NOTES
INTRODUCTION
This publication presents results compiled from household use of information technology (HUIT) data collected from the Multipurpose Household Survey (MPHS) for 2008-09 and the Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities (CPCLA) survey for April 2009.
ABOUT DATA ON HOUSEHOLD USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (HUIT)
Data on HUIT were previously collected by the ABS in the Population Survey Monitor (1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000), Survey of Education, Training and Information Technology (2001), General Social Survey (2002), National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey (2002), Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (2003), the Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities Surveys (2003 and 2006), and the Time Use Survey (2006). Data have been collected in the MPHS from 2004–05.
ABOUT THE 2008–09 MPHS
The MPHS, conducted as a supplement to the monthly Labour Force Survey (LFS) included a HUIT module in 2008-09. The survey collected information from 15,233 randomly selected private dwelling households across Australia of which approximately 13,035 or 86% fully responded. In the HUIT module, one randomly selected person per household was asked about their household's access to, and their own use of, computers and the Internet.
ABOUT THE APRIL 2009 CPCLA SURVEY
The CPCLA survey, conducted as a supplement to the monthly Labour Force Survey (LFS) included a HUIT module in April 2009. The survey collected information about the activities of 5,825 children living in selected households. In the survey, data were collected from any responsible adult in the household who was asked to respond on behalf of the children in the household. In the HUIT module, information on children's use of the internet and mobile phones was sought for a maximum of three children.
HISTORICAL COMPARISONS
MPHS
Due to the difference in the scope of previous surveys, some person level data on household use of information technology are not necessarily directly comparable across surveys for all years. For example, the HUIT data for 2003 were obtained from the Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC), and person level data from this survey only relate to persons with a disability aged 15 years or over, and are thus not comparable with results from MPHS 2008-09.
CPCLA
Data collected about information technology have changed between each iteration of this survey. In previous surveys questions were asked about general computer access, but in 2009 the focus changed to internet access and mobile phone use.
EFFECTS OF ROUNDING
Where estimates have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between the sums of the component items and totals.
MORE INFORMATION ON ABS INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) STATISTICS
Information about ABS activities in the field of ICT statistics is available free from the ABS website. Details of other ABS publications relating to the production and use of ICT in Australia can be found in paragraph 56 of the Explanatory Notes.
COMMENTS
The ABS welcomes comments and suggestions from users regarding future surveys of IT use by households and individuals. These comments should be addressed to the Director, Innovation and Technology National Statistics Centre, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Locked bag 10 Belconnen, ACT, 2616.
INQUIRIES
For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Siddhartha De on Canberra (02) 6252 6519.
Quality Declaration 
Print Page
Print All