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4363.0.55.001 - Australian Health Survey: Users' Guide, 2011-13  
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Contents >> Population characteristics >> Demographic and socio-economic characteristics

DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS

In addition to the specific health information collected, the 2011-12 AHS obtained a range of information describing the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the survey population. These characteristics can be linked with the health data obtained in the survey to analyse the health status and other health characteristics of particular groups in the community, e.g. overseas born, the aged, low income earners. For presentation in this publication, the characteristics obtained have been grouped under the following headings.

NHS and NNPAS:

  • Demographics;
  • Education;
  • Employment;
  • Income; and
  • Geographical classifications.

NHS only:
  • Health cards;
  • Housing; and
  • Family/household/income unit.

Only the more commonly used output data items available from the survey are outlined below. For a full list of demographic and socio-economic variables available, see the list of output data items available from the downloads tabs of the Australian Health Survey (cat. no. 4364.0.55.001).

Interpretation

Points to be considered in interpreting data for this topic include the following.
  • Summary characteristics of all usual residents of selected households were recorded from information supplied by any 'responsible adult' resident of the household (the ARA). Characteristics recorded were sex, age, marital status, whether currently attending school/educational institution, country of birth, year of arrival in Australia, Indigenous status and relationship to other household members.
  • Those selected as respondents for the survey were asked additional questions regarding their education, language, labour force, housing and income characteristics.
  • Within selected households, one adult and one child aged 0-17 years (where applicable) were enumerated in the NHS; 2-17 for NNPAS. If a dwelling contained only usual residents under the age of 18, no further information was collected.
  • The selected adult was randomly selected by the survey instrument, therefore in households with parents and adult children, the selected adult may have been one of those children.
  • In households with children under the age of 15, an adult was nominated by the household to respond about the randomly selected child - this person is referred to as the child proxy. This may have been the selected adult or another adult member of the household. In 2011-12, it was assumed that children aged 15 to 17 years would answer survey questions themselves, but parents who were not comfortable with that were able to answer the questions on their child's behalf. Output items are available to determine if the child or a proxy responded to the questions.
  • The selected adult was asked to provide general income information for each household member aged 15 years and over (total income and reference period), as well as more specific details about their own income.
  • Housing information was also obtained from the selected adult. Where appropriate, housing tenure takes into account the tenure of spouse/partner or parent; see the Housing section of this chapter for further details.

As a result of these arrangements, not all the data items described below are available for all adults, child proxies or children enumerated.

Although basic demographic information was collected about all household members in the 2001, 2004-05, 2007-08 and 2011-12 NHSs, processing arrangements in place in 2001 did not allow these details to be retained on the final survey data file. This data was retained for all persons from 2004-05 onwards.

Demographic characteristics

Age

Age as reported was recorded in single years. Standard output categories differ according to the topic to which the data relates. Age in five or ten year groups is most commonly used in survey output. Other non-standard groupings are available on request.

Sex

Male or female as reported.

Registered marital status

Registered marital status was recorded as reported for persons aged 15 years and over, in the following categories: never married, widowed, divorced, separated, married in a registered marriage, other - de facto, and other - single/not married.

Social marital status

Social marital status was derived for persons aged 15 years and over, and was classified as:
  • married - if living with another person in a couple relationship, which was reported as either a registered marriage or a defacto marriage. Included are persons living with a person of the same sex in a couple relationship; and,
  • not married - if not living with another person in a couple relationship. Includes persons living alone, with other family members, or in shared accommodation. Includes persons in a registered or defacto marriage whose partners are not usually resident in the household.

Country of birth

Each respondent was asked their country of birth, as well as that of their parents. Classified from reported country of birth to the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC), 2nd edition, 2nd Edition, Revision 2.03 (cat. no. 1269.0), a hierarchical classification based on the concept of geographic proximity. Standard output for this classification is discussed in Appendix 3: ABS Standard Classifications of this Users' Guide. Other groupings are available on request.

Year of arrival in Australia

This item refers to the year in which a person, reporting a country of birth other than Australia, first arrived in Australia to live for a period of one year or more. Individual year of arrival was recorded and can be grouped as required for output.

Indigenous status

Refers to whether the person is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin, as identified by an adult spokesperson within each household, i.e. not necessarily self-identified. Status is classified as Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and neither Aboriginal nor Torres Strait Islander.

Language mainly spoken at home

Obtained for persons 2 years and over, as reported. Language was classified at the finest level of the Australian Standard Classification of Languages 2005-06 (cat no. 1267.0). The abbreviated classification used in most standard output is shown in Appendix 3: ABS Standard Classifications of this Users' Guide.

Proficiency in spoken English

Persons aged 2 years and over who reported they mainly spoke a language other than English at home were asked how well they spoke English. Responses were recorded as reported by respondents against the categories:
  • very well;
  • well;
  • not well; or
  • not at all.

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