• Summary
• Downloads
• Explanatory Notes
• Related Information
• Past Releases

INTRODUCTION

This chapter details the proposed 2006 Census products and services and includes details of internet, printed and CD-ROM products as well as the proposed range of customised data services available. Details of specialised products such as the Household Sample File (HSF) and Socio-Ecomonic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) are included here also. Reference Products and Geographic Products are covered in Chapters 7 and 8 respectively.

INTERNET PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Quickstats

Quickstats is a summary of key Census data relating to persons, families and dwellings and also contains a small textual description of the statistics contained within the tables. Quickstats is not inclusive of all Census topics, instead providing a selection of general and topical information about a chosen area. The data displayed covers a range of social, economic and demographic statistics, and includes a benchmark feature and top responses for a selection of variables.

Quickstats allows users to select a geographic area of interest, which will then be benchmarked against total Australia data. The summary produced includes topics such as age, selected countries of birth, languages, religions and employment information. Quickstats will have two releases to coincide with the release of first and second release data.

Quickmaps

Quickmaps is designed to provide clients with quick and easy access to thematically mapped Census statistics. Maps will be available for larger geographies and will depict selected population, ethnicity, education, family, income, labour force and dwelling characteristics. Clients will have the opportunity to select a topic and a level of geography that best suits their needs wherever possible. The maps will contain minimal area features but will include main roads, airports and selected name labels to assist with identification of an area. Quickmaps will have two releases to coincide with the release of first and second release data.

Census Topics

Census Topics is designed for clients who are interested in obtaining data in the form of a single table, on a particular subject. Each of the available tables contain key Census characteristics of persons, families and dwellings, covering most topics on the Census form. These tables are designed to assist in researching, planning and analysing topical issues. Users will be requested to select a topic and will then be presented with a list of available tables to select from. Users will then select a geographic area of interest. Once clients complete these selections they will be presented with the table. These tables will be sourced from the 2006 Community Profile tables and the Census Classification Counts.

The Census Classification Counts provide frequency counts for categories of Census classifications that do not appear or have been condensed in the Community Profile Series. Census Classification Counts provide users with the number of people that have a particular characteristic and are cross-classified by sex.

The full list of topics that will be available via the Census Topics product is still under development, but will most likely consist of:

First release - Age, Ancestry, Birthplace, Children, Education, Ethnicity, Families, Fertility, Housing, Income, Indigenous Status, Language, Marital Status, Migration and Religion.

Second release - Industry, Labour Force, Need for Assistance, Occupation, Qualifications and Unpaid Work.

Census Tables

Census Tables is designed for clients who are interested in obtaining data in the form of a single table for a particular geographic area. Each of the available tables contain key Census characteristics of persons, families and dwellings, covering most topics on the Census form. These tables are designed to assist in researching, planning and analysing geographic areas, enabling comparisons to be made between different areas on a number of social, economic and demographic variables.

Clients will be requested to select their geographic area and a topic from a static topic listing, they will then select the table of interest for the list provided. Once selections are complete they will be presented with the table. These tables will be sourced from the 2006 Community Profile tables and the Census Classification Count tables. Tables will only be available for the same geographic area in which the profile is released. For example - if a client requires a topic at the Collection District (CD) level they will only be able to access tables from the Basic Usual Residence Profile or Basic Place of Enumeration Profile as these are the only profiles produced at CD level.

The full list of topics available in the Census Tables product is still under development, but will most likely consist of:

First release - Age, Ancestry, Birthplace, Children, Education, Ethnicity, Families, Fertility, Housing, Income, Indigenous Status, Language, Marital Status, Migration and Religion.

Second release - Industry, Labour Force, Need for Assistance, Occupation, Qualifications and Unpaid Work.

Community Profile Series

The Community Profile Series contains six separate profiles aimed at providing key Census characteristics relating to persons, families and dwellings and covering most topics on the Census form. The profiles are excellent tools for researching, planning and analysing small and large geographic areas. They enable comparisons to be made between different geographic areas on a number of social, economic and demographic variables. The profiles which will be available for the 2006 Census are:

• Basic Usual Residence Profile (URP)
• Basic Place of Enumeration Profile (PEP)
• Indigenous Profile (IP)
• Time Series Profile (TSP)
• Expanded Community Profile (XCP)
• Working Population Profile (WPP).

