CONFIDENTIALISED UNIT RECORD FILES (CURFs)
A CURF is a file of responses to an ABS survey that has had specific identifying information about a person or organisation confidentialised. CURF microdata is the most detailed statistical information available from the ABS. CURFs can be purchased by authorised clients for approved purposes of statistical analysis and policy research. Researchers and analysts are able to run statistical queries on the CURF microdata using SAS, SPSS or Stata software.
CURFs are available from all cycles of the Survey of Income and Housing (SIH) and a range of other ABS housing surveys. More information about CURFs, including how to access them, is available through the ABS CURF Microdata page.
Microdata: Household Expenditure Survey and Survey of Income and Housing, Australia, 2009-10, (Second Edition incl. Fiscal Incidence Study), Basic and Expanded CURF (cat. no. 6540.0) was released in July 2012. The file is distributed on CD-ROM or can be accessed via the Remote Access Data Laboratory; the expanded files for HES and SIH are only able to be accessed via the remote Access Data Laboratory. Subject to the limitations of sample size and the data classifications used, it is possible to manipulate the data, produce tabulations and undertake statistical analyses to individual specifications. This is a second edition release of the HES Basic and Expanded CURF which includes new variables relating to the 2009-10 Fiscal Incidence Study.
Household Expenditure Survey and Survey of Income and Housing, User Guide, Australia, 2009-10 (cat. no. 6503.0) was released in September 2011. It contains questionnaires, classification listings, a list of all data items on the file and lists of output data items. It includes details of the confidentialised unit record file (CURF) and background information about the surveys. It is designed to assist researchers and analysts in utilising housing income and expenditure data produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Microdata: Income and Housing, Australia: Basic and Expanded CURF on CD-ROM/RADL, Australia, 2007-08 (cat. no. 6541.0.30.001) was released in August 2009. The file is distributed on CD-ROM or can be accessed via the Remote Access Data Laboratory. Subject to the limitations of sample size and the data classifications used, it is possible to manipulate the data, produce tabulations and undertake statistical analyses to individual specifications.
Survey of Income and Housing: Confidentialised Unit Record File, Technical Manual, 2007-08 (cat. no. 6541.0) was released in August 2009. This publication provides information about the content and use of the CURF, including a list of all data items on the file and background information about the survey.
Household Expenditure Survey and Survey of Income and Housing - Confidentialised Unit Record Files, 2003-04 (Third Edition) (cat. no. 6540.0) was released in May 2008. This is the third edition of the CURF and includes estimates of imputed rent on the household level files for the first time. All other files are identical to those on the second edition of the CURF (which incorporated the results of a study to determine the effect of government benefits and taxes on household income).
Household Expenditure Survey and Survey of Income and Housing - Confidentialised Unit Record Files, Technical Manual, 2003-04 (Third edition) (cat. no. 6540.0.00.001) was released in May 2008. This publication provides information about the content and use of the CURF. The third edition of the Technical Manual includes the supporting documentation for the estimates of imputed rent first released with the third edition of the CURF.
Australian Housing Survey, Australia 1999: Confidentialised Unit Record File (cat. no. 4186.0.30.001) contains data on the housing circumstances of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, as well as the physical characteristics of their current dwelling. This CURF includes an accompanying Technical Paper.
Rental Investors Survey, Australia, 1997: Confidentialised Unit Record File contains data on characteristics and economic resources of people who invest in residential rental property in Australia, and the physical characteristics of their most recently acquired properties. This CURF includes an accompanying Technical Paper.
Survey on Rental Tenants, Australia, 1994 Confidentialised Unit Record File contains data on characteristics of persons living in rented or leased dwellings and characteristics of the rental dwellings. Also included are data on the costs of renting, affordability, demand for public housing, as well as tenants' rental history. This CURF includes an accompanying Technical Paper. STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS
Current Releases
Housing Occupancy and Costs, Australia, 2009-10 (cat. no. 4130.0) provides biennial data from the Survey of Income and Housing on Australian housing costs, and relates these to characteristics of occupants and dwellings such as tenure, family composition of household, dwelling structure, age, income and principal source of income. It also includes value of dwelling estimates, and information on recent home buyers.
Housing Mobility and Conditions, Australia, 2007–08 (cat. no. 4130.0.55.002) provides statistics compiled from the Survey of Income and Housing (SIH) on Australian housing mobility and dwelling conditions. These data were collected in the 2007-08 SIH, in addition to the housing occupancy and costs information regularly collected in every SIH cycle and released in Housing Occupancy and Costs, Australia (cat. no. 4130.0).
