ABS NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS
NatStats 2010 Conference
Australian Health Survey
APA Conference 2010
A Guide for Using Statistics for Evidence Based Policy
2011 Census Countdown
Information Paper: Census of Population and Housing -- Proposed Products and Services
Demography News, Aug 2010
Crime and Justice News, 2010
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
NatStats 2010 Conference
Registration closing soon
NatStats 2010 will be held from 15 - 17 September 2010 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour.
In line with the overall themes for the conference, "Measuring what counts: economic development, wellbeing and progress in 21st century Australia", conference speakers will explore drivers of economic and related social change that are shaping Australia's progress, identify the challenges facing Australia in the coming decades, and will highlight the importance of policies and strategies in understanding and responding to these challenges. The role that a statistical framework will play in enabling a greater understanding of these challenges, in forming research and public debate, and in helping to develop practical responses, will also be discussed.
NatStats 2010 Keynote Speakers include Dr Ken Henry AC, Secretary to the Commonwealth Treasury, will deliver the opening plenary address at the conference and the Hon Dr Geoff Gallop AC, Director of the Graduate School of Government at the University of Sydney, will deliver a presentation focused around improving the wellbeing of Australians.
Other Speakers include:
Mr Phillip Lowe, Assistant Governor, Reserve Bank of Australia
Ms Martine Durand, OECD Chief Statistician and Director, Statistic Directorate
Ms Jane Halton PSM, Secretary of the Department of Health and Ageing
Mr Geoff Allen AM, Chairman, Australian Statistics Advisory Council
Prof Paul Cheung, Director, Statistics Division, United Nations
Dr David Gruen, Executive Director, Macroeconomic Group, Treasury
Ms Dorte Ekelund, Executive Director of the Major Cities Unit at Infrastructure Australia
Mr Paul McClintock AO, Chairman, COAG Reform Council
Mrs Heather Ridout, Chief Executive, Australian Industry Group
Dr Lynne Williams, Under Secretary, Department of Treasury and Finance (Victoria)
Dr Doug McTaggart, Chief Executive, QIC
Mr Gary Banks, Chairman of the Productivity Commission
For a full list of confirmed speakers and program please visit www.nss.gov.au/natstats2010 or email natstats@nss.gov.au .
Official NatStats 2010 Sponsors
Bronze Sponsor Gala Dinner Sponsor
Official NatStats 2010 Supporters
Follow NatStats 2010 on Twitter 
Australian Health Survey
BIGGEST EVER
The health of Australians will be getting its most comprehensive check-up ever, with the announcement of the Australian Health Survey to be conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The survey is being planned in close consultation with the Department of Health and Ageing and the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
It will include new and better measures of what Australians are eating and how physically active they are. It will also collect other health information, such as whether people have been diagnosed with arthritis or heart disease.
In another first, the survey will also measure chronic disease risk factors such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
The survey will also ask people to consider a visit to a pathology centre so that information on health risks factors can be derived from blood and urine samples. This will give a more accurate picture of the number of Australians with health issues such as high cholesterol, diabetes risk or poor nutritional status.
Around 50,000 people across Australia will be asked to take part in the survey, which is planned to start in April 2011.
Further information is available on
The Australian Health Survey home page.
APA Conference 2010
Registration available now online - Early bird discounts close Friday 3 September
The 15th Biennial Australian Population Association (APA) Conference will be held from Tuesday 30 November to Friday 3 December 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise.
The theme of the conference will be
the impacts of generational change.
The Australian Population Association invites you to join some of Australia's principal demographic thinkers and contribute to the debate. Should Australia continue to allow a large overseas migrant intake and what are the consequences? Will current high fertility levels continue into the future? Can we overcome potential impacts on living standards by working harder and smarter?
Highlights of the 2010 national conference program include:
- W.D. Borrie Lecture to be given by Dr Don Rowland on the theme: Policies and predicaments in global ageing
- Eminent keynote speakers
- Panel discussions
- Special presentation from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on challenges, planning and reforms to Australia’s temporary and permanent migration programs
- A range of plenary and concurrent sessions covering key population and demographic issues, and
- A joint session with APA / PANZ / Asia Pacific.
With registration costs starting at $495 (or $280 for day registration), this represents excellent value.
Trade displays and a wide range of sponsorship opportunities are still available, and can be secured by contacting the Conference Manager - Event Solutions.
See the APA Conference website for program details, sponsorship opportunities and to register on-line now.
Register now
A Guide for Using Statistics for Evidence Based Policy
A Guide for Using Statistics for Evidence Based Policy is now available on the ABS website.
The Guide provides useful information about how statistics can be used to make informed policy decisions, and includes the following information:
- What is evidence based decision making?
- How good statistics can enhance the decision making process
- Using statistics for making evidence based decisions
- Data awareness
- Understanding statistical concepts and terminology
- Analyse, interpret and evaluate statistical information
- Communicate statistical findings
- Evaluate outcomes of policy decisions.
The Guide is available under the Federal Government theme page on the ABS website which is accessible via the 'Understanding Statistics' link on the left hand navigation bar then 'Information for You' then 'Federal Government'. Alternatively, access the guide via the above link.
