Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

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Census Data and Technical Services - Your Census Data "Link"

Between the input of data by the Data Processing Centre (DPC) and the collation of Census products, millions of cells of data pass through the work processes of the CDATS (Census Data and Technical Services) team. Six people make up the Canberra based team, whom provide the "link" between the DPC and other census areas.

The responsibilities of the CDATS team involve ensuring that the Census data, in its entirety, are loaded to the storage database in a logical and orderly manner. The CDATS unit shares the responsibility with the DPC for the vital task of checking and re-checking the accurate compilation of data into the 180 classifications that make up the 2001 Census output. It requires considerable time, effort and effective coordination to ensure that the entire process runs as smoothly as possible.

In addition to the loading and validation processes, the CDATS team is responsible for ensuring the stability of both the database and the tabulation system, so that the required data can be accessed quickly and accurately. Members of the team must have a good working knowledge of the various classifications used in the Census and of the conceptual issues associated with the collection, processing and dissemination of Census information.

The end result of the work undertaken by this team is a complete and secure database from which cross-classified tables can be derived quickly and easily. Once the CDATS team has completed the processes described above and has ensured the effective operation of the database and the tabulating software, the information is made available to the teams responsible for the creation of Census products, such as the Community Profiles and statistical publications. Simplistically, the CDATS team provides the "link" between the input and output processes. After "handover" the CDATS unit has a continuing role, maintaining and supporting the system and providing expert advice to users of the data as the situation warrants.