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Chapter 5 Statistical Region Structure
PURPOSE
The SR Structure has been in use since 1986 for the production of standard statistical outputs from Population Censuses and labour force surveys. Labour Force Surveys use 77 dissemination regions for the publication of labour force data. For further information on the current regions see Information Paper: Labour Force Survey Sample Design, November 2002 (cat. no. 6269.0).
SRs are maintained as a separate structure from the Main Structure because of the complex manner in which they relate to SSDs and SDs. For example, SRs can be whole SSDs, aggregates of SSDs, or part of an SSD. Similarly they can be whole SDs, aggregates of SDs or part of an SD. SRs can also be as large as a state or territory. SRs are aggregates of SLAs.
THE STRUCTURE
The SR Structure has six levels of hierarchy in census years, comprising in ascending hierarchical order: CDs-SLAs-SRSs-SRs-MSRs-S/Ts. In non-census years, with CDs undefined, it has only five levels of hierarchy (see ASGC Structural Chart).
The spatial units in adjoining levels relate to each other by aggregation and disaggregation. For example, SRSs aggregate to SRs while SRs are disaggregates of MSRs. The spatial units within each level of the SR Structure cover the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps.
Table
Detailed tables of the SR Structure are shown in - The Classification Structures.
For example:
- Statistical Region Structure - Broad
(showing three hierarchical levels: S/T-MSR-SR)
For example:
- Statistical Region Structure - Detailed
(showing five hierarchical levels: S/T-MSR-SR-SRS-SLA)
THE SPATIAL UNITS
Census Collection District (CD)
Statistical Local Area (SLA)
For discussion about these spatial units see Main Structure.
Statistical Region Sector (SRS)
SRSs consist of one or more adjoining SLAs and in all but three cases equate to one or more adjoining SSDs.
Example:
| SRS | SSD |
| Mornington |  |
| Peninsula Frankston City |
| Mornington |
| Peninsula Shire |
The three exceptions are:
- nine of the 17 SRSs in the Brisbane MSR are smaller than an SSD
- South and East Moreton Balance SRS in Queensland is smaller than an SSD. It equates with the SLA of Beaudesert (S) - Pt B
- North and West Moreton SRS in Queensland equates with two SSDs minus the SLA of Beaudesert (S) - Pt B.
Although SRSs are subdivisions of SRs, most SRSs equate with SRs. Exceptions to this generalised rule include the SRSs in the Hunter, Illawarra, Mackay-Fitzroy-Central West, Northern-North West, South and East Moreton, Darling Downs-South West, Tasmania and Northern Territory SRs and the SRSs in the Brisbane MSR. SRSs are used primarily for disseminating selected labour force statistics. SRSs have also been used to present a range of regional statistics not incorporated in the Main Structure.
Example:
| SR | SRS |
| Brisbane City Inner Ring | |
| City Core |
| Northern Inner |
| Eastern Inner |
| Southern Inner |
| Western Inner |
| Brisbane City Outer Ring | |
| Northern Outer |
| Eastern Outer |
| Southern Outer |
| Western Outer |
There are 88 SRSs in this edition of the ASGC.
SRS code
SRSs are identified by five-digit codes. Each code consists of S/T code (digit 1), MSR code (digit 2), SR code (digits 3-4) and SRS code (digit 5).
Example:
Mornington Peninsula (21281)
Only digits 1, 3-4 and 5 are required for unique identification within Australia.
Statistical Region (SR)
SRs consist of one or more SSDs in all but three cases. The three exceptions are:
- Brisbane City Inner Ring SR and the Brisbane City Outer Ring SR are smaller than an SSD. Collectively they form the Brisbane City SSD
- South and East Moreton SR comprises one SSD plus the SLA of Beaudesert (S) - Pt B
- North and West Moreton SR equates with two SSDs minus the SLA of Beaudesert (S) - Pt B.
In the capital cities of the five larger states of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, SRs are smaller than SDs and aggregate to form the respective capital city SDs. Outside of the capital cities in these S/Ts, SRs consist of one or more adjoining SDs.
In Tasmania, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory and Other Territories, SRs are the entire S/Ts.
There are 64 SRs in this edition of the ASGC.
SR code
SRs are identified by four-digit codes as follows:
Each code consists of S/T code (digit 1), MSR code (digit 2) and SR code (digits 3-4).
Example:
South and Eastern Moreton 3964
Gosford-Wyong 1156
The SR code 98 has been reserved for special purposes: Special Purpose ASGC Codes.
Major Statistical Region (MSR)
Each of the five larger states of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia consists of two MSRs. One MSR equates with the capital city SD and the other with the balance of the state. The other S/Ts have one MSR each with each MSR covering the entire area of the S/T.
There are 14 MSRs in this edition of the ASGC.
MSR code
MSRs are identified by two-digit codes for unique identification within Australia. Each code consists of an S/T code (digit 1) and an MSR code (digit 2). MSR code 1 represents the capital city MSR in the larger states while code 9 denotes the Balance of State MSR.
Example:
MSR
Sydney 11
Balance of New South Wales 19
Delimitation of MSR, SR, SRS
One of the main uses of these spatial units is to report statistics from the Labour Force Surveys. These units were established following analyses of data from Censuses of Population and Housing, consultation with users of labour force data, consideration of minimum regional population levels required to yield reliable estimates, and the need for consistency with other statistical collections.
Population considerations dictate that Tasmania, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory and Other Territories cannot be dissected into two MSRs (as in the other states) as their populations are too small.
The minimum population size of a region for which labour force statistics are published depends on a number of factors. The prime determinant is the reliability of data based on the population size of the region and the sampling fraction of the S/T. Unlike state and MSR level data, estimates at lower geographic levels are not constrained to conform to independently estimated population totals. Estimates for regions are also based on considerably smaller samples. For these reasons, regional estimates may be subject to high relative standard errors. Other factors that may be considered are how well the region fits with the classification structure of the S/T, how homogenous the labour force is in the region, and the uses to which the data may be put.
State/Territory (S/T)
For discussion about this spatial unit see Main Structure.
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