BASIC USUAL RESIDENCE PROFILE (URP)

The Basic Usual Residence Profile (URP) is the primary profile. It consists of a series of tables containing key Census characteristics on persons, families and dwellings. The data are based on place of usual residence and will have two releases to coincide with the release of first and second release data.

BASIC PLACE OF ENUMERATION PROFILE (PEP)

The Basic Place of Enumeration Profile (PEP) consists of a series of tables containing key Census characteristics of persons, families and dwellings. The data are based on place of enumeration. It differs from the other Community Profiles in that it provides data on where people were counted on Census Night rather than where they 'usually' live or their 'usual address'. The PEP will have two releases to coincide with the release of first and second release data.

INDIGENOUS PROFILE (IP)

The Indigenous Profile (IP) consists of a series of tables containing key Census characteristics of Indigenous persons, families and dwellings. Some tables provide comparisons with the non-Indigenous population. The data are based on place of usual residence and will have two releases to coincide with the release of first and second release data.

TIME SERIES PROFILE (TSP)

The Time Series Profile (TSP) consists of a series of tables containing key Census characteristics of persons, families and dwellings. The data are based on place of usual residence. This profile compares data from the 1996, 2001 and 2006 Censuses where the classifications are comparable, and is based on 2006 Statistical Local Area (SLA) boundaries. To provide comparability between Censuses, some classifications in the TSP have been concorded, footnotes have been added to the tables for further explanation of time series comparability issues. Relevant concordance files will be available though the ABS web site. The profile will be available after the second release phase due to the complexity of concording data over three Censuses.

EXPANDED COMMUNITY PROFILE (XCP)

The Expanded Community Profile (XCP) is the most comprehensive Community Profile in the series providing extended data on key Census characteristics of persons, families and dwellings. Tables within this profile contain more detailed versions of the standard Basic Usual Residence Profile tables, plus additional tables relating to relationships within a family, living costs and dwelling structures. The profile will be available after the second release phase.

WORKING POPULATION PROFILE (WPP)

The Working Population Profile (WPP) consists of a series of tables on key Census characteristics of employed persons. These data are based on place of employment and will be available after the second release phase.

Detailed Area Data

The Detailed Area Data product is aimed at clients familiar with the intricacies of variables, topics and geography that form the basis of Census data. The product is designed to provide clients with a high degree of freedom in selecting and combining the geographical areas most suited to their needs. Accordingly, all Census geographies will be available to clients. Clients will have the use of a sophisticated mapping tool to allow them to identify and select geographical areas of interest. The size of the spatial units selected will dictate the level of detail available for tables across the range of topics, with more detail available for more populous geographies.

While Detailed Area Data will not include full cross-classifying functionality, it will provide a moderate level of flexibility by allowing the choice of a selected number of cross-classified variables for each topic chosen.

Detailed Area Data provides instant access to the latest figures on Australian society - age, education, housing, income, transport, religion, ethnicity, occupation and more, from a single Collection District (CD) to an entire state/territory or for Australia.

Detailed Area Data will have two releases to coincide with the release of first and second release data.

Detailed Area Data has been designed to replace the 2001 product CDATA Quickbuild.

The 2001 products CLIB and Census for Schools, will be available via the Internet in 2006 with the same functionality as Detailed Area Data.

Table Builder

Table Builder is a product aimed at experienced Census data users. It will allow clients to design and populate their own tables of Census data via an interactive web interface, using a database containing the Census 2006 unit record file. Person, family and dwelling classifications will be available for clients to select. The categories available for each classification are yet to be determined and will be dependant on the level of geography required.

Table Builder will be available via the ABS Remote Access Data Laboratory (RADL) portal. Training and support will be provided for this product by the ABS.

CD-ROM PRODUCTS

Census Basics

Census Basics is a CD-ROM product containing 2006 Census community profile data down to CD level, and digital boundaries in generic formats. It is designed for:

• clients to use with existing database or analysis systems e.g. Geographic Information Systems (GIS), other mapping or tabulation software
• clients who just want access to the raw data and boundaries. Hence a simple viewing tool will be included to allow clients to display a formatted spreadsheet for single\multiple geographic areas without manipulation or other functionality
• licensed Secondary Providers who wish to produce a CDATA 2001 - Full GIS type product.

