2011.0.55.001 - Information Paper: Census of Population and Housing -- Products and Services, 2011  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 10/08/2012  First Issue
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

6. Changes Between the 2006 and 2011 Censuses



The following changes have occurred between the 2006 and 2011 Censuses:
MAJOR CLASSIFICATION CHANGES

There are some major changes to some of the classifications used in the 2011 Census, the largest of which is the change around geographical units used to output Census data. This is outlined below along with other classifications that have been revised since the 2006 Census:

For the full details of all 2011 Census classifications, refer to the Census Dictionary, 2011 (cat. no. 2901.0).

Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS)

The Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) will be used for the 2011 Census for the first time. It replaces the Australian Standard Geographical Classification used in the 2006 Census and does not include Census Collection Districts (CDs). The move to the new classification will lead to improvements in the quality of small area time series data from the Census and will enable better comparison between data from the Census and from other data sources that adopt the new geographic classification.

Statistical Area Level 1s (SA1s) are the new base unit of output geography for the 2011 Census and are approximately composed of aggregates of Mesh Blocks (MB). SA1s are smaller and more consistent than CDs and will enable users to access data for areas of approximately 400 people. The SA1 unit will aggregate to form the higher level units in the main structure of the ASGS. For the 2011 Census, statistics requested for user defined regions aggregated from MBs will not be available, however the ABS will continue to publish usual resident population and total dwelling counts at the Mesh Block level, as they were for the 2006 Census.

The following diagram compares the main structures of both the new and old geographies, as well as the number of spatial units at each level.


2011 Census (ASGS)
2006 Census (ASGC)
Australia
(1)
Australia
(1)
State/Territory
(9)
State/Territory
(9)
Statistical Area Level 4
(106)
Statistical Division
(69)
Statistical Area Level 3
(351)
Statistical Subdivision
(217)
Statistical Area Level 2
(2,214)
Statistical Local Area
(1,426)
Statistical Area Level 1
(54,805)
Collection District
(38,704)
Mesh Blocks
(347,627)



The change in classification means there will be an unavoidable break in time series. For the 2011 Census, the ABS will assist users to move to the ASGS while still meeting needs for time series data. The Statistical Local Area (SLA) is not a defined region in the new ASGS but will be available as a transitional unit for the 2011 Census only, to allow for comparison to the 2006 Census. Data will not be released for Statistical Local Areas for the 2016 Census. However, Census data for Local Government Areas (LGAs) will continue to be made available for the 2016 Census and beyond.

Refer to Appendix 11: Australian Statistical Geography Standard: Structure and Summary for Census for a diagram that depicts the output geographic areas.

For further information about the implementation of the ASGS for the 2011 Census output data, refer to Census of Population and Housing: Outcomes from the 2011 Census Output Geography Discussion Paper, 2011 (cat. no. 2911.0.55.003).

For the final range of products that will be available for the various levels of the ASGS, please refer to Appendix 10: 2011 Census Products by Geographic Availability.

Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), First Edition, Revision 1

Responses to the occupation-related questions in the 2011 Census will be classified using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), First Edition, Revision 1. Responses will not be classified using the previous version, the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations.

Revision 1 of ANZSCO was released in 2009 and included the addition of 24 new occupations (categories at the 6-digit level) and the deletion/merging of eight occupations. It also included minor changes to the classification structure and definitional changes for some occupations.

For more information, see the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), First Edition, Revision 1 (cat. no. 1220.0).

Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006, Revision 1

Responses to the Industry of employment related questions in the 2011 Census will be classified using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006 (Revision 1). Responses will not be classified using the 1993 edition.

The revision of ANZSIC was developed to provide a more contemporary industrial classification system. The revised classification takes into account issues such as changes in the structure and composition of the economy, changing user demands and compatibility with other major international classification standards.

For more information see the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006, Revision 1 (cat. no. 1292.0).

Australian Standard Classification of Cultural and Ethnic Groups (ASCCEG), Second Edition, Revision 1

Responses to the ancestry question in the 2011 Census will be classified using the Australian Standard Classification of Cultural and Ethnic Groups (ASCCEG), Second Edition, Revision 1. Responses will not be classified using the 2005 edition.

A minor review was conducted in 2011 to maintain the classification's relevance and usability, and to reflect the changes to Australia's cultural and ethnic profile brought about by changing immigration patterns. Following the review, one narrow group was added and the classification at the base four digit level was expanded from 231 to 275 cultural and ethnic groups. There have been no structural changes at the broad group level.

For more information see the Australian Standard Classification of Cultural and Ethnic Groups (ASCCEG), Second Edition, Revision 1 (cat. no. 1249.0).

Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL), Second Edition, Revision 1

The Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL), Second Edition, Revision 1 is used in the 2011 Census to code responses to the question 'Does the person speak a language other than English at home?' Responses will not be classified using the 2005 edition.

