2011.0 - Information Paper: Census of Population and Housing -- Proposed Products and Services, 2011  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 29/07/2010   
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What's changing?


We are aiming to make major improvements to the way you access 2011 Census data. In direct response to your feedback we will be making substantial changes to how you access Census data on the ABS website. Our new look website will:
  • be easier for you to find your way around
  • be simpler with fewer choices and links
  • have concise up-front information
  • have improved maps
  • still let you go straight to where you want to be.
Major Product changes for the 2011 Census

We are planning some new products for the 2011 Census and some old ones will no longer be produced.
    New Products

    TableBuilder Basic - (Build your own tables. Replaces CData Online.)

    TableBuilder Pro - (Build and customise your own tables with the full Census data set.)

    Products that will be discontinued for the 2011 Census

    Social Atlases

    The Atlases were a series of hardcopy publications containing a range of thematic maps and commentary that were available for purchase from the ABS. Instead of hardcopy atlases we will be making huge improvements to the on-line thematic mapping features of TableBuilder and you will have access to create you own unique combinations of thematic maps and take them away in a range of different formats.

    CData Online

    This product is not really being discontinued - it is just evolving into a more powerful and better product for 2011. Thousands of you have already experienced CData Online and know what it can offer. Existing users should start to get ready for some big improvements for the 2011 Census output. TableBuilder Basic will replace CData Online . All the data you used to be able to get in CData Online will be available in TableBuilder Basic - plus a whole lot more. Read more about TableBuilder Basic.

    Census Tables

    Last Census we allowed you to access specific Census tables in Excel format. For 2011, we will be making an even greater variety of tables available in TableBuilder Basic - and you will have more options for what format you would like the table in (Excel, csv, sdmx and more). Even better - if you decide a table of data isn't enough, you will be able to view the data on a map or a graph. Read more about TableBuilder Basic.

    MapStats

    Viewing Census data thematically on a map is a great way to visualise differences in the data. The feedback we got from you was that you liked MapStats last time, but you wanted to be able to download the data behind the map and take it away. TableBuilder Basic will let you do all of this. You will be able to choose which topic you are interested in and customise the geographic areas you want on your map. Once you've tailored the map to your specifications you will be able to export the image - or take the data (and boundaries) away in a wide range of formats. Read more about TableBuilder Basic.
Major changes to classification for the 2011 Census

There are some major changes to some of the underlaying classifications used in the 2011 Census. The biggest change you will see is the change around the geographical units used to output Census data.
    Australian Statistical Geography Standard

    The Australian Statistical Geography Standard will be used for the 2011 Census for the first time. It replaces the Australian Standard Geographical Classification used in the 2006 Census. Collection Districts are not included in the new geography. Statistical Area Level 1's (SA1's) are the new base unit of output geography for the 2011 Census. These units will be smaller and more consistent than Collections Districts and will enable you to access data for areas of around 400 people. For more information see: Discussion Paper: Census of Population and Housing - ABS Views on 2011 Census Output Geography, 2011 (cat. no. 2911.0.55.002).

    Occupation and Industry Classifications

    Are you interested in Industry and Occupation data? Then you should be aware that they will not be dual coded for the 2011 Census like they were for the 2006 Census. Minor revisions to ANZSIC and ANZSCO were implemented in 2008.
    • Industry of Employment will be coded to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006 (Revision 1), (cat. no. 1292.0). It will not be coded to the 1993 edition.
    • Occupation will be coded to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) 2006, First Edition, Revision 1, (cat. no. 1220.0). It will not be coded to the previous version, the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations.


    Other classifications that are scheduled for review between now and the release of 2011 Census data

    • Australian Standard Classification of Cultural and Ethnic Groups (ASCCEG)
    • Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC)
    • Australian Standard Classification of Religious Groups (ASCRG)
    • Australian Standard Classification for Languages used for LANP (ASCL)
You can see full details of all 2011 Census classifications in the Census Dictionary, 2011 (cat. no. 2901.0) due for release in May 2011.New 2011 Census Output Data Items

Although the questions on the 2011 Census form will be the same as 2006, a range of new data items will be created from the information we collect. The new items under consideration include:
Person Variables
  • Birthplace of Parents Indicator
  • Labour Force Status by Hours Worked
  • Student Status for Educational Attendance
  • Sex of Lone Parent
  • Year of Arrival in Australia in Ranges
  • Relationship as Reported for Couples
  • Child Type - Grandchild Factor
  • Relationship in Household - Grandchild Factor
Family Variables
  • Grandparent Families
  • Count of Dependant Children in Family
  • Count of Non-dependent Children in the Family
  • Count of all Children in the Family
  • Family/Non-Family Households
  • Labour Force Status of Parents
  • Count of Persons in Family
Dwelling Variables
  • Households with Indigenous Persons Indicator
  • Number of Persons Usually Resident in Dwelling
  • Tenure Type by Landlord Type
Please note, not all Census data items will be available in the full range of Census output products. Information on which data items will be included in specific products will be available in the Census Dictionary, 2011 (cat. no. 2901.0) due for release in May 2011. What's not changing?

The 2011 Census output strategy will largely build on what we did for the 2006 Census. We will continue to use the ABS website as the main channel for the release of Census data. Data from the Census will be released in two phases with some data items available in the first data release (June 2012) and others that require more extensive coding will be released as part of our second data release (October 2012). Like the 2006 Census output, person data from the Census will be released on a Usual Residence basis unless otherwise specified.
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