1301.6.55.001 - Tasmanian Statistical News, Jun 2009

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 12/06/2009

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Contents In this issue What's New How Can We Help Recent Releases Subscribe Me About this Release	WHAT'S NEW PLANNING FOR THE 2011 CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING IN TASMANIA The five-yearly Population Census is a huge logistical undertaking with many challenges such as: counting vulnerable groups accurately (homeless, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and migrants), overcoming physical barriers (secure apartment buildings, remote areas and isolated dwellings), and finding the resources to support operations (recruitment of census collectors, access to meeting rooms for public awareness presentations and training). A key aspect of the ABS 2011 Census planning is the Census Engagement Strategy, which aims to increase support for the Census across the community to achieve the best possible count. Over the coming year, ABS staff will be visiting various parts of Tasmania to gather local intelligence and share ideas for addressing challenges in field collection. We will be seeking opportunities to work with organisations and community groups to progress this strategy. In addition, a small team from the ABS Office in Tasmania will be examining state geography as part of the design of Census collector workloads from late-2009. This team may be in contact with various government agency planning areas, real estate companies, property developers and other holders of information to discuss recent building approvals, land developments and other impacts on dwelling counts. Census data play a central role in determining funding allocations to local governments and is an important resource for planning carried out by governments, organisations and individuals. ABS contact with local representatives in Tasmania will help produce statistics that are accurate and paint a clear picture of communities. For further information contact Libby O'Toole on (03) 6222 5853 or email tasmania.statistics@abs.gov.au, or check out our 2011 Census of Population and Housing Local & Regional Engagement Strategy brochure (cat. no. 2911.0.55.001). UPCOMING FREE SEMINARS Our seminar program, formerly known as the Tasmanian CUPS (Community of Users and Producers of Statistics) seminars, is free and well-attended. Two seminars coming up in the next few months are: Innovation Measurement - Anthony Arundel will talk about the Tasmanian Innovation Census project and recent national and international developments in innovation measurement and statistics. Date: 2 July 2009 Time: 10am-11am Venue: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 200 Collins St, Hobart The LIST - Stephen Godfrey will talk about the LIST (Land Information System Tasmania): a whole of government service that delivers integrated land information online. Date: November 2009 Further details, including time and venue, to be advised closer to the date. If you wish to attend or would like more information please email: tasmania.statistics@abs.gov.au. UPCOMING TRAINING: TURNING DATA INTO INFORMATION Overview: Develops skills in interpreting and analysing data and communicating information clearly and effectively. Analytical thinking enables data to be transformed into meaningful information. Relevant messages are extracted to meet objectives. Understanding the issue, analysis tools and techniques, clearly presenting conclusions. Format: 2 day workshop Who should attend: People working with data who wish to extract relevant information and communicate that information to a variety of audiences, e.g. through written reports. Course Outcomes: Understanding how the collection and compilation of data affect its usefulness, quality and relevance. Ability to draw conclusions from the analysis, to communicate results effectively, and to present tables and graphs. Recognise possible pitfalls in analysis Cost: $750 (inc. GST) per person Date: 22 & 23 July 2009 Venue: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 200 Collins Street, Hobart If you wish to enrol or want more information please email: tasmania.statistics@abs.gov.au. NATIONAL HEALTH SURVEY - TASMANIAN RESULTS The National Health Survey of 2007-08 examines key health issues in Australia. Below we report on the Tasmanian results for key health risk factors: obesity, alcohol consumption, and smoking. Overweight or Obese Using the Body Mass Index (BMI) approach, the ABS found that 65.6% of adult males and 62.4% of adult females were overweight or obese in Tasmania. When looking at the age pattern of overweight or obese persons aged 18 years and over, the highest proportions in Tasmania were in the older age groups of 65+ years for both males and females, 78.0% and 73.3% respectively. Alcohol consumption In Tasmania, approximately 19.0% of males aged 15 years and over, and 29.1% of females aged 15 years and over, reported that they consumed alcohol one week to less than 12 months prior to the survey. In the week prior to the survey, approximately 4.7% of people aged 15 years and over consumed alcohol at a level, which if continued, would place them at significantly increased health risk. This is a slightly lower than the national result of 5.2%. When looking at the age pattern of high risk drinking, the highest proportion for males (9.2%) and females (9.8%) was reported for those aged 25-34 years. In Tasmania, of persons aged 15-17 years, approximately 27.2% of males and 41.0% of females had consumed alcohol one week to less than 12 months prior to the survey. This is the first time the National Health Survey has focussed on children’s alcohol consumption. Smoking In 2007-08, 23.9% of Tasmanians reported that they were current smokers. More males than females were current smokers (25.1% and 22.8% respectively). The proportion of smokers was highest in the 25-34 years age group for males (37.9%) and in the 18-24 years age group for females (42.0%). Children aged 15-17 were asked the smoking questions for the first time in the 2007-08 survey. In Tasmania, 6.5% of males in this age group were current smokers, while 12.1% of females in this age group were current smokers. A national summary of the results for these three key health risk factors, along with further details are available from National Health Survey: Summary of Results, Australia 2007-08 (cat. no. 4364.0). For further information at the state and territory level, see National Health Survey: Summary of Results; State Tables (cat. no. 4362.0). ABS DATA QUALITY FRAMEWORK The ABS Data Quality Framework (cat. no. 1520.0) was released 4 May, 2009. This framework provides the standards for assessing and reporting on the quality of statistical information. It is a tool which improves a user's ability to: decide whether a dataset or statistical product is fit for purpose (which in turn helps to identify data gaps); assess the data quality of seemingly similar collections; and interpret data. It can also assist those developing statistical collections to produce high quality outputs. The ABS Data Quality Framework is designed for use by a range of data users and providers in different settings, including government agencies, statistical agencies and independent research agencies. For example, the ABS Data Quality Framework will be used to assess the quality of performance indicator data linked to a number of National Agreements in key policy areas signed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in late 2008. For more information about the ABS Data Quality Framework, please contact the Methodology and Data Management Division, ABS (Canberra) by email: methodology@abs.gov.au or by telephone via the ABS National Information and Referral Service on: 1300 135 070. Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window.