A minor review was undertaken in 2011 to update the classification in order to reflect changes to Australia's language profile. The review enabled improvements to the classification in terms of language covered (particularly for Australian Indigenous languages) and the grouping of certain languages. Revisions to the classification included renaming, deleting or re-describing languages, as well as the addition of 48 Australian Indigenous languages and 27 non-Indigenous languages to the ASCL. Appropriate entries have been added to the expanded structure and coding index.

For more information see the Australian Standard Classification of Languages (ASCL), Second Edition, Revision 1 (cat. no. 1267.0).

Australian Standard Classification of Religious Groups (ASCRG), Second Edition, Revision 1

The Australian Standard Classification of Religious Groups (ASCRG), Second Edition, Revision 1 is used in the 2011 Census to code responses to the religion question.

A minor review of the classification in 2011 resulted in minimal change. There have been no changes to the classification structure, however there have been some very minor changes to the coding index, such as the addition, deletion and renaming of some religious groups.

For more information see the Australian Standard Classification of Religious Groups (ASCRG), Second Edition, Revision 1 (cat. no. 1266.0).

Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC), Second Edition, Revision 1

The Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC), Second Edition, Revision 1 is used in the 2011 Census to code responses to the Country of Birth of Person question. Responses will not be classified using the 2008 version, the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC), Second Edition.

A minor review was undertaken in 2011 to reflect changes to the international geographic landscape. The Netherlands Antilles was dissolved in 2010 resulting in new countries, and South Sudan became an independent country in July 2011. Other minor revisions included renaming of countries, changes to the Population Statistics Index, Alternative Country Groupings and Supplementary codes.

For more information see the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC), Second Edition, Revision 1 (cat. no. 1269.0).

2011 CENSUS PRODUCT CHANGES

There will be some new products for the 2011 Census, while others will no longer be produced. The full range of Census products are detailed in Chapter 5: The 2011 Census Data Product Range.

New Products

TableBuilder Basic
Replaces CDATA Online.

TableBuilder Pro
Replaces Census TableBuilder.

Discontinued Products

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, the ABS has made vast improvements to the online thematic mapping features of TableBuilder and will allow users to create their own unique combinations of thematic maps and save these in a range of different formats.

2006 CDATA Online
This product has evolved into a more powerful and improved product for the 2011 Census – TableBuilder Basic. TableBuilder Basic replaces CDATA Online. All of the same data that used to be available in CDATA Online will be available in TableBuilder Basic, and more.

2006 TableBuilder
This product has evolved into a more powerful and improved product for the 2011 Census – TableBuilder Pro. TableBuilder Pro replaces 2006 TableBuilder. All of the same data that used to be available in 2006 TableBuilder will be available in TableBuilder Pro, and more.

Census Tables
For the 2006 Census, this product enabled users to access specific Census data in Excel worksheet format. For 2011, there will be a greater variety of tables available in TableBuilder Basic, and users will have more options for the output format of data (e.g. Excel, CSV, SDMX). Furthermore, in addition to accessing tables of data, users will be able to view the data on a map or graph.

MapStats
For the 2006 Census, this was a product that was designed to provide users with quick and easy access to thematically mapped Census statistics. The functionality of this product will be available in TableBuilder Basic, but will also enable users to download the data behind maps. Users can choose a topic of interest and customise the geographic areas to be included on the map. Once the map has been tailored to a user's specifications, the image (or data and boundaries) can be exported in a wide range of formats (e.g. KML).

NEW 2011 CENSUS OUTPUT DATA ITEMS
    Although the questions on the 2011 Census form are the same as those asked in 2006, the ABS has created a range of new data items from the information collected. The new data items are:


    Person Variables
    • Birthplace of Parents
    • Child Type (including grandchildren)
    • Educational Institution: Attendee Status
    • Hours Worked (ranges)
    • Labour Force Status and Hours Worked Not Stated
    • Number of Children Ever Born (ranges)
    • Relationship as Reported for Couples
    • Relationship in Household (including grandchildren)
    • Sex of Lone Parent
    • Year of Arrival in Australia (ranges)
    Family Variables
    • Count of All Children in Family
    • Count of Dependent Children in Family
    • Count of Non-Dependent Children in Family
    • Count of Persons in Family
    • Family Household Composition (Family)
    • Grandparent Families (data available via consultancy request)
    • Labour Force Status of Parents/Partners in Families
    • Same Sex Couple Indicator
    Dwelling Variables
    • Family Household Composition (Dwelling)
    • Indigenous Household Indicator
    • Mortgage Repayments (monthly) dollar values
    • Mortgage Repayments (monthly) dollar ranges
    • Number of Bedrooms in Private Dwelling (ranges)
    • Number of Motor Vehicles (ranges)
    • Number of Persons Usually Resident in Dwelling
    • Supported Accommodation Flag (data available via consultancy request)
    • Tenure and Landlord Type


    For the full details of all changes that have been made to variables since the 2006 Census, refer to the Census Dictionary, 2011 (cat. no. 2901.0).