GEARING UP...
Here at the ABS ACT Regional office we are gearing up for the 2011 Census with a number of initiatives underway.
On 8 September 2009 we participated in a half day workshop organised by the Chief Minister's Department on Indigenous data. We spoke about the importance of identifying as Indigenous on the ABS Census as well as other ABS surveys and the different forms the question might take. We also presented some statistics on the ACT Indigenous population taken from the 2006 Census. Further presentations are planned in the coming months with various sections of the ACT Indigenous community as part of our goal to reduce the non-response rate to the Indigenous question on the Census. There were 3,873 persons who identified as Indigenous in the 2006 Census and this figure has been greatly debated by various groups within the community. The ABS is working towards the most accurate count possible for the 2011 Census and the assistance of the ACT community is critical to this goal.
There are also plans to run presentations for the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse community (CALD) in the ACT in the near future. These will focus on the importance of identifying country of birth, language spoken at home and proficiency in English on the Census form as well as showcasing some ACT statistics on the CALD community in the regions. In the 2006 Census, 27% of people in the ACT put a country other than Australia as their country of birth and 19% recorded that they spoke a language other than English at home.
In the next 6 months, we also hope to make contact with organisations working with other significant groups within our community including the homeless, university students, military personnel and people living in 'gated' or 'secure access' apartments.
In parallel to these activities, we have also commenced our Workload Design process. In this process the ABS seeks to ascertain new or changing housing developments in the ACT and the surrounding regions in order to recruit the optimum number of collectors for the Census 2011. This involves looking at new development plans and building approvals and 'parcelling' these areas up into 'Collector Districts' ready for collectors to hand out Census forms. Occasionally it means getting in a car and physically counting new buildings so look out for us on the road!
We are greatly assisted in this by ACT Planning and Land Authority and the regional councils who provide us with local maps and plans for new developments.
If you would like any information or would like us to come and talk to your group or community organisation, please send an email to mariette.oconnell@abs.gov.au.
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