Residential and Workplace Mobility, and Implications for Travel: NSW and Vic., October 2008 (cat. no. 3240.0) provides results from the 2008 State Supplementary Survey conducted as a supplement to the ABS Monthly Population Survey (MPS). The survey was conducted throughout New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria (Vic.) during the two weeks commencing 5 October 2008.
Housing and Infrastructure in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities, Australia, 2006 (cat. no. 4710.0) provides summary results from the Community Housing and Infrastructure Needs Survey (CHINS) enumerated from March to June 2006. It also includes time series information incorporating selected results from the 1999 and 2001 CHINS as well as maps showing the distribution of indigenous housing organisations and discrete communities across Australia.
Housing Finance, Australia (cat. no. 5609.0) provides monthly statistics of housing finance commitments made by significant lenders. This includes secured finance commitments for the construction or purchase of owner occupied dwellings and finance commitments for the construction or purchase of dwellings for rent or resale (investment housing). Also included are the outstanding values of housing loan assets to individuals held by lenders at the individual reference month.
House Price Indexes: Eight Capital Cities (cat. no. 6416.0) provides quarterly estimates of changes in house prices for each of the eight capital cities of Australia. The information is presented in the form of price indexes constructed separately for established houses and for project homes. It is calculated on the reference base 2003-04 = 100.0 for each of the eight capital cities as well as a weighted average of them. The capital city indexes measure price movements over time in each city individually. They do not measure differences in price levels between cities.
Building Approvals, Australia (cat. no. 8731.0) provides monthly details of building work approved including dwelling units in both the public and private sectors. Details of both the numbers approved and value of approvals are shown for houses and other dwellings separately, so that average values of approvals can be calculated for various types of dwellings.
Dwelling Unit Commencements, Australia, Preliminary (cat. no. 8750.0) provides quarterly preliminary estimates of the number of dwelling units (new houses, new other residential and conversions, etc.) commenced for private sector and public sector, by state. Total number of dwelling units commenced by state in seasonally adjusted and trend terms.
Building Activity, Australia (cat. no. 8752.0) provides quarterly details of building activity in Australia. It includes new residential buildings (houses and other residential), alterations and additions to residential buildings and non-residential buildings by type of building (e.g. offices, warehouses, accommodation, etc.).
Census of Population and Housing. The ABS offers a range of products from the 2011 Census of Population and Housing to suit housing analysts' needs. Searches can be customised from the Census data web page.
Environmental Issues: Energy Use and Conservation, March 2008 (cat. no. 4602.0.55.001) includes information on household practices in relation to domestic energy use. A range of issues are covered including energy sources, energy use and energy saving measures used in households. Other areas covered include: characteristics of dwellings that affect energy use, heaters and coolers, types of household appliances used in households. New data items collected in this issue include type and number of televisions and solar hot water system or solar panels used to generate electricity. This publication replaces the series Environmental Issues: People's Views and Practices (cat. no. 4602.0)
Environmental Issues: People's Views and Practices, March 2007 (cat. no. 4602.0) presents information on environmental behaviour and practices of Australian households and individuals collected in March 2007. This edition focuses on 'Water use and conservation' and covers a range of issues including water sources, water supply, rainwater tanks and water saving measures.
Mature Aged Persons Statistical Profile: Living Arrangements, April 2005 (cat. no. 4905.0.55.001) presents information on the family and household structure of mature age persons (those aged 45-64 years). 'Living arrangements' refers to the type of dwelling in which a person lives and the people living within that dwelling. The publication provides a detailed examination of the dwelling and structures, people and relationships in the quality aspects of living arrangements, drawing primarily on data from the Census of Population and Housing.
Housing Motivations and Intentions, Western Australia, Oct 2005 (cat. no. 8710.5) contains results from the State Supplementary Survey conducted in Western Australia (WA) in October 2005. It presents information on the motivators that affect Western Australians in the choice of their current dwelling (and location of that dwelling) and their intentions regarding their future choice of housing. Some characteristics regarding their previous dwelling were also collected.
