2901.0 - Census Dictionary, 2011
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 23/05/2011
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What's new for 2011? Overview Users of Census data require information that both represents the current demographic and socioeconomic environments and that facilitates meaningful analysis of change over time. The analysis of change requires classifications that are comparable from Census to Census. However, because society is always changing, comparability is not always possible if the current situation is to be reflected in a meaningful way. This section of the dictionary discusses the changes which have occurred between 2006 and 2011 and indicates the impact these changes have on the range of analyses which can be undertaken. It includes new and revised classifications, including the new geography standard as well as a summary of changes to variables from 2006 to 2011. New and revised classifications It is important for Census data to be comparable and compatible with previous censuses and also with other data produced by the ABS and the wider community. The Census uses the current Australian standard classifications where applicable. These are reviewed on an irregular basis to reflect changes in the Australian society. A number of changes have occurred to these classifications since 2006 and these are described below. Where an Australian standard classification is not available, census-specific classifications have been developed by the ABS. The categories of these classifications are reviewed prior to each Census. Changes to these classifications are described in the section: Summary of Changes to Variables 2006 - 2011. Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), First Edition, Revision 1 Responses to the occupation related questions in the 2011 Census are classified using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), First Edition, Revision 1. Standard 2011 Census data will be output based on this classification. Revision 1 of ANZSCO was released in 2009 and included the addition of 24 new occupations (categories at the 6-digit level) and the deletion/merging of eight occupations. It also included updates to the definitions and titles of some existing occupations and higher (i.e. 2-digit, 3-digit and 4-digit level) categories. For more information see the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), First Edition, Revision 1 (cat. no. 1220.0). Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006 (Revision 1.0) Responses to the Industry of employment related questions in the 2011 Census are classified using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006 (Revision 1.0). Standard 2011 Census data will be output based on this classification. This revision of ANZSIC was developed to provide a more contemporary industrial classification system. Issues such as changes in the structure and composition of the economy, changing user demands and compatibility with other major international classification standards were taken into account. For more information see the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006 (Revision 1.0) (cat. no.1292.0). Australian Standard Classification of Cultural and Ethnic Groups (ASCCEG), Second Edition, Revision 1 Responses to the ancestry question in the 2011 Census are classified using the Australian Standard Classification of Cultural and Ethnic Groups (ASCCEG), Second Edition, Revision 1. This revision of the classification is part of a periodical review process, that aims to reflect the changes to Australia's ethnic profile brought about by changing migration patterns. For more information see the Australian Standard Classification of Cultural and Ethnic Groups (ASCCEG), Second Edition, Revision 1 (cat. no.1249.0). Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL), Second Edition, Revision 1 The Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL), Second Edition, Revision 1 is used in the 2011 Census to code responses to the question 'Does the person speak a language other than English at home?'. This revision of the classification is part of a periodical review process that aims to reflect changes to Australia's language profile. The review also enabled improvements to the classification in terms of language coverage (particularly for Australian Indigenous Languages) and the grouping of certain languages. For more information see the Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL). Second Edition, Revision 1 (cat. no. 1267.0). Australian Standard Classification of Religious Groups (ASCRG), Second Edition, Revision 1 The Australian Standard Classification of Religious Groups (ASCRG), Second Edition, Revision 1 is used in the 2011 Census to code responses to the religion question. The ASCRG was created to satisfy wide community interest in the religious affiliations of the Australian population and to meet a growing statistical and administrative need. Analysis of 2006 Census data highlighted the need for a minor review of ASCRG to ensure it would be as up to date as possible for use in the 2011 Census. For more information see the Australian Standard Classification of Religious Groups (ASCRG), Second Edition, Revision 1 (cat. no. 1266.0). Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC), Second Edition, Revision 1 The Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC), Second Edition, Revision 1 is used in the 2011 Census to code responses to the Country of Birth of Person question. This revision of the classification is part of a periodical review process that aims to reflect changes to the international geographic landscape. For more information see the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC), Second Edition, Revision 1 (cat. no. 1269.0). Geography From July 2011 the ABS will progressively replace the current Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) with the new Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS). The ASGS will be used for the 2011 Census of Population and Housing, but data will be available for Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) as a transitional unit for 2011 only. Data will also be available via a customised data request for those ASGC regions that are built directly from SLAs. The ABS anticipates that all its spatial data will be based on the ASGS by 2014. Regions of the ASGS The ASGS brings together, under the one umbrella, all the regions used by the ABS to output data. They are divided into two broad categories: 1. ABS structures: those regions which are defined and maintained by the ABS. 2. Non-ABS structures: those regions defined and maintained by other organisations, but for which the ABS supplies data. The ABS structures are a hierarchy of regions developed for the release of particular ABS statistics. They are described below. ABS Regions Mesh Blocks are the smallest geographical area. There are approximately 347,000 covering the whole of Australia. They broadly identify land use such as: residential, commercial, agriculture and parks etc. Residential and agricultural Mesh Blocks usually contain 30 to 60 households. Mesh Blocks are the building block for all the larger regions of the ASGS. Only limited Census data, i.e. total population and dwelling counts will be released at the mesh block level. Statistical Areas Level 1 (SA1s) will be the smallest region for which a wide range of Census data will be released. They will have an average population of about 400. They will be built from whole Mesh Blocks and there will be approximately 55,000 SA1s covering the whole of Australia. Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2s) will have an average population of about 10,000, with a minimum population of 3,000 and a maximum of 25,000. The SA2s are the regions for which the majority of ABS sub-state intercensal data, (for example Estimated Resident Population and Health and Vital Statistics), will be released. There will be about 2,200 SA2s, built from whole SA1s. Statistical Areas Level 3 (SA3s) are a medium sized region with a population of 30,000 to 130,000. They represent the functional areas of regional cities and large urban transport and service hubs. There will be approximately 330 SA3s built from whole SA2s. Statistical Areas Level 4 (SA4s) will be used for the release of Labour Force Statistics. There will be approximately 90 SA4s built from whole SA3s. Greater Capital City Statistical Areas and Significant Urban Areas define the major cities and towns of Australia with a population over 10,000. They will contain the urban area itself and any likely growth in the next 15 years, plus any immediately associated semi-rural development. Urban Centres/Localities, Section of State and Remoteness Areas will be broadly comparable to previous Censuses. Indigenous Regions, Areas and Localities are designed for the presentation of Indigenous data. At the Indigenous Locality level it is possible to identify data on particular Indigenous Communities. Non-ABS Regions Non-ABS structures will be approximated or built directly from Mesh Blocks or SA1s. The Non-ABS structures include such important regions as: Local Government Areas (LGAs), postal areas, state gazetted suburbs, and electoral divisions. LGAs remain part of the ASGS and the ABS will continue to support LGAs with the data it currently provides. The diagram below summarises the overall structure of the ASGS. Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Release of the ASGS The ABS published the ASGS manual with the boundaries, labels and codes for the Statistical Area units and Capital Cities in December 2010. The ASGS will come into effect on the 1 July 2011. The Non-ABS structures will be released at the time of the 2011 Census; this is to ensure that the Census is released on the most up to date boundaries available. Urban Centres and Localities, Section of State, Remoteness and Significant Urban Areas will be released after the 2011 Census as they require an analysis of Census data to be developed. Data on Statistical Local Areas will still be available for the 2011 Census however, for 2012 and beyond, the ASGC will no longer be published. The regions defined in the ABS structures will not change until the next Census in 2016, although the Non-ABS structures will be updated annually. If you have any questions regarding the ASGS please email geography@abs.gov.au Summary of changes to variables from 2006 to 2011 This section outlines changes that have been made to variables since the 2006 Census. It includes details of new variables for the 2011 Census and those variables which are no longer included. It describes changes to names, mnemonics and classifications. Further detail is available in the Glossary. New and Revised Classifications
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