Changes to performance measures
We have made minor changes to our performance measures to continually improve the way we measure our performance. A summary of changes is outlined below.
Summary of changes to performance measures
Key activity 1: Produce high-quality statistics and insights
| 2024–25 Corporate Plan performance measure and method | 2025–26 Corporate Plan performance measure and method | Changes made | Rationale | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 Trust in ABS statistics | 1.1 Trust in ABS statistics | Retained | Not applicable. | ||
| Community Trust in ABS Statistics Survey (CTASS) | Community Trust in ABS Statistics Survey (CTASS) | Retained | Not applicable. | ||
| Number of statistics released free of significant errors | Number of statistics released on the ABS website are free of significant errors | Amended | Change to the wording of the method and target to include the reference to errors released ‘on the ABS website’ and to the definition of a significant error to improve clarity of measurement. | ||
| 1.2 International compliance | 1.2 International compliance | Retained | Not applicable. | ||
| Compliance with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) | Compliance with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) | Retained | Not applicable. | ||
| 1.3 Conduct the Census | 1.3 Conduct the Census | Retained | Not applicable. | ||
| Finalise 2026 Census topics | Not applicable | Removed | Methods and targets reflect the major phases of the Census. Activity will not be undertaken in this Corporate Plan period. | ||
| Successful completion of the 2025 Census Operational Readiness Exercise (ORE) | Successful completion of the 2025 Census Operational Readiness Exercise (ORE) | Amended | The 2025–26 target has been revised to clarify the title of the Census governance forum as the 2026 Census Executive Board. | ||
| Response rate to the 2026 Census | Response rate to the 2026 Census | Retained | Not applicable. | ||
| Independent survey of user sentiment towards the 2026 Census | Independent survey of user sentiment towards the 2026 Census | Retained | Not applicable. | ||
| Validation of the quality of 2026 Census data by the Independent Assurance Panel | Validation of the quality of 2026 Census data by the Independent Statistical Assurance Panel | Amended | Minor wording change to the method to include the word ‘Statistical’ to correctly reflect the assurance panel title. | ||
| Completion of the release of data on all 2026 Census topics | Completion of the release of data on all 2026 Census topics | Retained | Not applicable. | ||
| Not applicable | Finalise the proposed 2031 Census topics | New | Methods and targets reflect the major phases of the Census. New method and target introduced to reflect 2031 Census activity to be undertaken in 2028–29. | ||
| 1.4 Access to ABS data and statistics | 1.4 Access to ABS data and statistics | Retained | Not applicable. | ||
Composite index of channel access:
| Composite index of channel access:
| Amended | Methodology has been updated to move to annual re-benchmarking (previous benchmark was 2020–21 = 100). Targets have been revised to ensure the expected growth is reflective of performance from the previous year. As a result of annual benchmarking, the rate of growth is reduced compared to the expected growth against the previous benchmark set in 2020–21. Targets are reflected as a percentage change on benchmark. Previously targets were reflected as an index value. | ||
Key activity 2: Exercise leadership in strengthening Australia’s data capabilities
| 2024–25 Corporate Plan performance measure and method | 2025–26 Corporate Plan performance measure and method | Changes made | Rationale | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 Adoption of secure data infrastructure | 2.1 Adoption of secure data infrastructure | Retained | Not applicable. | ||
| Number of agreements in place for Secure Environment for Analysing Data (SEAD) services | Number of agreements for Secure Environment for Analysing Data (SEAD) services | Amended | The method and target descriptions have been updated. Previously described as ‘agreements in place’, the words ‘in place’ have been removed to accurately reflect the methodology, which is a cumulative count of agreements, including those that are currently active and those that have ceased. The targets have been revised from 2026–27 (2026–27 from 18 to 16; 2027–28 from 22 to 18) to give a more accurate reflection of the cadence of uptake after an initial surge after the service was introduced in 2022. | ||
| 2.2 Engagement with the APS Data Profession | 2.2 Engagement with the APS Data Profession | Retained | Not applicable. | ||
| Number of Member Community Platform (MCP) members and interactions with the MCP | 1. Number of Member Community Platform (MCP) members 2. Number of interactions with the MCP | Amended | The method has been updated to clarify that the indicators are measured independently. | ||
Key activity 3: Strengthen relationships and reduce load on data providers
| 2024–25 Corporate Plan performance measure and method | 2025–26 Corporate Plan performance measure and method | Changes made | Rationale | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 Efficiency of statistical operations | 3.1 Efficiency of statistical operations | Amended | The measure description has been updated to include reference to ‘processing’ as well as ‘collection’ methods to better reflect the activities aligning to Key activity 3: Strengthen relationships and reduce load on data providers. | ||
| Case study showing efficiencies made in collecting data for statistical purposes | Not applicable | Removed | Case study -Whole of Australian Government Coding Capability project to deliver a modern machine learning statistical coding capability to a minimum of 3 Australian Government or state government agencies by June 2025 has been removed. The performance of Whole of Australian Government Coding Capability will continue to be measured, through a newly established method, focused on measuring efficiency and quality benefits and utilisation across ABS statistical collections. The title of the tool was updated to ‘Whole of Australian Government Coding Service’. Case study - Replacing the legacy system XIAM with OKTA to improve security and provide a simplified and contemporary experience has been removed because the implementation phase of the project coming to an end. | ||
| Not applicable | Use of the Whole of Australian Government Coding Service to improve efficiency of statistical operations | New | New method instated to measure efficiencies realised by coding data using the Whole of Australian Government Coding Service across ABS statistical collections. | ||
| 3.2 Data collection effort and respondent experience | 3.2 Data collection effort and respondent experience | Retained | Not applicable. | ||
| Total time taken for survey respondents to complete business surveys | Total time taken for survey respondents to complete business surveys | Amended | New methodology has been implemented to address inconsistent calculation of provider burden across business collections. A new baseline been established as performance results are no longer comparable to the previous benchmark set in the ABS Corporate Plan 2020–21. | ||
| Percentage of households responding online | Percentage of households responding online | Amended | Targets have been revised to reflect performance trends in recent years and the commitments made in the Data Acquisition Modernisation investment process. They reflect the figures as per the Program benefits baseline measures and final benefits realisation outcomes. | ||