USING THE INDIGENOUS WELLBEING FRAMEWORK

This framework has been developed to assist the ABS in providing enhanced Indigenous statistical information. In 2007, the ABS committed to developing a framework for the measurement of Indigenous wellbeing in Directions in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics (cat. no. 4700.0). The initial development of the framework considered a broad range of both Australian and international work, including Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage, COAG Closing the Gap targets, the Canadian Index of Wellbeing and the Maori Statistics Framework. Further, consultation and collaboration with Indigenous researchers and other stakeholders helped to shape the draft framework. While no single representation of a framework is likely to satisfy the needs of all stakeholders, the interpretation presented here is generally representative of feedback received to date. It is expected that over time, this framework will evolve to more comprehensively reflect an agreed structure for Indigenous wellbeing.

The framework will be used by the ABS to guide the collection and analysis of statistics on Indigenous people and inform the future development of appropriate statistical measures, by being used to:

• identify gaps in data for possible inclusion in future surveys; and
• provide a structure for reporting information from census, surveys and administrative data.

The framework can be used as an holistic guide for areas to consider when measuring Indigenous wellbeing and reviewing information priorities. In this context, the framework may be useful to organisations and researchers as a tool to use when considering statistical data collection, the interrelationships of individuals with their social and physical environments, and conducting analysis to identify data gaps. The ABS encourages its use by other organisations as a concept map for the measurement of wellbeing.

When using the framework it is recommended that the elements are used in reference to individuals rather than households. Some elements of the framework may not lend themselves to being collected in traditional statistical collections and some elements may not be able to be measured at all. This in no way means that these concepts are not important to the wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Characteristics of individuals measured by elements of the framework may include items of little relevance to some people, depending on their own life circumstances. In order to balance this, the framework will include elements which could be interpreted in different ways and may need to be used selectively as circumstances warrant. An example of this could be the importance placed on speaking an Indigenous language.

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