1318.3 - Qld Stats, Jun 2008  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 23/06/2008   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

WHAT'S NEW AT ABS ...

Help for local government on the ABS website
Indigenous Engagement Manager
Indigenous Statistics
Regional Statistics newsletter
Education and Training Matters
New releases on the Education theme page
Changes to the ABS survey program
ABS release information
Queensland theme page

Image: Help for local government on the abs website HELP FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON THE ABS WEBSITE

Local Government users of the ABS website can now access information designed to help find data and other resources of interest to Local Government.

Called Services We Provide to Local Government, these new information pages include:

  • How to find data for Local Government Areas.
  • How to keep informed about ABS releases and developments.
  • Information about resources and services available to help you use data.

The pages include ABS releases that contain data at Local Government Area level, and information about ABS training available to Local Government clients.

Find these new pages by clicking on this link Services We Provide to Local Government, or go to the ABS website <www.abs.gov.au> and on the Home Page, click on 'Services We Provide', then follow the link to 'Local Government'.

Services We Provide to Local Government is the latest in a series of help pages aimed at assisting ABS clients. Other Services We Provide pages on the ABS website include: State/Territory Government, Small Business, Universities and Libraries.

In addition, the latest issue of Local Government and ABS (cat. no. 1376.0) has now been released.

Local Government and ABS is a quarterly newsletter published by the ABS to help the local government sector use statistics to assist with planning and other community servicing decisions. You can find the full text of this release at Local Government and ABS - Issue 21.

Image: Indigenous engagement manager INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Kelleigh Ryan, a descendant of the Kabi Kabi people from South-East Queensland and the Sunshine Coast area, has recently been appointed as the Indigenous Engagement Manager (IEM) for Queensland. Each state and territory office of the ABS (except ACT) has an IEM position.

What is the role of the IEM?

The role of an IEM is to enhance ABS's engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations. Some of the responsibilities of an IEM include:
  • Build and maintain networks with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations.
  • Coordinate ABS communication with communities in their state or territory.
  • Return ABS information in appropriate formats to Indigenous communities and organisations to raise statistical awareness.
  • Train Indigenous communities and organisations in the use of statistics for their own purposes.
  • Advise ABS Population Survey Operations and Census staff in enumeration procedures.

What does an IEM do?

IEMs undertake a variety of activities to develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with Indigenous communities, advise on appropriate materials to raise statistical awareness and provide support to Indigenous communities and organisations on the use of and access to statistical information.
  • Actively promote the ABS through regional networks and community events, for example
    • Over 300 community visits have been conducted and contact has been made with over 400 government and non-government agencies.
    • Over 100 training and information sessions have been provided to communities and organisations.
  • Raise awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the ABS, for example, the facilitation of cultural awareness training for ABS staff.
  • Organise events for the upcoming national Aboriginal and Islander Day of Celebration (NAIDOC).
  • Seek feedback from Indigenous communities and organisations on their current use of ABS statistics.
  • Facilitate support for the field operations in relation to the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey 2008.

The ABS is currently seeking expressions of interest for pilot testing our new website training for Indigenous communities with computer access as well as other training packages. If you would like to be involved or require any assistance with ABS Indigenous data please feel free to call our National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics on 1800 633 216 or email ncatsis@abs.gov.au.

Image: Indigenous Statistics INDIGENOUS STATISTICS

Two important Indigenous statistical products were recently released by the ABS.

The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, 2008 (cat. no. 4704.0)

This publication is the sixth in the series of reports on the health and welfare of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. By drawing on recent data available from a variety of sources, it aims to provide a comprehensive picture of the health and welfare of Australia's Indigenous population. It covers a range of topics regarded as important for improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Maps and Census Profiles, Australian Indigenous Geographical Classification, 2006 (cat. no. 4706.0.30.001)

This is a CD-ROM product compiling ABS Indigenous products, including maps, publications, Indigenous and Remoteness profiles from the 2006 Census, fact sheets and data quality statements. This collection of Indigenous and related statistical information brings together ABS products freely available on www.abs.gov.au into a format that is portable across remote Australia, and is a comprehensive resource of Indigenous data.

