4713.0 - Population Characteristics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, 2006  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 04/05/2010  Final
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APPENDIX 2 2006 NON–RESPONSE RATES


PROCEDURES FOR PROCESSING NON-RESPONSE

It is important to recognise that Indigenous status and other characteristics are unknown for some Census records, due to non-response. This needs to be considered when analysing Census data.


There are two categories of non-response - item non-response and dwelling non-response.

  • Item non-response occurs when people do not answer all the Census questions which apply to them. In such cases, a 'not stated' code is allocated during processing, with the exception of non-response to age, sex, marital status and place of usual residence. These variables are needed for population estimates, so they are imputed (a statistical process which predicts a value for these characteristics).
  • Dwelling non-response occurs when a completed Census form is not received from a dwelling considered to be occupied on Census night. In such cases, persons are imputed into these dwellings together with their age, sex, and marital status. All other characteristics are allocated a 'not stated' code.


Non-response to Indigenous status

The number of records with unknown Indigenous status due to non-response in the 2006 Census was 1,133,466, or 5.7% of the total count. These records which are assigned a code of 'not stated' are generally omitted from the analysis throughout this report, with comparisons only made between known Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. However, records with unknown Indigenous status are included in the total population counts where applicable, to allow further analysis if required.


For more discussion on the impact of non-response on the Indigenous status question in the Census refer to Population Distribution, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (cat. no. 4705.0).



Non-response to other characteristics

The number of unknown responses varies between characteristics. Analysis throughout this report is limited to known responses only. However, the number of unknown responses are noted in the tables, as 'not stated' to allow further analysis if required.


In some instances, unknown responses represent a significant proportion of Census records. For example, in the 2006 Census:

  • 10% of records had an unknown response for highest level of schooling completed
  • 9% of records had an unknown response for individual income
  • 8% of records had an unknown response for ancestry.

In general, there was a higher level of non-response for Indigenous people. Among Indigenous people, the highest non-response rates (about 12 to 13%) were observed for questions on:
  • individual income
  • highest level of schooling completed
  • religious affiliation
  • unpaid work and assistance to a person with a disability
  • voluntary work.

The greatest differences in the rates of non-response between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people were in language spoken at home (4 times higher for Indigenous people at 5%); core activity need for assistance (3.5 times higher for Indigenous people, 7%); and place of residence 5 years ago (3.3 times higher for Indigenous people, 10%).


Non-response rates for most characteristics analysed in this publication, and the number of people involved, are presented in the following table.

A2.1 2006 Census Non-Response rates

Non-response rate
Indigenous persons
Non-Indigenous persons
All persons
Ratio of Indigenous to non-Indigenous non-response rate
Census Variables
%
%
%

Ancestry (ANC1P)
8.8
3.7
8.1
2.4
Core Activity Need for Assistance (ASSNP)
6.9
2.0
6.4
3.5
Unpaid Child Care (CHCAREP)(a)
11.6
4.6
9.2
2.5
Unpaid Domestic Work (DOMP)(a)
12.8
5.5
10.1
2.3
Proficiency in Spoken English (ENGP)
3.0
1.7
1.8
1.8
Highest Year of School Completed (HSCP)(a)
12.4
5.3
9.9
2.3
Individual Income (INCP)(a)
11.6
4.4
8.9
2.6
Industry of employment (IND06P)(a)
4.1
1.3
1.4
3.2
Language Spoken at Home (LANP)
5.2
1.3
5.7
4.0
Labour Force Status (LFS06P)(a)
6.0
1.9
6.5
3.2
Occupation (OCC06P)(a)
2.0
0.8
0.8
2.5
Place of Usual Residence Five years ago (PUR5P)(b)
9.5
2.9
7.4
3.3
Non-School Qualification: Field of Study (QALFP)
7.9
2.6
2.7
3.0
Non-School Qualification: Level of Education (QALLP)(a)
7.4
3.7
3.8
2.0
Religious Affiliation (RELP)
12.6
7.0
11.2
1.8
Full/Part time Student Status (STUP)
8.9
3.1
7.5
2.9
Type of Educational Institution Attending (TYPP)
8.5
4.2
4.5
2.0
Unpaid Assistance to a Person with a Disability (UNCAREP)(a)
13.2
5.5
10.1
2.4
Voluntary Work for an Organisation or Group (VOLWP)(a)
12.6
4.9
9.5
2.6

(a) Persons aged 15 years and over.
(b) Persons aged 5 years and over.
Based on place of usual residence.