Housing Choices, NSW, Oct 2004 (cat. no. 3240.1) summarises results from the New South Wales (NSW) component of the survey of Housing Choices, conducted during October 2004 throughout NSW and Queensland. It presents information on household composition, dwelling and tenure type, and whether modifications have been made to the dwelling for older people or people with a disability. For households that have moved in the last three years, reasons for choosing to live in their current dwelling and reasons for moving from their previous dwelling are reported. Also included are whether or not households intend to move together in the next 12 months, and corresponding reasons.
Housing Motivations and Intentions, Queensland, 2004 (cat. no. 8710.3.55.001) contains information on housing motivations and intentions obtained from the October 2004 State Supplementary Survey, Housing Motivations and Intentions, Queensland. It presents information on household composition, dwelling and tenure type, and whether modifications have been made to the dwelling for older people or people with a disability. For households that have moved within the last three years, reasons for choosing to live in their current dwelling and reasons for moving from their previous dwelling are reported. Also included are all reasons households are not likely to move in the next 12 months but want to move by certain selected characteristics such as age, household income, and labour force status.
Home Safety and Security, Western Australia, Oct 2004 (cat. no. 4526.5.55.001) contains results from the Home Safety and Security Survey conducted in Western Australia (WA) in October 2004. It presents information on safety measures, security features, break-ins and attempted break-ins in Western Australian households. The topics covered include whether smoke alarms are installed, whether the dwelling has security features installed (e.g. security screens, door deadlocks, window locks, security alarm) and whether the household experienced a break-in or attempted break-in. For households which have experienced a break-in or attempted break-in, information is also presented on the security features of the household and characteristics of that event (e.g. point of entry, whether point of entry was locked, whether the incident was reported to police). Other Publications
Australian Housing Survey - Housing Characteristics, Costs and Conditions 1999 (cat. no. 4182.0) presents information on the characteristics, affordability and adequacy of dwellings, and the demographics, tenure and housing costs of persons and households. The publication also contains details about the survey including its objectives and content, and the concepts, methodology and procedures used in the collection of the data and the derivation of estimates.
Australian Housing Survey - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Results 1999 (cat. no. 4712.0) presents data about the housing characteristics of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) populations of Australia, equivalent data for the non-Indigenous population are included for comparison purposes. The publication also includes some data from the 1994 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey, the 1999 Community and Infrastructure Needs Survey and from the 1991 and 1996 Censuses of Population and Housing.
Household Investors in Rental Dwellings, Australia, Jun 1997 (cat. no. 8711.0) presents data on the socio-economic characteristics of investor income units who supply residential rental property, as well as their financial characteristics and reasons for investing. Detailed data are provided on the residential rental properties, including dwelling structure, age, location and financial characteristics.
Renters in Australia, Apr 1994 (cat. no. 4138.0) presents data on characteristics of persons living in rented or leased dwellings and characteristics of the rental dwellings. Also included are data on the costs of renting, affordability, demand for public housing, as well as tenants' rental history. Geographic coverage: Australia, states and territories, and capital cities.
USER GUIDES AND INFORMATION PAPERS
Household Expenditure Survey and Survey of Income and Housing, User Guide, Australia, 2009-10 (cat. no. 6503.0) was released in September 2011. It describes the definitions, concepts, methodology and estimation procedures used in the survey. It also contains the questionnaire, prompt cards and a list of output data items.
Information Paper: Survey of Income and Housing, Australia: User Guide, 2007-08 (cat. no. 6553.0) was released in August 2009. It describes the definitions, concepts, methodology and estimation procedures used in the survey. It also contains the questionnaire, prompt cards and a list of output data items.
Experimental Estimates of Imputed Rent, Australia, 2003-04 and 2005-06 (cat. no. 6525.0) was released in May 2008. This Information Paper presents experimental household level estimates of the imputed rent for owner-occupied dwellings in 2003-04 and 2005-06. Estimates of the benefit to tenants paying subsidised rent and households occupying their dwelling rent free are also included. The paper outlines the methodology and sources used in the study and analyses the effect of the imputation on the distribution of income. Imputed rent estimates for 2007–08 and 2009-10 are included on the SIH CURFs. A summary of the 2007–08 and earlier estimates is included in Appendix 5 of Household Income and income distribution, Australia, 2007–08 (cat. no. 6523.0).
Household Expenditure Survey and Survey of Income and Housing: User Guide, 2003-04 (cat. no. 6503.0) describes the definitions, concepts, methodology and estimation procedures used in the Household Expenditure Survey and Survey of Income and Housing. It also contains questionnaires, lists of output data items and the Household Expenditure Classification.
