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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 wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The program is led by the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics and is delivered by a number of areas of the ABS that provide statistical leadership in the collection, production and analysis of data for, and 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. As part of the ABS's statistical transformation agenda and in response to the growing demand for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics, a key focus of the program is developing innovative statistical solutions using a range of data sources to expand and enhance the suite of available Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander statistics are used by a wide range of stakeholders, including Commonwealth and state and territory policy agencies, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations, and the general community, to inform policy development and evaluation as well as provide an understanding of the overall wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The ABS actively engages with stakeholders to ensure the program is relevant and can support emerging information needs.

The program is committed to ongoing stakeholder engagement, with a focus on engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, in ABS planning, collection, production and dissemination activities to: ensure the best statistical outcomes for users; provide continued analysis and reporting to explain and improve understanding of data; and develop 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:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population estimates and associated life-expectancy estimates
• the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey
• the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey
• 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
• coordination and promotion of improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander statistics from administrative collections.

• continue to disseminate results from the 2012-13 Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey - ongoing to end of 2015
• disseminate results from the 2014 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey - ongoing to 2016
• support the 2016 Census of Population and Housing planning, enumeration and dissemination of results - ongoing to 2018
• develop an information model and statistical framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics, to improve frequency, efficiency and relevance of statistics for and about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population - ongoing
• explore and test new methods to enhance the suite of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics - ongoing
• work with stakeholders to ensure informed use of ABS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander statistics and determine future information requirements - ongoing
• build stronger relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations through the Indigenous Community Engagement Strategy and Round Table for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics, to increase data quality, statistical capability and to manage provider load - ongoing.