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4363.0.55.001 - Australian Health Survey: Users' Guide, 2011-13  
Latest ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 07/12/2012   
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HOUSING

Definition

This topic refers to the dwelling type and location and number of bedrooms of the dwelling in which respondents were enumerated; in most cases, usual place of residence; and to the respondent's tenure in that dwelling.

Population

Information was collected for all persons aged 18 years and over in the NHS.

Methodology

'Dwelling type' refers to the structure in which the household resides, as recorded by interviewers and based on their observations at the time of the interview. Information was recorded against the following categories:

  • separate house;
  • semi-detached/row or terrace house/town house(one storey; two or more storeys);
  • flat attached to house;
  • other flat or apartment (in 1 or 2 storey block; 3 storey block; 4 or more storey block);
  • caravan, cabin or houseboat;
  • improvised home, tent, camper out; or,
  • house or flat attached to shop, office, etc.

'Dwelling location' refers to where the dwelling was situated, as recorded by the interviewer. Categories for the item are:
  • caravan park;
  • marina;
  • manufactured home estate;
  • self-care accommodation for the retired or aged; or
  • other (including residential dwelling blocks and farms).

The selected adult was asked to report the number of bedrooms in the dwelling. The item refers to the number of rooms on the dwelling plans as bedrooms, even though they may be currently used for other purposes. Information from both these questions was recorded at the household level.

Respondents aged 18 years and over were also asked on behalf of themselves, their spouse/partner, or parent (if the respondent was an adult child living with a parent), whether the dwelling was:
  • being paid off;
  • owned outright;
  • being rented;
  • being purchased under a rent/buy or shared equity scheme;
  • being occupied under a life tenure scheme; or,
  • whether they paid board or lived there rent free.

Those who reported they paid rent or board (including those purchasing the dwelling under a rent/buy or shared equity scheme) were also asked who it was paid to (e.g; real estate agent, housing authority, parent).

Respondents were asked whether they had a landline telephone connected to their dwelling and whether it was listed in the White Pages.

Data items

The data items and related output categories for this topic will be available in Excel spreadsheet format from the Downloads page of this product.

Interpretation

Points to be considered in interpreting data for this topic include the following:
  • some respondents may not have been aware of the designated usage of rooms specified in building plans, and may have reported other rooms currently used as bedrooms; and,
  • Some care should be taken in relating the health characteristics of respondents with their housing characteristics, since information is not available from the survey to indicate their length of residence in that dwelling.

Comparability with 2007-08

Data is considered directly comparable between the 2007-08 and 2011-12 surveys.

Information about whether respondents had a landline telephone was not collected in 2007-08.

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