• Basic Usual Residence Profile (1st Release)
• Basic Usual Residence Profile (2nd Release)
• Basic Place of Enumeration Profile (1st Release)
• Basic Place of Enumeration Profile (2nd Release)
• Indigenous Profile (1st Release)
• Indigenous Profile (2nd Release)
• Time Series Profile
• Expanded Community Profile
• Working Population Profile
• Estimated Resident Population.

Indicative release date: Mid 2008

SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDEXES FOR AREAS 2006 (SEIFA 2006)

Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas 2006 (SEIFA 2006) is a product for those interested in measuring the social and economic conditions of Australian communities. The ABS has developed indexes to allow ranking and comparison of areas, based on their relative social and economic wellbeing.

The four indexes are:

• Index of Advantage/Disadvantage - This index is a continuum of advantage to disadvantage. Low values indicate areas of disadvantage and high values indicate areas of advantage.
• Index of Disadvantage - Focuses on low income earners, relatively lower educational attainment and high unemployment.
• Index of Economic Resources - This index includes variables that are associated with economic resources. Variables include rent paid, income by family type, mortgage payments, and rental properties.
• Index of Education and Occupation - This index comprises all education and occupation variables.

HOUSEHOLD SAMPLE FILE (HSF)

The Census Household Sample File (HSF) contains a sample of unidentifiable records for private dwellings and associated persons, and for persons in non-private dwellings. The release of the 2006 HSF will allow researchers to undertake detailed analyses and use them in conjunction with the Community Profiles to explore the statistical relationships of the issue under investigation.

The ABS and the Australian Vice Chancellors Committee will continue arrangements put in place in 1998 to allow academic access to the HSF for a single fixed annual fee. This access will be limited to use of the data for academic research and teaching purposes only.

The ABS was approached by a number of clients requesting that consideration be given to increasing the sample size for the HSF from its existing one per cent. For 2006 the ABS is currently investigating increasing the size of the sample and the range of geography as well as the level of detail of variables available from the HSF.

For 2006, the ABS is considering the following options:

• If user preference is to retain access to the product via CD-ROM there will be no change to the product (ie sample size, geography and level of detail for variables to remain the same). The HSF will still also be accessible via the Remote Access Data Laboratory (RADL) which gives clients access to the HSF via the Internet.
• If user preference is for the increased sample this will ONLY be available via the RADL, and availability of the HSF CD-ROM will cease. The increased sample will only be available via RADL due to the increased volume of data.

PUBLICATIONS

Thematic Publications

Thematic publications present data on a particular theme with a substantial amount of analysis and commentary on the data presented.

STATISTICIAN'S REPORT

The Statistician's Report will be re-introduced for the 2006 Census and is a national compendium publication containing key Census information relating to persons, families and households. Previously, in 2001 there were numerous printed statistical publications produced, but the need for printed Census publications containing solely tables of data has passed. However, ABS is still keen to maintain some printed information and the Statistician's Report will essentially provide a place for clients to start their exploration of Census data. The publication will contain tables and graphs with analytical commentary about the statistics presented. Where appropriate the report will include thematic mapping of data. The report will contain both usual residence and place of enumeration statistics.

Indicative release date: Early 2008

SOCIAL ATLASES

The Social Atlas series (cat. no. 2030.1-8) will consist of one publication for each state and territory. For 2006 the publications will be expanded to include key social, demographic and economic information on each state and territory as well as each capital city in Australia. Some discussion and analysis of the characteristics of the state or territory will be followed by summary tables for every region in that state or territory. There will also be a series of maps of the capital city, as well as selected state/territory level maps. A brief commentary explaining the main features and characteristics will accompany each map. A common core set of maps will be included for each publication, including population, ethnicity, education, families, income, labour force and dwellings.

Indicative release date: November 2007 to April 2008

POPULATION GROWTH AND DISTRIBUTION

The publication Census of Population and Housing: Population Growth and Distribution, Australia (cat. no. 2036.0) will examine the demographic changes that have taken place in Australia from 2001 to 2006. It will focus on the growth, location and mobility of the population at the national, state and regional levels. Information will be presented on the characteristics and volume of interstate and intrastate movements which occurred between 2001 and 2006, including a comparison of the relative contribution of interstate and intrastate migration to population growth for selected regions throughout Australia.

