2001 Census of Population and Housing: Nature and Content
2001 Census of Population and Housing: Nature and Content (cat. no. 2008.0) presents information on a variety of topics relating to the nature and content of the 2001 Census. It provides a useful insight into the types of questions that will be included in the census, the procedures that will be used to collect this data, and the rationale behind these decisions. As well as describing the processing and release of 2001 Census data, the paper lists the topics that will be included.
These procedures and topics have been determined after the receipt of over 130 written submissions, a range of consultations with key users and an evaluation of the data and processes used in the 1996 Census.
The following topics are discussed in the paper:
- confidentiality and privacy;
- collection operations;
- processing;
- results/output;
- personal topics to be included in the 2001 Census - such as name, age and sex, religion, and occupation;
- household and dwelling topics included in the 2001 Census (e.g. location of private dwelling);
- subjects which are being excluded from the 2001 Census.
Since the 1996 Census there have been a number of changes including:
- the introduction of an ancestry question;
- a question on the use of personal computers and one on the use of the Internet;
- modifications to the education and qualification questions; and
- revised approaches to the collection and coding of industry and transport related questions.
The paper explains that topics selected for the census must have specific purposes which are of national importance and that there must be a demonstrated need for the census data for policy development, planning and program monitoring.
The 2001 Census coincides with the Centenary of Federation. Results from this Census will provide an important national resource both for contemporary planners as well as those seeking to understand how Australia has changed since Federation.
The paper will be released following the introduction into Parliament of the Census Amendment Regulations. Click here to order your copy.
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