2902.0 - Census Update (Newsletter), Dec 2005  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 23/12/2006   
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Census Corner

Thank you - your views really do count

Michael Beahan - Director of Census Products and Services

The Census is a nationally important event and is a vital planning tool for government, business and the community.

It is for this reason I’d like to thank you all for contributing your views on our proposals for 2006 Census products and services outlined in information paper Census of Population and Housing - Proposed Products and Services (cat. no. 2011.0), either by attending one of our consultation sessions or through submitting a questionnaire.

User consultation sessions began in Melbourne in early October and ended in our ACT regional office on 3 November. The sessions provided a great opportunity for us to network with our clients around the country and listen to their opinions.

The main points of discussion at the sessions were the results of the previous round of user consultation in 2004, priorities for the release schedule of Census data, changes to data concepts and classifications, proposed products and services, and the introduction
of mesh blocks, an innovative new approach to statistical geography in Australia.

Feedback provided by attendees at the sessions was overwhelmingly positive. In general, attendees were pleased with the change from place of enumeration to usual residence data, the introduction of the mesh block level of geography and the range of products that would be available.

We will be combining the feedback obtained from the sessions with the results of our recent client survey to ensure that the products and services produced from the 2006 Census are relevant and responsive to the needs of our users.

Currently we are putting together plans for our final round of sessions in late 2006 or early 2007. I look forward to seeing you then.

Mesh Blocks

It is planned that Mesh Blocks will become the basic building block for all statistical, political and administrative regions in Australia.

You can learn more about more mesh blocks by consulting Information Paper: Mesh Blocks (cat. no. 1209.0) To obtain a copy of the draft mesh block boundaries CD-ROM or to provide feedback on theses draft boundaries contact geography@abs.gov.au