Indicative release date: Late 2008

Estimated Resident Population Publications

Two publications will be released based on Estimated Resident Population (ERP), the official ABS estimate of the Australian population. Data in these publications are calculated by applying the following adjustments to the usual residence Census counts:

• removal of overseas visitors who were in Australia on Census Night from the Census counts
• adjusting the Census counts for undercounting using results of the Post Enumeration Survey
• including Australian residents who were temporarily absent overseas on Census Night
• backcasting the resulting estimates to 30 June 2006 using births, deaths and migration data.

This publication will provide preliminary state and territory ERP at 31 December 2006 and preliminary state and territory ERP by five year age groups and sex at 30 June 2006 based on the 2006 Census. Previously published estimates dating back to September 2001 will be revised to take account of this new information. It will also include time series ERPs of the states and territories, as well as time series data for births, deaths, infant deaths, marriages, divorces, and interstate and overseas movements.

Indicative release date: June 2007

REGIONAL POPULATION GROWTH - 2006 CENSUS EDITION, JUNE 2001 AND JUNE 2006

This publication will provide the preliminary ERP person totals at the Statistical Local Area (SLA) and Local Government Area (LGA) levels for all of Australia at 30 June 2006 based on the 2006 Census. Estimates of the population at 30 June 2001 for the same geographic areas and growth between 2001 and 2006 will also be included.

Indicative release date: July 2007

Australia's Indigenous Population

POPULATION DISTRIBUTION, ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER AUSTRALIANS

The publication Population Distribution, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians (cat. no. 4705.0) will contain 2006 Census counts of the Indigenous Australian population for small areas and regions, and at the state, territory and Australia level. A table of the Estimated Resident Indigenous Population by State and Territory will also be included. Data from the 2001 Census will be included for comparison.

Indicative release dates: Late 2007

POPULATION CHARACTERISITICS, ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER AUSTRALIANS

The publication Population Characteristics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians (cat. no. 4713.0) will be published for Australia, and will contain data on Indigenous people on a variety of topics including: population growth and distribution; families and housing; education; employment; income and language.

Selected national data from previous Censuses will be included for comparison as well as some state/territory level data. Equivalent tables from the national publication for each state/territory will also be available on the ABS web site.

Indicative release date: Early 2008

CUSTOMISED DATA SERVICES

Where users' specialised information needs cannot be met by standard publications or products, customised data services are available through the ABS' Information Consultancy Service. Information Consultancy operates on a fee for service basis. Customised tables, geographic data and mapping services will be available using 2006 Census data.

Customised Tables

The Customised Table Service allows clients maximum flexibility - any combination of Census variables for any geographic area can be selected to create a cross-classified table tailored to a user's needs.

The Advance Ordering Service provides an opportunity for users to specify tables before the processing of the Census commences, reducing the delay between data release and access to specialised cross-classifications. The turn around time for delivering 2001 Census advance order tables was significantly improved in most cases. It is proposed to continue this service for the 2006 Census. Some clients may prefer Table Builder (see Internet Products and Services section) as a means of generating their own customised tables.

Community Profiles for Customised Areas

Selections of Community Profile data (see Community Profile Series and Census Classification Counts section) will be available for user-specified areas in hard copy or electronic formats suitable for input into a range of spreadsheets and databases.

Customised Geographic Data

A customised geographic data service will be able to provide information about the characteristics of any number of user defined areas. Users will be able to obtain conversion tables for specific Collection Districts (CDs) that will allow them to analyse time series data at the CD level or code their own data to CDs. Data can be requested for the whole of Australia or for specific geographic areas.

Customised Map Service

Customised reference maps will show the boundaries of user-specified areas, usually in the context of the topographic features that define them. The reference maps will include base map data and standard Census geographic boundaries.

Customised thematic maps will be available for any standard Census geography or user-specified areas containing statistical data on a particular topic. These maps can include base map (topographic) data and user-specified Census statistical data and boundaries.