The Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) is used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for the collection and dissemination of geographically classified statistics. It is an essential reference for understanding and interpreting the geographical context of statistics published by the ABS. The ABS also encourages the use of the ASGC by other organisations to improve the comparability and usefulness of statistics generally.
This publication is the first part of a three volume set of statistical geography publications relating to the 2006 Census of Population and Housing. The other two volumes Statistical Geography: Volume 2 - Census Geographic Areas Australia (cat. no. 2905.0) and Statistical Geography: Volume 3 - Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) Urban Centres/Localities (cat. no. 2909.0) will be published progressively between July and December 2007.
This edition of the ASGC introduces Mesh Blocks. Mesh Blocks are a new small area unit for the 2006 Census. Mesh Blocks are intended to be the smallest geographical unit for which ABS data will be output. They will not be used as a collection unit, unlike the Collection Districts (CD). Mesh Blocks do not aggregate to CDs. They will not be fully integrated with the ASGC until after the review of the ASGC that is planned to be completed by July 2008. An information paper and request for submissions will be made as part of the review.
Any inquiries regarding the Classification, or suggestions for its improvement, can be made by contacting the Assistant Director, Geographic Classification, on telephone (02) 6252 5888, facsimile (02) 6252 8666, email <geography@abs.gov.au> or by writing to Locked Bag 10, Belconnen, ACT 2616.
PURPOSE OF THE ASGC
The main purpose of the ASGC is for collecting and disseminating geographically classified statistics. These are statistics with a ‘where’ dimension.
The ASGC provides a common framework of statistical geography which enables the production of statistics that are comparable and can be spatially integrated.
In practice, statistical units such as households and businesses are first assigned to a geographical area in one of the seven ASGC structures. Data collected from these statistical units are then compiled into ASGC defined geographic aggregations which, subject to confidentiality restrictions, are then available for publication.
The purposes of this publication are to outline the ASGC structures, describe the codes and names of geographical areas used and depict the statistical relationship between different types of geography used in the classification.
INQUIRIES
For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Geography on Canberra (02) 6252 5888.
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