WELCOME
Welcome to the June 2004 issue of Age Matters.
The impacts of an ageing population cannot be fully understood without access to better information, particularly that based on empirical evidence. In particular there is a need for quantitative data to help explain and understand the economic and social changes occurring across Australia. An important element of the ABS's work is to facilitate, through an Information Development Plan (IDP) process, the utilisation of administrative and other non-ABS datasets to bridge gaps in the existing data pool of ageing-relevant statistics, and improving the quality, coverage and use of such statistics, where required.
An IDP is a framework that scopes the field of statistics in a given subject area; identifies significant requirements for statistical information in that field; documents the availability of statistics to partially or fully meet that need; and identifies the areas where new statistics need to be developed to more fully satisfy that need. Ultimately a partnership is sought whereby the ABS, with other producers of statistics, can assist in meeting high priority data needs with other producers of statistics. Significant work has been undertaken on the development of the Ageing IDP and we will be seeking feedback in coming months.
In this edition you will find informative articles on:
- household and family projections;
- disability, and
- cardiovascular disease.
Any comments or suggestions on improving our newsletter are always welcome.
Maryann Wood