This document was added or updated on 30/11/2012.

REGIONAL STATISTICS MATTERS


Added 30/11/2012
The second release phase of 2011 Census of Population and Housing data commenced on 30 October 2012 and included data items requiring more detailed processing, such as the 'Occupation' and 'Method of Travel to Work' variables. Second release 2011 Census data is now available in TableBuilder (Basic and Pro), 4 weeks ahead of schedule. The Place of Enumeration and Expanded Community Profiles with 2011 Census second release data are also available. The Working Population Community Profiles and online DataPacks for Place of Enumeration, Expanded and Working population profiles were released on 20 November 2012.

This release also included the boundaries for Urban Centre and Locality/Section of State and Significant Urban Areas structures. Details of which can be found in Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS): Volume 4 - Significant Urban Area, Urban Centres and Localities and Section of State, July 2011 (cat. no. 1270.0.55.004). More detailed information about the 2011 Census data products, the release schedule and changes between the 2006 and 2011 Census, is included in Information Paper: Census of Population and Housing -- Products and Services, 2011 (cat. no. 2011.0.55.001).

Public consultation for the review of the 2016 Census topics and procedures commenced after the 2011 Census second data release. Following the release of the information paper – Census of Population and Housing: Consultation on Content and Procedures, 2016 (cat. no. 2007.0) – public seminars outlining the consultation and submission process, and ABS proposals for the 2016 Census will occur around Australia. Details for registration, dates and location of these seminars will be advertised on the Census Newsboard page from 6 November 2012.

The latest small area data on personal income was released on 28 November 2012 in Estimates of Personal Income for Small Areas, Time Series, 2003-04 to 2009-10 (cat. no. 6524.0.55.002). This release contains data on the number of individuals and the amount of income received from Wages and salaries, Own unincorporated business, Investment, Superannuation and annuities, Other income (excluding Government pensions and allowances) and Total income (excluding Government pensions and allowances). Data is available for geographies based on the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) - SA2, SA3, SA4, State/Territory and Australia, and local government areas.

On 12th November 2012 we presented the fourth national video seminar in partnership with the Australian Community Indicators Network (ACIN). This seminar used 'housing' as a theme to discuss Census data availability, practical use and appearance under the new ABS geography, the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS). Speakers also provided their views on the 4th OECD World Forum in New Delhi, India. The forum occurred on 16-19 October 2012 with the theme 'Measuring Well-being for Development and Policy Making'. More information about the network can be found on the ACIN website. Recordings of seminars held by the network can be found on the National Statistical Service website.

Added 21/9/2012
The first release phase of 2011 Census of Population and Housing data commenced on 21 June 2012. This included the release of core demographic data items which are freely available in a variety of products from the Census data & analysis page on the ABS website. This page also provides access, after registration, to the charged data products of TableBuilder Pro and DataPacks on DVD which are designed for advanced Census data users. The second Census data release phase commencing on 30 October 2012 will include data items requiring more detailed processing, such as the 'Occupation' and 'Method of Travel to Work' variables. More detailed information about the 2011 Census data products, the release schedule and changes between the 2006 and 2011 Censuses is included in the ABS Information Paper: Census of Population and Housing -- Products and Services, 2011 (cat. no. 2011.0.55.001).

The annual Estimated Resident Population data for regions has been released in Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2011 (cat. no. 3218.0) and Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia, 2011 (cat. no. 3235.0). These releases include final estimates for 2001 to 2006 and preliminary rebased estimates for 2007 to 2011, based on results of the 2011 Census of Population and Housing. Population estimates based on the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) are included for the last time while estimates based on the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) are released for the first time. From 30 June 2012, sub-state population estimates will only be prepared and released at the SA2 level (and above) of the ASGS, however Local Government Area (LGA) estimates will continue to be released.

The 2012 update of ASGS Non-ABS Structures was released on 30 July 2012 in Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS): Volume 3 - Non ABS Structures, July, 2012 (cat. no. 1270.0.55.003). The Non-ABS Structures of the ASGS bring together those regions which are not defined by the ABS, but which are supported by the ABS. This update contains revised digital boundaries, codes and labels for some LGAs and Tourism Regions (TRs) since the 2011 edition.

An analysis of geographical variations in average 'Wage and salary earner' income has been released in Perspectives on Regional Australia: Variations in Wage and Salary Income between Local Government Areas (LGAs) (cat. no. 1380.0.55.006). This article examines Wage and salary income variations across LGAs using data from Wage and Salary Earner Statistics for Small Areas, Time Series, 2003-04 to 2008-09 (cat. no. 5673.0.55.003). The analysis at the LGA level will support local governments, policy makers and researchers who use LGA boundaries for planning and policy decisions.

From the July 2012 issue of Building Approvals, Australia (cat. no. 8731.0) onwards, data is being released on the ASGS only. Under the ASGS, Building Approval data will be published at the Australia, State/territory, Greater Capital City Statistical Area, Local Government Area and Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) levels. For more information see the Feature Article: Implementation of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard in ABS Building Approvals Collection.
Added 13/6/2012
Welcome to 'What's New in Regional Statistics' for 2012. On this page, we will be keeping you up to date with developments in regional data across the ABS.

Recently, there has been significant focus on regional policy and programs at all levels of government - and an increasing need for an evidence base. Our team at the ABS Rural and Regional Statistics National Centre (RRSNC) aim to understand the need for regional data across a wide range of data users.

We engage with the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport - who have a strong interest in regional data, including data for the 55 Regional Development Australia (RDA) regions. That Department began to develop a new website in 2011, "myregion.gov" and ABS has assisted the Department with relevant data to support future development of this site, as well as for the other policy and planning activities of the Department. On 16th May, we gave a presentation to the RDA National Forum on accessing regional data on-line on the ABS website.

In May I also gave a presentation at a seminar for the Victorian state government on the status of work on developing a view of 'regional economies'. The slides from this presentation are available on the National Statistical Service website.

The ABS is also involved in the Australian Community Indicators Network (ACIN). The ACIN aims to assist people using or developing community indicators to share ideas and information and to foster collaboration. For information see the ACIN website. Recordings of seminars held by the network can also be found on the National Statistical Service website. The latest seminar was on 9th May.

Other work we are currently undertaking includes several articles analysing regional data. One uses 'Wage and salary earner' income data and another will use 2006 Census data to analyse population growth and mobility. These articles are expected to be released mid 2012, and can be updated when the latest data is available.

The release of Census 2011 data starts on 21 June 2012. You can already find example formats for some of the Community Profiles, you can register for TableBuilder, and you can pre-order customised tables. For more information about Census plans - go to the Census pages.

Another important release with regional data is the annual Estimated Resident Population. Data for regions will be released in July 2012 and regional age and sex data in August 2012. For more information, see Population Estimates under Australia's new Statistical Geography, 2011. There is also a presentation you can view on the National Statistical Service website.

To keep up with recent news, from now on this newsletter will be updated more regularly. We encourage you to subscribe now to get email notification of updates.

Regards,

Lisa Conolly
Director
Regional Statistics
Australian Bureau of Statistics