This product is designed for:
  • clients who have limited access to the ABS website, particularly remote communities that have difficulty accessing online products
  • clients who require access to the Census 2006 Indigenous Profile data in bulk.

Interested readers are also invited to visit the Indigenous Statistics theme page on the ABS website for links to other related Indigenous information.


Image: Regional statistics newsletter REGIONAL STATISTICS NEWSLETTER

The third issue of What's New in Regional Statistics (cat. no. 1386.0) was released on 4 June 2008. This newsletter is biannual and contains regional and small area statistics. It includes topical articles and reviews of relevant ABS publications. 'What's New in Regional Statistics' highlights developments in statistics relevant to regions, including metropolitan, urban, non-urban and rural areas, and other information of likely interest to researchers, policy makers and other users of small area data.

Interested readers are also invited to visit the Regional Statistics theme page on the ABS website for links to other related information.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING MATTERS

Education and Training Matters (cat. no. 4211.0) is a biannual publication of the National Centre for Education and Training Statistics (NCETS). It aims to keep readers informed of developments in education and training statistics and of current projects being undertaken by NCETS.

Image: New releases on the education theme page NEW RELEASES ON THE EDUCATION THEME PAGE

Classroom datasets

A new selection of datasets suitable for use in classrooms has recently been released on the ABS website.

These datasets have been drawn from a variety of ABS publications and are divided into Economic Datasets (including CPI, labour force, wages, etc.) and Social Datasets (including population, migration, water use, crime, etc.). They have been created specifically to assist students use and understand ABS data and to explore different social and economic issues.

You can access the datasets through the links provided above or from the Education pages. (From the ABS home page, choose the Education link on the header navigator bar. You can access the Datasets via the 'For Teachers' or the 'For Students' pages.) While you're there, check out the other resources that are available for teachers and students - from classroom activities to great learning games.


CensusAtSchool

CensusAtSchool is a student-centered online data collection and analysis project run by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Thousands of students have submitted their responses to the online questionnaire, forming a large nation-wide database of rich, raw data that can be accessed FREE from the ABS website. CensusAtSchool engages students in their learning and combines ICT skills with interdisciplinary learning.

The CensusAtSchool questionnaire phase will be closing on July 4. This is the last chance for students to submit their responses and be part of the 2008 CensusAtSchool database. The student response data will be available from July 7.

The CensusAtSchools newsletter provides users of CensusAtSchool with up-to-date support material, including teacher tips, ready-to-use classroom activities, news updates and feedback from the CensusAtSchool community.

CHANGES TO THE ABS SURVEY PROGRAM

The ABS is facing a tight budget situation in 2008-09, which has led to a range of reductions in the ABS work program. The Australian Statistician, Brian Pink, has outlined a number of strategies to address the situation in the document Changes to the ABS survey program for 2008-09 on the ABS Website. Use the link to see what the implications are for the affected surveys or programs and how to get further information.


Changes to the Labour Force Survey

Detailed information on how the changes will impact on the Labour Force Survey can be accessed from the document above or by going directly to Technical Note in Labour Force, Australia, Jun 2008 (cat. no. 6202.0).
ABS RELEASE INFORMATION

Beginning in January 2008, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website provides the expected release details for all statistical products due for publication in the coming six months.

The web page 'Releases Scheduled for the Next Six Months' is revised on the ABS website at the beginning of each month. This six-month forecasting is intended to keep clients informed about products and when they will become available.

All ABS Core Statistical and Other Statistical publications that usually have a catalogue number will be detailed as well as prominent non-statistical publications such as the ABS Annual Report and Australian Statistics Advisory Council Annual Report.

Access 'Releases Scheduled for the Next Six Months' from the ABS Home page via 'Future Releases' or use this link.

Information on all ABS product releases can also be accessed from ABS Release Advice. This web page also provides links to Previous Releases, Releases Scheduled for the Next Six Months and Main Economic Indicator Releases.

QUEENSLAND THEME PAGE

This page provides access to Queensland statistical information including statistical releases and links to non-ABS sources. A wide range of economic and social statistics is covered.