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ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER STATISTICS

OBJECTIVES

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics Program provides information essential to monitoring the social and economic circumstances of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The program also provides statistical leadership in the collection and analysis of data about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The program aims to improve the quality, timeliness and relevance of social, demographic and economic information on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

Key elements of the program include commitment to ongoing engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in ABS planning, collection and dissemination activities; assessing and improving the quality of statistics available from the Census of Population and Housing, surveys and administrative sources; analysis and reporting to explain and improve understanding of data; and development of strategies to maximise the effectiveness and efficiency of data collection and reduce respondent burden on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.


OUTPUTS

The main outputs of the program include:

• the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey
• the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey
• statistics on health and wellbeing from other ABS surveys, such as the Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population estimates and associated life-expectancy estimates
• Census of Population and Housing counts and characteristics, available to a small area level
• statistical leadership to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander statistics on population, mortality, health, housing, community services, education, employment, and law and justice
• ongoing commitment to appropriate engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the Indigenous Community Engagement Strategy and Round Table for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics
• provision of expertise, advice and data in supporting performance monitoring
• analytical reports and information papers to enhance understanding and use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander statistics, such as Census of Population and Housing: Understanding the Increase in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Counts, 2006-2011 (cat. no. 2077.0)
• coordination and promotion of improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander statistics from administrative collections.

• publish findings from the review of the Indigenous Status Standard conducted in 2013 - due 2014
• disseminate results from the 2012-2013 Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey - due 2014-15
• develop and conduct the 2014 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey and disseminate results - ongoing to 2016
• develop an efficient information model for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics, to improve frequency, efficiency and relevance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander statistics - ongoing
• work with clients to ensure informed use of ABS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander statistics - ongoing
• explore the analytical opportunities of the Australian Census Longitudinal Dataset in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - ongoing
• build stronger relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations through the Indigenous Community Engagement Strategy, to increase data quality, statistical capability and to manage provider load - ongoing.