2006 Census Data
Coming Your Way Soon

The ABS’s Data Processing Centre (DPC) in Melbourne has been a hive of activity ever since your Census form, along with that of 20 million other Australians, was picked up by a Census collector, sent through the secure eCensus portal or posted to the DPC in August last year.

The initial trickle of forms arriving at the DPC quickly became a flood, and it has been all hands on deck ever since! In fact, some 800 staff have been working hard processing over 10 million Census forms, a job which will eventually result in accurate and informative Census data being available for all to use.

Seven months later, the Census data is now undergoing final checks in preparation for the first release of data in the middle of this year.

RELEASE DATES
As with previous Censuses, the 2006 Census data will be available in two releases. Those variables which are simpler to process (such as age, sex, country of birth, proficiency in English, income, etc) will be released in mid 2007.

Those variables which are more complex to process, such as labour force status, occupation, and method of travel to work, are processed later so as not to hold up the release of the bulk of the Census data. These variables are expected to be released late 2007.

CENSUS PRODUCTS
A wealth of information about the Australian community was collected in the Census, and you will soon have access to more Census data than ever before.

The ABS is releasing a new suite of online products to make accessing the 2006 Census data quick and easy. Whatever your data needs or technical skills, there will be a product available for you.

The following products are all free and currently available (with 2001 Census data) from the Census home page of the ABS web site (www.abs.gov.au/census):

QuickStats — provides a brief summary of key Census data for your chosen geographic area. QuickStats includes 15 tables with short textual descriptions, comparisons to Australian-level data and “top 5” responses for selected variables (eg. top 5 birthplaces in the City of Swan).

QuickMaps — designed to provide quick and easy access to thematically mapped Census statistics (eg. proportion of persons aged 55-64 in the Town of Vincent). The maps are available down to individual metropolitan suburbs.

Census Tables — single tables designed for those interested in either data on a particular geographic area, or data on a specific topic.

Community Profiles — there are six separate profiles to choose from which provide a range of key Census data. The 2006 profiles will contain up to 45 tables of data and are excellent tools for researching, planning and analysing data for your chosen geographic area.

SPECIALISED TOOLS
Over the next year, a suite of specialised products will be progressively released to the ABS web site. These include:

CDATA Online — will allow users to produce customised tables, graphs and maps using a pre-defined set of variables (a data cube). CDATA Online will be a free product.

Table Builder — will allow users to construct customised tables, graphs and maps using a database containing the full 2006 Census Unit Record File. Table Builder will be a fee-for-service product.

SEIFA 2006 — will provide users with a method of determining the level of social and economic well-being in different geographic regions. This product is expected to be released early 2008 and will be free to access.

Census Sample File — a comprehensive Confidentialised Unit Record File (CURF) of Census data, based on a small random sample. Useful for detailed analysis of socio-economic issues, this product will be released in 2008 as a fee-for-service product.

REFERENCE PUBLICATIONS
The ABS also produces a wide range of Census publications which are available for free download from the ABS web site:

Census Dictionary — a comprehensive reference guide to the 2006 Census. Designed to assist you to determine and specify your output needs (cat. no. 2901.0).

Picture of the Nation : The Statistician’s 2006 Report — a nationally focussed compendium publication reporting on key Census data (due for release May 2008).

Social Atlas Series — one Social Atlas, containing a series of thematic maps, will be available for each capital city in Australia. Maps for selected regional centres will also be included. This product is due for release late 2007.

Further information about 2006 Census products can be found in the ”New Product Briefs” link from the Census home page of the ABS web site
(www.abs.gov.au/census).

CUSTOMISED SERVICES
If the Census information you require is not available as a standard product, the ABS can customise a product to meet your specific policy, planning, research and commercial analysis needs.

ABS consultants are experts in producing customised tables, fact sheets and statistical profiles. For further information, call 1300 135 070.

ADVANCE ORDER SERVICE
If your Census data needs are urgent, you can pre-order your customised tables through the Advance Order Service.

Clients taking advantage of this service will have their orders processed on a “first in, first served” basis, and tables will be available as soon as possible after the data has been released.

Contact 1300 135 070 or email <client.services@abs.gov.au> and mention the “Advance Order Service”.

INFORMATION SESSIONS
The ABS has recently been conducting information sessions about the new range of 2006 Census products, including a hands-on demonstration of what is available on the ABS web site and what has changed since the 2001 Census.

If you missed out and would like to find out more, we can come to your organisation at a time and day suitable to you. Please contact Howard Garner, Census Liaison Officer on (08) 9360 5105.