2011 Census Countdown
In less than one year from now, the ABS will be conducting the 16th Census of Population and Housing on 9 August 2011, marking 100 years of Census taking in Australia. Data from the Census has long supported planning, decision-making and funding at all levels of government, and is behind the services and facilities you use in your community every day. This Census will be the largest peace time logistical exercise undertaken in Australia's history and a lot of planning must go into making it a success.
The Queensland Census Management team recently celebrated "One Year Until Census" with the rest of the Queensland ABS Regional Office. ABS staff across the country have been working diligently behind the scenes designing urban and rural area census collector workloads, as well as developing strategies to ensure specific population groups are counted accurately. In Queensland, these groups include travellers, the homeless, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the mining industry, ethnic groups and occupants of secure apartment buildings.
There has been considerable emphasis placed on improving on the enumeration of Queensland's Indigenous population in the 2011 Census. Additional resources have been allocated to Indigenous Enumeration, allowing Local Engagement Managers in Mt Isa, Cairns and Mackay to build the relationships which will provide the foundation for a more accurate count of the Indigenous population in Queensland.
It has long been known that having good quality field staff is paramount to the success of the Census. District Manager positions will be advertised in October 2010, followed by Area Supervisors in February 2011 and then Census Collectors in April 2011. If you are interested in undertaking one of these roles, or know of someone who would be interested, check the Careers page on the ABS website or your local newspaper around these times for details on how to apply.
For more information about the planning for the 2011 Census, please see the brochure 2011 Census of Population and Housing Local & Regional Engagement Strategy (cat. no. 2911.0.55.001) or contact the Queensland Census Management Unit on 1800 334 696. |
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Information Paper: Census of Population and Housing -- Proposed Products and Services
Information Paper: Census of Population and Housing -- Proposed Products and Services, 2011 (cat. no. 2011.0) was released on 29 July 2010.
The Census of Population and Housing provides a wealth of information about Australia's population and the dwellings in which we live. The next Census is scheduled for 9 August 2011.
Planning is well underway for the 2011 Census output program. We are committed to releasing the results of the Census through a wide range of products and services designed to make it easy for you to access the data you need.
The first results from the 2011 Census will be released in June 2012.
The key goals of the 2011 Census output program are to:
- provide high quality data in a timely manner
- make the data available through a wide range of products to suit the varying needs of clients
- deliver rich applications early in the output cycle to maximise the value of the data
- use the internet as the primary channel for dissemination so we can reach the widest possible audience
- make improvements to the stability and speed of our on-line applications
- use state-of-the-art maps for navigation and visualisation of Census data
- ensure Census results are available to all users in a fully accessible web environment
- make it easier to navigate your way around our website and find what you need.
The release of this information paper marks the start of a wide consultation program. We encourage you to read through the proposals in this paper and visit
ABS Betaworks for a glimpse of what the products might look like. While you are there, please complete the short on-line survey and give us feedback. Your input will ensure that we continue to develop our output products so they meet your data needs.
We will be conducting user information sessions around Australia later this year to discuss our proposals with you in more detail. Please come along in person and share your views on the proposed 2011 Census output product range. Session times will be advertised on the ABS website.
If you need clarification or more information, please send email to
census.software@abs.gov.au.
Thank you in advance for your input and support for the 2011 Census.
Demography News, Aug 2010
Demography News, Aug 2010 (cat. no. 3106.0) was released on 17 August 2010.
Demographic statistics provide measures of the Australian population, its size, growth, composition and geographic distribution, as well as the components that shape population change: births, deaths and migration.
This newsletter provides information about the latest demographic research and analysis being undertaken by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Crime and Justice News, 2010
Crime and Justice News, 2010 (cat. no. 4500.0) was released on 29 July 2010.
Crime and Justice News is the annual newsletter of the National Centre for Crime and Justice Statistics (NCCJS) at the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Crime and Justice News provides information on current and upcoming projects, snapshot data from recent NCCJS publications, and information about current issues in the Crime and Justice sector.
Interested readers are also invited to visit the Crime and Justice Theme Page on the ABS web site for information on the above, links to crime and justice publications and resources, and further details about accessing and using crime and justice statistics.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Newly developed Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) pages have been added on the
ABS website.
The FAQs have largely been designed to improve access, use and understanding of ABS statistics. This assistance will help target essentially the 'tourist' category of user, who is not familiar with ABS terminology, statistical concepts, or organisation of the ABS website. It also aims to achieve the following benefits:
- Easier access to ABS statistics;
- facilitate correct use of data for known issues e.g. homelessness statistics;
- assistance in finding currently topical or 'in the news' data, - particularly relevant for journalists;
- targeted suites of FAQs for specific customer groups e.g. small business, government, librarians;
- improve search outcomes and customer satisfaction;
- support NIRS and other ABS staff in assisting clients with common queries, and ensure consistency in responses;
- reduce user-dissatisfaction with ABS website experience; improve customer interactions with and perceptions of the ABS;
- reduction in repeat enquiries fielded by NIRS; and
- support the National Statistical Service (NSS) objectives.
The FAQs are divided into three distinct categories:
- FAQs by topic;
- FAQs for you; and
- FAQs about the ABS.
To date the FAQs have been received positively with a future view to enhance and increase their use over time.
Quality Declaration 
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