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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Contents >> Collection Specifications >> Unit Record Level Data Instructions - Collection Specifications

UNIT RECORD LEVEL DATA INSTRUCTIONS

The 2012 URL data request templates for the National ECEC Collection are provided in Microsoft Excel spreadsheet format. The spreadsheet includes a tab titled "Metadata dictionary" which contains a complete listing of the 2012 data elements requested in the 2012 National ECEC collection. The ECEC entities of Child and Workers are in separate spreadsheet files, both of which also require Service provider data. As in previous annual collections, URL data for child records require the use of a statistical linkage key. In 2012, URL Worker records do not require a statistical linkage key.

Where jurisdictions are unable to collect all child level URL data for their jurisdiction, Aggregate data should also be supplied for service providers who cannot report URL level data. Jurisdictions should not report both URL and Aggregate data for any given service provider but ensure they are mutually exclusive. Refer to Chapter 2, Data Element Collection Instructions for further information on Aggregate template specifications. URL data and Aggregate data should be provided in separate files.


NEW GEOGRAPHY STANDARD

With the implementation of the new Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) from 1 July 2011, an additional column is included in the data template for the ASGS geographical area Mesh Block (MB), for both child and service provider. The ASGS Mesh Block classification is not included in the 2012 ECEC NMDS and is an additional requested data element. For information to assist with the move from the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) to the ASGS refer to the ABS website at <www.abs.gov.au/geography> or email the ABS at <education.statistics@abs.gov.au>.


NEW DATA ELEMENTS INCLUDED IN THE ECEC NMDS

Two new data elements have been included in the URL ECEC National Minimum Data Set (ECEC NMDS) for 2012.
Service provider organisation data elements:


Statistical Area level 1 (SA1) was included in the ABS data request in 2011 as a late addition due to impending phase out of Collection District (CD) codes as part of the change over from the ASGC Geography standard to the ASGS Geography standard. This data element has since been ratified for use in the 2012 ECEC NMDS.

Government funding type was included for testing in the 2011 ABS data request as an additional item. This data item has since been refined for the 2012 collection and included in the endorsed National Minimum Data Set (NMDS) for ECEC, with the aim of utilising the ABS 2012 National ECEC Collection for Productivity Commission reporting of preschool information within the Report on Government Services (RoGS), dependent on the outcomes on the investigations of the Children’s services working group (CSWG) sub-group, and its recommendations to the RoGS steering committee.


ADDITIONAL REQUESTED DATA ELEMENTS

Statistical linkage key match code (Child)

A statistical linkage key match code was included in the ABS data request in 2011 and has undergone significant refinement and testing.

To assist the identification of episodes of preschool to an individual child in 2012, the ABS requests that jurisdictions identify matching Statistical Linkage Key (SLK) records in their datasets and determine if the same SLK is coincidental or a valid match of a single child having multiple episodes of preschool. The SLK Match Code will identify the replicated SLKs that are valid episodes for one child, and link them using a numbering system. Where multiple episodes of preschool are identified, each child will have a unique SLK Match Code allocated to all their episodes. Collection of this information will allow more accurate calculation of the number of children attending preschool. Chapter 2, Data Element Collection Instructions, includes further detail on how to collect and report data for ‘Statistical linkage key match code’.

Address line (Child)

The 2012 ECEC NMDS does not include a Child level data element for address line. To enable derivation of an accurate geographic location for each child, the ABS requests that jurisdictions include the child's full street address with the data element Suburb/town/locality name. Refer to the example provided in the URL data request template (URL_Child_Service provider tab) for further information. If jurisdictions are unable to provide this information, the CD and the SA1/MB, need to be provided to ensure that geographical dissemination of the data can be undertaken. Chapter 2, Data Element Collection Instructions, includes further detail on how to collect and report data for the child's address.

Area of usual residence, geographical location (Meshblock code, 2011 ASGS)

To align with the new geography standard, the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) is progressively being implemented from July 2011. The ABS requests that Meshblock be provided (where possible), in addition to Statistical Area level 1 (SA1) and Collection District (CD), for Child data. The collection of these geography standards will allow comparability of 2011 and 2012 data to future year’s collections.

Australian State/Territory identifier (Service provider organisation)

An additional Service provider organisation data element, the Australian state/territory identifier, is also requested. This data element is not currently part of the 2012 ECEC NMDS but is required to complete the address information already specified within the 2012 NMDS.

Geographic location of organisation (Meshblock code, 2011 ASGS)

To align with the new geography standard, the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) is progressively being implemented from July 2011. The ABS requests that Meshblock be provided (where possible), in addition to Statistical Area level 1 (SA1) and Collection District (CD), for the Service provider organisation. The collection of these geography standards will allow comparability of 2011 and 2012 data to future year’s collections.

All data elements are described in the 'metadata dictionary' sheet within the URL data request template. More detailed descriptions are provided in Chapter 2, Data Element Collection Instructions, and the 2012 URL ECEC NMDS.


OTHER CHANGES TO ECEC NMDS DATA ELEMENTS

Care should be taken to ensure correct classification codes are recorded for each data element as new categories and changes to categories have occurred in the 2012 ECEC NMDS. For more information on these changes and other definitional or wording changes, see Appendix 1: Overview of Changes to the ECEC NMDS.


OTHER CHANGES TO ECEC DATA REQUEST TEMPLATE

Where possible, the ABS has maintained a similar format to the 2012 data template compared to the 2011 data templates. Appendix 2: Changes to the ECEC Data Template outlines changes between 2011 and 2012 to assist jurisdictions who may be using established processes to supply data in 2012.


URL DATA REQUEST

Statistical entity: Child
  • Statistical linkage key
  • Statistical linkage key match code
  • Date of birth
  • Indigenous status
  • Letters of family name
  • Letters of given name
  • Sex
  • Maximum preschool program hours available
  • Preschool program attendance indicator
  • Preschool program received from a qualified teacher indicator
  • Preschool program enrolment indicator
  • Preschool program fees charged
  • Preschool program hours attended
  • Preschool program hours enrolled
  • Preschool program repeater indicator
  • Address line (additional data element)
  • Suburb/town/locality name
  • Australian Postcode
  • Australian state/territory identifier
  • Area of usual residence - ASGC 2011 (Collection District)
  • Statistical Area level 1 (SA1)
  • Area of usual residence – ASGS 2011 (Mesh Block) (additional data element)


Statistical entity: Service provider organisation
  • Organisation identifier
  • Organisation name
  • Address line
  • Suburb/town/locality name
  • Australian Postcode
  • Australian state/territory identifier (additional data element)
  • Geographic location - ASGC 2011 (Collection District)
  • Statistical Area level 1 (SA1)
  • Geographic location - ASGS 2011 (Mesh Block) (additional data element)
  • Government funding type
  • Management type
  • Service activity type
  • Service delivery setting
  • Preschool program service operation weeks


Statistical entity: Worker
  • Paid employment indicator
  • Type of work activity
  • Role of early childhood education and care worker
  • Field of highest qualification relevant to early childhood education and care
  • Level of highest qualification relevant to early childhood education and care
  • Delivery of preschool program indicator
  • Hours worked in preschool program delivery


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