Education Statistics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples methodology

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2021

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This publication presents results from the 2001 to 2021 Census of Population and Housing (Census), the 2008 and 2014-15 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS), and the 2012-13 and 2018-19 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS).

For the respective Methodologies, refer to the following:

Census

NATSIHS

NATSISS

Table 1. Key methodology information about Census, NATSIHS and NATSISS
 Census of Population and Housing (Census)National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS)National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS)
ScopeAll people in Australia on Census night in private and non-private dwellings. Excludes foreign diplomats and their families.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of all ages living in private dwellings in non-remote and remote areas of Australia, including discrete Indigenous communities.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of all ages living in private dwellings in non-remote and remote areas of Australia, including discrete Indigenous communities.
SampleNot applicable.The 2018-19 NATSIHS had a sample of 10,579 fully responding people/6,388 households (see Methodology for more information).The 2014-15 NATSISS had a sample of 11,178 fully responding people/6,611 households (see User Guide for more information).
Collection MethodologyAn online or paper form self-completed by households or completed with interviewer assistance in some situations (e.g., Aboriginal and Torres  Strait Islander communities). See Census Methodology for more information.Computer-assisted personal interview.Computer-assisted personal interview.
Response rates and undercoverage

For the 2021 Census:

Item non-response to the Indigenous Status question: 4.9%.

Net Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander undercount (from the 2021 Census Post Enumeration Survey): 17.4%.

For the 2018-19 NATSIHS:

Household response rate: 73.4%.

Undercoverage:

67% of the in-scope Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

See Methodology for more information.

For the 2014-15 NATSISS:

Household response rate: 80.3%.

Undercoverage:

62% of the in-scope Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

See Explanatory Notes for more information.

Comparability of Census and survey data

Data collected from the Census and surveys are not comparable due to the differences in their scope and design.

In the Census, all people present on Census night are approached to participate so there is no weighting required, and no sampling error involved.

In the ABS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander surveys, only part of the total Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is approached to participate. Responses are weighted to make inferences about the whole population. As a result, surveys are subject to a degree of sampling error. The ABS publishes measures of sampling error for survey data that provide an indication of the accuracy of survey data. Further information about measures of error in sample surveys is available in Errors in Statistical Data.

Further information about the differences between the Census and surveys, and the advantages and disadvantages of each is available in Samples and Censuses.

Data definitions

Data definitions table

About ABS geography

The Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) provides a framework of statistical areas used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and other organisations to enable the publication of statistics that are comparable and spatially integrated. The ASGS provides users with an integrated set of standard areas that can be used for analysing, visualising, and integrating statistics produced by the ABS and other organisations. See Australia Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) edition 3 for further information about the ASGS.

The tables in this publication are presented by the following ASGS ABS Structures:

Main Structure 

  • State and Territory

Remoteness Structure

  • Major Cities of Australia, Inner Regional Australia, Outer Regional Australia, Remote Australia, Very Remote Australia, and Remote and Non-remote areas.

Indigenous Structure

  • Indigenous Regions (IREG), Indigenous Areas (IARE) and Indigenous Locations (ILOC).

Census data is presented in all of the above Geography Structures, while the survey data is limited to State and Territory and Remoteness. Further information about ABS statistical geography and a diagram of how the various ABS Structures interrelate is available in ASGS Edition 3 structures.

The Indigenous Structure is based on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population distribution in the broader Australian community, so is ideal for analysis of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander data. In the ASGS Indigenous Structure, Indigenous Locations (ILOCs) are the smallest available unit. These are combined to create Indigenous Areas (IAREs) and then Indigenous Regions (IREGs). For further information see: Indigenous Structure. The ASGS Diagram demonstrates how the different structures of the ASGS are related. 

Census data is also presented by the Non-ABS Structure of Local Government Areas. See Non ABS Structures for further information.