1304.5 - Stats Talk WA (Newsletter), May 2004  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 29/09/2004   
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In Focus: WA Statistical Consultancy Unit

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has an international reputation for providing a high quality and objective national statistical service. The WA Statistical Consultancy Unit (SCU) offers this expertise locally to both government agencies and the general community. The SCU can tailor innovative solutions to meet your specific statistical needs through a service which falls into three broad categories: Statistical Consultancy, Statistical Training, and State Supplementary Surveys.

Statistical Training

SCU Training Courses teach practical statistical skills through formal presentations and interactive discussion, combined with the involvement of participants in individual and group exercises.

All courses cost $565 per person

Basic Statistical Analysis - 12 & 13 May
Turning Data Into Information - 2 & 3 June
Focus Group Techniques - 23 & 24 June
Register 3 weeks before commencement of a course to receive an early bird discount.

Statistical Training Courses can also be tailored to suit your needs or additional programs can be developed as required.
WA Statistical Consultancy Team
The Statistical Consultancy Team
Anne Goodall, Jennifer Gaudie and Gabriela Lawrence
State Supplementary Surveys
In October each year, provision is made for the WA State Government to nominate a survey topic to be collected as a supplement to the Monthly Population Survey. This collection is known as the State Supplementary Survey.

Results from the 2003 SSS were released on the 6th April 2004 in Domestic Water Use, Western Australia (cat. no. 4616.5.55.001).

Development work has commenced on the proposed topic of "Home Safety and Security" for the 2004 SSS.

Submissions for the 2005 SSS will be called for in early May 2004, with initial Topic Submissions due on 31 May 2004. Information and Guidelines for applicants can be accessed from the ABS Web site <www.abs.gov.au>; Themes; Western Australia; Our links with State Government; State Supplementary Surveys.
Statistical Consultancy

Our expert team can help you meet your statistical requirements through the provision of statistical consultancy services. We can assist you with:
  • Survey and sample design
  • Data analysis and modelling
  • Reviews and tender evaluations
  • Data management.

The SCU recently assisted the Department of Education and Training (DET) on a statistical modelling project, aimed at identifying characteristics of Western Australian 15-19 year olds who were not participating in employment, training or education in 2001.

This project was ground breaking in that it enabled DET and ABS to work in partnership to improve the quality of research available. DET managed the project and advised the ABS with methodology and modelling variables. DET staff prepared the SPSS programs and an ABS officer ran the programs on the complete (100%) Census file.

After ensuring confidentiality, the output of the modelling was provided to the DET for analysis and reporting. The outcome of this partnership can be seen in the DET paper "Engaging Youth: The Status of Youth participation in Education Training and Employment in Western Australia". The following acknowledgment appears in the DET paper "I would like to acknowledge the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in working collaboratively with the Department in providing selected access to the complete, confidentialised Census data." (Paul Albert, Director General, Department of Education and Training.)

The SCU will consider similar requests for working in partnerships with other government departments and research units.

For further information about SCU services, please contact Gabriela Lawrence, phone (08) 9360 5947 or email: gabriela.lawrence@abs.gov.au