House Price Indexes: Concepts, Sources and Methods, Australia, 2009 (cat. no. 6464.0) is an easy to read guide designed to promote understanding of the House Price Index (HPI) among general users. It includes discussion of some general issues relating to the measurement of house prices and provides background on the stratification method used to control for the effect of changes in the composition and number of houses sold within each city. This publication also includes information on how to use price indexes and provides an overview of other data series and price indexes related to housing which are produced by the ABS and published with the HPI.
Refining the Stratification for the Established House Price Index (cat. no. 1352.0.55.093 ) was released in June 2008. This paper explores the possibility of refining the stratification used to construct the House Price Index (HPI) . Preliminary findings based indicate that a simpler stratification method - based on the long-term median price and the neighbourhood characteristics of a suburb - can provide a more accurate measure of the pure price evolution of the housing stock.
Information Paper: Renovating the Established House Price Index, Nov 2005 (cat. no. 6417.0) outlines the redevelopment of the Established House Price Index. Changes include, a new benchmark series based on a date of contract exchange, with improved controls for compositional changes and a preliminary series constructed from applications for loans to purchase established dwellings with housing market lenders (banks, etc).
Australian Housing Survey: Data Reference Package, 1999 (cat. no. 4182.0.00.001) contains copies of the questionnaire and prompt cards used in the 1999 Australian Housing Survey and a list of the data items available from the survey.
FEATURE ARTICLES
Australian Social Trends (cat. no. 4102.0)
2012 Life after homelessness
2011 Components of household wealth
2011 Housing assistance for renters
2010 Moving house
2010 Australian households: The future
2009 Living Alone
2009 Home and away: The living arrangements of young people
2008 First home buyers
2008 Renter households
2008 Housing and services in remote Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander communities
2007 Wealth in homes of owner-occupier households
2007 Larger dwellings, smaller households
2006 Housing for young adult households
2006 Housing in Sydney - consolidation and spread
2005 Supply of housing
2005 Housing for older Australians
2004 Homelessness
2004 Home ownership
2004 High rise living
2003 Housing and lifestyle: First home buyers
2003 Housing stock: Changes in Australian housing
2003 Housing arrangements: Home ownership across Australia
2002 Housing and Lifestyle: Home renovation
2002 Housing Arrangements: Renter households
2002 Housing Stock: Housing condition and maintenance
2002 Housing and Lifestyle: Energy efficiency in the home
Measures of Australia's Progress (cat. no. 1370.0)
2012 Measures of Australia's Progress
2011 Measures of Australia's Progress
Statistician's Report on the 2006 Census (cat. no. 2070.0)
Housing Overview
Trends in Housing Utilisation
Housing Across Brisbane and Melbourne City Rings
Year Book Australia (cat. no. 1301.0)
2012 Housing Chapter
2010 Housing Chapter
2008 Housing Chapter
2007 Housing Chapter
2006 Housing Chapter
2005 Australian home size is growing
2004 The design and construction of Indigenous housing: the challenge ahead
2003 Construction and the environment
2002 Housing and lifestyle
2002 The construction industry's linkages with the economy
2002 What drives housing?
2001 Changing tenure status
2001 Changing dwelling and household size
2001 Housing in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
2001 The Australian Housing Stock: 1911 and 1996
2000 First home buyers
Housing Occupancy and Costs, Australia (cat. no. 4130.0)
2011 First home buyers in Australia
2009 First home buyers in Australia
2007 First home buyers in Australia
Building Approvals, Australia (cat. no. 8731.0)
May 2011 Implementation of the Australian Statistical Geographic Standard in ABS Building Approvals Collection
Feb 2010 Average floor area of new residential dwellings
Jul 2008 Average quarterly completion times for new houses
Apr 2008 Changes in the mix of dwelling types
Feb 2008 Average floor area of new residential dwellings
Jul 2004 Are we building on smaller blocks?
Dec 2003 Average floor area of new dwellings
Mar 2003 Work done on housing jobs each quarter
Dec 2002 Inner city development
Jul 2002 Building activity in Sydney and Melbourne
May 2002 Changes in the mix of dwelling types
Mar 2002 Average value of new houses
Nov 2001 Largest and fastest growing areas in Australia
Jul 2001 Average floor area of new dwellings
Migration, Australia (cat. no. 3412.0)
2010 Housing Mobility in Australia |
