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DataPacks –
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Contents of DataPacks

Community Profile DataPacks contain data for Census geographic areas ranging from Statistical Area Level 1 to the whole of Australia. They include digital boundary files, metadata and reference documents to enable you to read the data.

DataPacks do not include software.

Metadata files contain the information you need to match the data with the Community Profile template, such as information about the sequential numbers and labels, the digital boundaries, the table descriptors, and the population that is being counted.

DataPacks are suitable for experienced Census data users who have their own database or analysis systems. Use DataPacks if you want Community Profile data for numerous geographic areas.

Once you have Census data in your Geographic Information System (GIS), you can merge the data with the digital boundaries.

The data items in DataPacks are contained in CSV files which can be imported into existing systems and are ready for immediate manipulation.

Select a type of descriptor

You can use the sequential number labels, short descriptors (up to 29 characters) or long descriptors. Short descriptors were created for use with Geographic Information System (GIS) software.

The example below, using Local Government Area (LGA) geography, shows the three options for descriptors.

Sequential number descriptors look like this:
region_id B1 B2 B3
LGA10050 0 0 0
LGA10110 0 0 0
LGA10150 0 0 0


Short descriptors look like this:
region_id Tot_P_M Total_P_F Total_P_P
LGA10050 0 0 0
LGA10110 0 0 0
LGA10150 0 0 0


Long descriptor labels look like this:
region_id Total_Persons_Males Total_Persons_Females Total_Persons_Persons
LGA10050 0 0 0
LGA10110 0 0 0
LGA10150 0 0 0


Look at a sample DataPack

To help you decide whether DataPacks are suitable for your needs and for your databases or analysis systems, you can download a sample without having to register. The Sample 2011 DataPacks contain no data and are available at the Australia level.

Samples are available for the following Community Profiles DataPacks:
  • Basic Community
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (Indigenous)
  • Time Series.

Download DataPacks free or buy the DVD


You can download DataPacks from the website free of charge, or buy DataPacks on DVD.

DataPacks free online

2011 Community Profile DataPacks are available to download now. The Estimated Resident Population DataPack will be available on 26 August 2013.

To download DataPacks you must first register.

When you download a DataPack you select:
  • A Community Profile DataPack. For instance, the Basic Community Profile.
  • A type of descriptor (sequential number, short or long).
  • A geography. For instance, Local Government Areas for Victoria.

You can also download the corresponding digital boundaries for your selected geography.

DataPacks on DVD

DataPacks on DVD for each Community Profile are available now. They include all Census geographic areas ranging from Statistical Area Level 1 to the whole of Australia.

The Estimated Resident Population DataPack is due for release on 26 August 2013.

Requirements for DataPacks on DVD

A DVD-ROM drive (DVDs cannot be read by CD-ROM equipment).
The DVD does not contain video content and therefore does not require a DVD decoder.

The DVD contains:
  • data in CSV format
  • 'Readme' document in Microsoft Word 2010 (.docx) format
  • metadata in Microsoft Excel 2010 (.xlsx) format.

Minimum software requirements

You will need the following software to use DataPacks.
  • Software for decompressing zip files (eg Winzip)
  • Text Editor for CSV Files
  • Microsoft Word 2010 for 'Readme' document
  • Spreadsheet application for the Metadata files.

A GIS application such as MapInfo or Esri ArcGIS is required to use the digital boundary files.

Select your DVD DataPack

The Community Profile DataPacks are not sold on separate DVDs but are sold as compilations.

One DVD (cat. no. 2069.0.30.008) has the DataPacks for:
  • Basic Community Profile
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (Indigenous) Profile
  • Time Series Profile DataPacks.

Another DVD (cat. no. 2069.0.30.009) has the DataPacks for:
  • Place of Enumeration Profile
  • Expanded Profile
  • Working Population Profile.

