2902.0 - Census Update (Newsletter), Apr 1998  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 30/04/1998   
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Family and Labour Force Data


Second release datasets are now available and include all of the data contained in release 1 as well as additional data. So what does the second release actually consist of?

It contains a number of Community Profiles. These are a set of tables which provide detailed and comprehensive census data on persons, families and dwellings from small areas right up to a State or even the whole of Australia. Each Community Profile provides a number of tables containing a range of census variables.

The Profiles enable comparisons to be made between different areas of similar size on a number of social, economic and demographic variables.

They are also an excellent tool for research, planning, and analysis of particular areas or regions of interest. Community Profiles form the basis of many Census products and several more Profiles are included in the second release data - the full set of tables from the Basic Community Profile (BCP), Time Series Profile (TSP) as well as the Indigenous Profile (IP).

The Basic Community Profile is an economical way of obtaining a statistical picture of local communities. It is also the only standard profile which covers economic, social and housing characteristics at the Collection District level. All 32 tables contained in the BCP are now available, covering more complex census variables, including post school educational qualification, data on families and children, characteristics of group households, hours worked, proficiency in English/language, family/ household income, journey to work details, and a range of labour force characteristics. The BCP is available in hard copy or electronic formats.

In hard copy format the Selected Characteristics for Urban Centres and Localities - series 2016.0-7 - and Selected Family and Labour Force Characteristics for Statistical Local Areas - series 2017.0-8 - publications also contain second release BCP tables for the respective State or Territory.

The Time Series Profile (TSP) contains comparable data from the 1986, 1991 and 1996 Censuses. The TSP is included in the second release of CDATA96, to clearly identify the demographic changes that have taken place in a specific area. These data can be used to plan for the future by accurately forecasting market directions and trends.

Also included in the second release of data from the Census are classification counts and final estimated resident population. Classification Counts give you a snapshot of States and capital cities.

Consisting of a column for each State or capital city, they provide frequency counts for all categories within census classifications. This information is useful to conduct an analysis on a State or capital city level rather than the smaller geographic areas available with Community Profile tables. Comparison of one State's data with those of other capital cities or States and Territories is also possible.

Final Estimated Resident Population data provide estimates of resident population in SLAs for each State and Territory. Data are presented in five year age groups (up to age 85) by sex as at 30 June 1991 and 1996, based on the 1996 Census.

The Indigenous Profile contains data from the 1996 Census specific to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of Australia (see further down for details on how to order this profile through the Thematic Profile Service). Included in the profile is a breakdown of the Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander population by sex. In other tables, education is considered through variables such as age at leaving school, highest qualification, and language proficiency - all in relation to Indigenous people.

All of the data described above can be accessed in a variety of formats to suit individual needs. Major electronic products containing second release data are CDATA96 (available in June 1998), Census KeyData and CLIB96 (available in April 1998).
If you would like more information on any of these products or services, please call the ABS office in your State or Territory listed on the back page.