4240.0.55.002 - National Early Childhood Education and Care Collection: Data Collection Guide, 2012  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 13/03/2013   
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STATISTICAL AREA LEVEL 1 (SA1)

Technical name: Address – statistical area, level 1 (SA1) code (ASGS 2011 N(11)
METeOR identifier: 457287
METeOR link: <http://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/457287>
METeOR definition: A designated region representing the smallest unit for the release of Census data used for describing a location, as represented by a code.

Scope

Inclusions: For all children enrolled in a preschool program:

  • The area of usual residence of the child's parent or guardian, with whom the child spends the majority of their time.

Exclusions:
  • The Statistical Area level 1 (SA1) of the post office box of the child's parent or guardian.
  • The area of usual residence for any other parent or guardian of the child that is not the parent or guardian with whom the child spends the majority of their time.
  • Children not enrolled in a preschool program.

Underlying Concepts

Concept: Statistical Area level 1 (SA1) ASGS 2011.
Nominal definition: Area of usual residence is the place where the child has lived or intends to live for six months or more from the reference date of the data collection, as represented by a geographical area code (SA1).
Operational definition: Area of usual residence is the place where the child's parent or guardian lives, as represented by a geographical area code (SA1). The address should be reported for the parent or guardian with whom the child spends the majority of their time. The child's parent or guardian must be asked to identify the address on the child's behalf and the service provider should record this on the child's enrolment record.
Supporting data elements: The following data elements are used to ascertain the child's area of usual residence and to geo-code an address to SA1 for this data element:

Conceptual issues:
  • By recording the geographic location of the child's 'area of usual residence', this information can be used to determine the socio-economic status of the area in which the child's parent or guardian lives. This information assists in the derivation of disadvantage status and the disaggregation of Indigenous children by geographic location.
  • Statistical Area level 1 (SA1) ASGS 2011 also enables disaggregation of data by remoteness area.
  • Statistical Area level 1 (SA1) ASGS 2011 is derived from the data elements outlined above. Jurisdictions wishing to undertake their own coding should contact the ABS for further information about the correct use of geography correspondences.
  • Operationally, the area of usual residence of the child's parent or guardian are recorded as it is assumed that the child lives with the parent or guardian and it is infeasible for children in scope of this collection to self-report. It is also not operationally possible to confirm whether or not the address provided on the service provider records is the place that the parent or guardian has or intends to live for 6 months or more, in accordance with the nominal definition of 'usual residence'. Operationally, the Statistical Area level 1 (SA1) - ASGS 2011 should reflect that of the parent or guardian with whom the child spends the majority of their time.

The Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS)
  • The Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) has replaced the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC). For further information to assist you to move from the ASGC to the ASGS please refer to the ABS website at <https://www.abs.gov.au/geography>.

Statistical Area Level 1 (SA1)
  • The SA1s have been designed as the smallest unit for the release of Census data. SA1s are built from whole Mesh Blocks. Whole SA1s aggregate directly to SA2s in the Main Structure, as well as all of the Non-ABS Structures except Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Tourism Regions. SA1s do not cross state or territory borders. There are approximately 55,000 SA1s. In aggregate, they cover the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps.

Standard Jurisdictional Output Categories

Classification Scheme: Australian Statistical Geography Standard 2011
Representation class: Code

Statistical Area Level 1

Data type: Number
Format: N(11), for example: 40520301234
Maximum character length: 11
Supplementary values:
    19999998999 - New South Wales: unknown SA1
    29999998999 - Victoria: unknown SA1
    39999998999 - Queensland: unknown SA1
    49999998999 - South Australia: unknown SA1
    59999998999 - Western Australia: unknown SA1
    69999998999 - Tasmania: unknown SA1
    79999998999 - Northern Territory: unknown SA1
    89999998999 - Australian Capital Territory: unknown SA1
    99999998999 - Other Territories: unknown SA1

2.1.20 LEGAL VALUE CHECKS


Edit specificationsEdit resolution

1. If field contains text.Provide a valid SA1 code, otherwise amend to state/territory SA1 supplementary value.

2.If character length of SA1 field is greater than 7.Provide a valid SA1 code, otherwise amend to state/territory SA1 unknown code.



Guide for Use

Counting rules:
  • Code the area of usual residence to SA1, using the child's parent or guardian's address line, postcode, suburb/town/locality name and state/territory, as obtained from the child's enrolment record.
  • The place of usual residence of the parent or guardian with whom the child spends the majority of their time should be used for coding to SA1. If the child spends 50% with one parent/guardian and 50% with the other, use the 1st residential address recorded.
  • Include those children who are living outside of the jurisdiction's borders, if the child attends preschool within the jurisdiction. For example, a child living in Queanbeyan that attends a preschool within Canberra would be recorded within the ACT jurisdictional data set, not the NSW data set.
  • For children boarding at a boarding school, report the SA1 code for the area of usual residence of the child's parent or guardian, not the boarding school.

Classification Definitions

Unknown SA1 codes
For use when the address of the child's parent or guardian is not known or incomplete, or where the jurisdiction is unable to accurately code to SA1. Where address information is unknown, the ABS requests that jurisdictions identify the reason for the unknown response and document any follow-up processes undertaken.

Other Information

Related aggregate data elements: No related aggregate data element.



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