1003.0 - LEP Newsletter (Issue No. 51), Feb 2005  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 01/03/2005   
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Confidentialised Unit Record Files - CURFs

Lead your clients to a research goldmine!

  • Do your library's clients sometimes need more detailed ABS statistics than is available via AusStats?
  • Do they wish to run their own statistical investigation using detailed survey data? Or use it for microsimulation, modelling and detailed analyses?
  • Perhaps a statistics or social science teacher would like to show students how to do quantitative research analysis using a collection of detailed statistical information?
An ABS CURF could well be what they need!

So, what is a CURF?
A CURF (Confidentialised Unit Record File) is a file of records from an ABS survey that provides the most detailed information that can be released by the ABS. Whilst the data is very detailed it has had all information that may identify people or organisations removed. This is what is meant by 'confidentialised.'

More about CURFs...
  • CURFs cover a range of topics including crime, health, census, education and household income and expenditure. There are currently 63 CURFs available, and the ABS releases 4 or 5 new CURFs every year.
  • CURFs are used for a variety of statistical purposes by university, government and private sector researchers. Researchers run statistical queries against the CURF data using analytical languages such as SAS and SPSS. A list of research projects for which CURFs have been used is available on the ABS web site.

Accessing CURFs
  • Researchers in universities subscribing to the ABS/AVCC CURF Agreement can access CURFs free if this is for non-commercial research and teaching purposes.
  • CURFs are also available for approved clients outside the ABS/AVCC CURF Agreement for commercial purposes.
  • Basic CURFs are provided on CD-ROM, with more detailed CURFs available via the ABS Remote Access Data Laboratory (RADL).
CURF data is released under strict conditions. Researchers who wish to use CURFs must sign a legal undertaking to access the data.

Want to find out more?
Web site www.abs.gov.au, select 'Services We Provide' then Confidentialised Unit Record Files