2085.0 - Microdata: Australian Census Longitudinal Dataset with Social Security and Related Information, experimental statistics, 2006-2011 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 23/08/2017  First Issue
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Image: Infographic about which Australians receive Newstart. Data repeated in text below.
Image: Infographic about who Australians on Newstart support and care for. Data repeated in text below.
Image: Infographic about housing arrangements for Australians on Newstart. Data repeated in text below.
Image: Infographic about what Australians on Newstart had studied. Data repeated in text below.
Image: Infographic about what work Australians on Newstart were doing. Data repeated in text below.
Image: Infographic explaining where the data about Australians on Newstart came from. Repeated in text below.



INSIGHTS FROM DATA INTEGRATION: AUSTRALIANS ON NEWSTART

The Newstart Allowance provides financial assistance to eligible 21 to 63 year olds who are looking for work or participating in approved activities to increase their chances of finding a job.


WHO RECEIVED NEWSTART ALLOWANCE?

4% of Australians aged 21 to 63 received Newstart in 2011.
59% of recipients were men. 41% of recipients were women.
The average age of people receiving Newstart: 40 years.


WHO DID THEY SUPPORT AND CARE FOR?

Almost 50% had dependent children.
18% were lone parents (73% mums, 27% dads).
14% cared for a person with a disability.


HOW DID HOUSING AFFECT THEIR LIVES?

Around 50% rented. Of these, 69% rented privately and almost 25% were public housing tenants.
Those renting privately were more than twice as likely to have changed address in the past year than those in public housing.


WHAT HAD THEY STUDIED?

Almost 40% had a non-school qualification (compared with 58% of Australians of the same age).

Most common qualifications:
17%: Certificate Level III & IV (compared with 20% of Australians of the same age).
7% had a Bachelor degree (compared with 18% of Australians of the same age).
2% had a Postgraduate degree (compared with 7% of Australians of the same age).

Study interests:
People on Newstart were twice as likely to have studied the Creative Arts, but around half as likely to have studied Education compared with other Australians of the same age.


WHAT WORK WERE THEY DOING?

Voluntary work in 2011
The mutual obligation requirements for people on Newstart encourage those aged 55 or more to do voluntary work and support those under 55 years to volunteer where it will help them to find work.
Overall, 20% of people on Newstart in 2011 did voluntary work. Of these 36% had also volunteered in 2006.

Volunteering increased with age:
15% of 21 year olds volunteered, increasing to 43% of 63 year olds (twice the Australian average).

Looking back: Paid work in 2006
52% of people on Newstart in 2011 were employed in 2006.
The most common occupation for men was Factory Process Workers (6%).
Women were most commonly Sales Assistants and Salespersons (13%).


WHERE DID THESE NUMBERS COME FROM?

A joint project between the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Department of Social Services, resulting in the integrated dataset; 'Microdata: Australian Census Longitudinal Dataset with Social Security and Related Information, experimental statistics, 2006–2011 (cat. no. 2085.0).

Figures in "Who received Newstart Allowance?" are from the DSS Social Security and Related Information (SSRI) linkage dataset, Sep 2011; and Australian Demographic Statistics, Sep 2011 (cat no. 3101.0).