Price of DataPacks on DVD

Each of these Community Profile DataPack compilation DVDs costs $100 (including postage and GST).
So for $200 you can have all the Community Profile DataPacks on DVD.

The Estimated Resident Population DataPack (cat. no. 2069.0.30.010) costs $50 (including postage and GST).

The DataPacks will be mailed to you.

How to order your DVD DataPack

You can order 2011 DataPack DVDs by phoning our National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 and quoting the 'cat. no.'.
International callers phone +61 2 9268 4909.

Compare DataPacks Online to DataPacks on DVD
DataPacks OnlineDataPacks on DVD
PriceFreeCommunity Profile DataPacks $100
Estimated Resident Population DataPack $50
Registration requiredYesNo
DataDownload just one DataPack for one geography, or download various geographies.Includes the full set of available data – all profiles and geographies.
Boundary filesDownload just the boundary files you require. You can choose from ESRI shape and Mid/Mif format.Includes the full set of boundary files.
Includes both formats (ESRI shape, Mid/Mif).
Descriptor type
(Short, long or sequential)		Download the descriptor type you prefer.Includes all three descriptor types.

2006 Census DataPacks on CD

2006 DataPacks on CD are a charged product. You can order 2006 DataPack CDs by phoning our National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070. International callers phone +61 2 9268 4909. Registration is not required.

Geography for 2011 DataPacks


Available geographies for DataPacks

The following tables show the which geographies are available for each DataPack. Abbreviations for geographic structures are listed after the tables.

DataPacks

Details

Help & FAQs

DataPacks tutorials

Sample downloads

2011 release schedule

Australian Bureau of Statistics geography structures
DataPack
Aust
STE
SA4
SA3
SA2
SA1
GCCSA
IREG
IARE
ILOC
SUA
UC/L
SOS
SOSR
RA
Basic Community Profile
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
..
..
..
*
*
*
*
*
Place of Enumeration Profile
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
..
..
..
*
*
*
*
*
Indigenous Profile
*
*
*
*
*
..
*
*
*
*
..
..
..
..
*
Time Series Profile
*
*
*
*
*
..
*
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Expanded Community Profile
*
*
*
*
*
..
*
..
..
..
*
..
..
..
..
Working Population Profile
*
*
*
*
*
..
*
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Estimated Resident Population
*
*
*
*
*
..
*
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
* available
.. not available

Non-Australian Bureau of Statistics geography structures
DataPack
LGA
SLA
SSC
POA
CED
SED
Basic Community Profile
*
*
*
*
*
*
Place of Enumeration Profile
*
*
*
*
*
*
Indigenous Profile
*
*
..
..
..
..
Time Series Profile
*
*
..
..
..
..
Expanded Community Profile
*
*
..
..
..
..
Working Population Profile
*
..
..
..
..
..
Estimated Resident Population
*
*
..
..
..
..
* available
.. not available
Abbreviations
Aust Australia
CED Commonwealth Electoral Divisions
GCCSA Greater Capital City Statistical Areas
IARE Indigenous Areas
ILOC Indigenous Locations
IREG Indigenous Regions
LGA Local Government Areas
POA Postal Areas
RA Remoteness Areas
SA1 Statistical Area Level 1
SA2 Statistical Area Level 2
SA3 Statistical Area Level 3
SA4 Statistical Area Level 4
SED State Electoral Divisions
SLA Statistical Local Areas
SOS Section of State
SOSR Section of State Ranges
SSC State Suburbs
STE States and Territories
SUA Significant Urban Areas
UC/L Urban Centres and Localities


How to add the geographic labels to csv data files in Excel for the 2011 DataPacks

You will need to download the following file, which contains the codes and geographic labels:

2011 DataPacks codes and geographic labels (csv 2.5MB)

Then the following guide will walk you through the process of attaching geographic labels to DataPack .csv files using Microsoft Excel:

2011 DataPacks - Adding geographic labels (pdf 556KB)

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