Personal Form only.

If merging of the two form types occurs, the ABS is considering:

removing the residential status topic from the Census, or
exploring other ways to obtain similar information which do not involve the respondents completing a question.

Given uncertainty about the value of this question in terms of data needs, and potential constraints imposed with the introduction of a single form for use in both private and non-private dwellings, the ABS is seeking further justification for continued collection of this topic.

JUSTIFICATION

This topic differentiates people staying in non-private dwellings, either on a short-term basis or as a resident, from live-in staff and their families.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION

Information about the residential status of people counted in non-private dwellings has been collected in all Censuses. The question is asked only for people in non-private dwellings.

USER REQUIREMENTS

Census data about people residing in non-private dwellings are important for the planning and delivery of many services.

Some State and Territory Tourism authorities use Census data for benchmarking.

AVAILABILITY OF NON-CENSUS DATA

The number of people in some types of non-private dwellings are available from:

the ABS Tourist Accommodation Survey (results released in Tourist Accommodation, Australia, cat. no. 8635.0)
Short-term Visitor Arrivals Estimates, Australia (cat. no. 3401.0.55.001)
Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (cat. no. 3401.0).

Some data is also available from other administrative sources.

Tourism Research Australia produces data on the characteristics of domestic and international tourist activity, including purpose of travel, destination, type of accommodation used and demographics. Results are published on both a quarterly and annual basis.

However, the Census is the only source of information about the characteristics of people in all non-private dwellings.

2006 CENSUS QUESTION

Answered by people in non-private dwellings only