WHAT'S NEW AT ABS ...

NatStats Conference 08
ABS Study to Understand Data Training Needs in Queensland
Perspective on Migrants
Schools, Australia
Agricultural Census 2005-06
Information Paper: Population Concepts, 2008
Information Paper: Arts and Cultural Heritage - An Information Development Plan, 2008
Information Paper: Overview of ABS Cause of Death Statistics, 2006
Brisbane..... A Social Atlas, 2006
ABS Release Information
Queensland Theme Page


NATSTATS CONFERENCE 08 - MELBOURNE 19-21 NOVEMBER 2008

Planning for the ABS hosted NatStats 08 Conference is well underway. The conference will be held from 19-21 November 2008 at the Crown Promenade in Melbourne. It will connect the users and the producers of official statistics and provide an opportunity for participants to discuss strategies for improving statistics for policy and decision makers.

The focus of the conference will be on measuring progress in Australian society and future information needs. An array of high profile policy and decision makers from across the community have been invited to ensure a varied and exciting program.

The NatStats 08 Conference will be linked with the global initiative being led by the OECD on Measuring Progress in Societies and with the Australian initiatives being developed through the 2020 Summit and the National Reform Agenda.

If you would like more information on the conference please email Mark Lound at mark.lound@abs.gov.au or phone 02 6252 6325. Alternatively, if you would like to register your interest in the conference, please contact Conference Solutions on natstats@con-sol.com or phone 02 6285 3000.

Keep your eyes open for details of the conference in future editions of Qld Stats.

ABS STUDY TO UNDERSTAND DATA TRAINING NEEDS IN QUEENSLAND

• Do you use or produce data?
• Would you benefit from training to improve the way you work with data?

If you answered 'yes', then the ABS is eager to know more about how you work with data and in what areas you'd like training.

Your information will assist the ABS to understand how clients use data. Your information will be used to give the ABS a picture of the need for data training in Queensland, across government and non-government agencies. All responses will be treated confidentially.

The study is being conducted during April/May.

We're asking for your assistance to fill in a short questionnaire about how you work with data and your training needs, or refer us to someone who can assist.

If you are able to provide us with even more detailed insight into the use of data within your unit, and your training priorities, you can sign up to participate in a phone interview or one of the focus groups that we will be running. These follow up interviews and focus groups will discuss a range of issues around the topic of data training.

For further information about the study and to arrange access to the questionnaire, contact cassie.mcfarling@abs.gov.au or (07) 3222 6330 or fran.mawdsley@abs.gov.au or (07) 3222 6152.


PERSPECTIVE ON MIGRANTS

The National Migrant Statistics Unit recently released the first issue of the Perspectives on Migrants (cat. no. 3416.0), providing informed articles on migrant and ethnic population groups within Australia, including:

• the relationship between birthplace and religion
• migrant peoples experiences of crime victimisation
• an overview of data relating to overseas students
• the English proficiency of migrants in Australia.

In addition, some articles illustrate how the new Migrant Data Matrices (cat. no. 3415.0) and the Guide to Migrant Statistical Sources (cat. no. 3414.0) can be used as research tools. Articles will be released biannually on the ABS website.

For other new products from the National Migrant Statistics Unit please see the ABS Migrant and Ethnicity theme page or the half yearly electronic newsletter Migrant Statistics News.

For further information on migrant Statistics contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or email client.services@abs.gov.au.

SCHOOLS, AUSTRALIA (cat. no. 4221.0)

This publication, which was released 29 February presents statistics on schools, students and teaching staff involved in the provision or administration of primary and secondary education, in government and non-government schools for all states and territories.

Also included are apparent retention rates for students to Years 9, 10, 11 and 12, student/teaching staff ratios, school age participation rates and some information on indigenous students.

AGRICULTURAL CENSUS 2005-06

Agricultural Commodities: Small Area Data, Australia, 2005-06 (cat. no. 7125.0) was released 7 March 2008. This publication presents final commodity and livestock estimates from the 2005-06 Agricultural Census at the standard ABS geographies of Statistical Local Area (SLA) and Statistical Division (SD). Data are also presented for Natural Resource Management (NRM) Regions.

The ABS Agricultural Census collects area and production data for a wide range of agricultural commodities. Additional data on land management were also collected. In 2005-06 these included data on tree planting and on fencing for the protection of tracts of land from grazing.

Final estimates at national and state levels can be found in Agricultural Commodities, Australia 2005-06 (cat. no. 7121.0)

INFORMATION PAPER: POPULATION CONCEPTS, 2008 (cat. no. 3107.0.55.006)

Population estimates are one of the major outputs of any National Statistical Office. They are key statistics for a wide range of planning and policy decisions and while population can be simply defined e.g. 'the total number of persons inhabiting a country, town or any district or area' (Macquarie Dictionary, 2005) the concepts associated with its measurement are increasingly complex.

In the Australian context the key population measure is the estimated resident population (ERP) which is based on the concept of usual residence. However there are a range of other population concepts that are relevant to different analytical situations. These can include the population in a particular area at a particular time, or, while not entirely consistent with the above definition, it can extend to the concept of the population serviced by a particular area.

The objectives of this paper which was released 12 March are to discuss the range of population concepts, highlight the differences between the various concepts and identify some of the measurement issues associated with the different concepts.

INFORMATION PAPER: ARTS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE - AN INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN, 2008 (cat. no.4915.0.55.002)

This paper was released 14 March and identifies the agreed priorities and action for information development in the area of Arts and Cultural Heritage. The paper also identifies gaps in available data and provides recommendations for addressing these data gaps. Recommendations will be implemented collaboratively by the ABS and other key producers of Arts and Cultural Heritage data over the next 3 to 5 years.

INFORMATION PAPER: OVERVIEW OF ABS CAUSE OF DEATH STATISTICS, 2006 (cat. no. 3317.0.55.002)

Causes of Death statistics, and the use of these statistics for demographic and health purposes, are key to understanding current and future pictures of Australian society and formulation and monitoring of policies. Causes of death information provide insights into the diseases and factors contributing to reduced life expectancy. Causes of death statistics are one of the oldest and most comprehensive set of health statistics available in Australia.

The purpose of this paper which was released 14 March is to provide advice to users of ABS Causes of Death data about the concepts, data sources, methods and quality issues concerning causes of death data and to assist them in interpreting the existing collection. The process of producing causes of death data is described in the publication. Data quality issues relating to particular parts of the process and the current impact of these data quality issues on the data for causes of death data are described.

BRISBANE... A SOCIAL ATLAS, 2006

BRISBANE... A Social Atlas 2006 (cat. no. 2030.3) was released on 17 March 2008. This Social Atlas is one of a series of publications that uses maps to highlight key characteristics of the population in Australia's capital cities and selected regional centres. The maps depict social, economic and housing characteristics based on data collected in the 2006 Census of Population and Housing. This information provides some insight into the composition and structure of Australian society. The geographic distribution of the data highlights the diversity that exists within the nation's cities and regional centres. A separate atlas is available for each state and territory.

This atlas includes maps for Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Brief commentary accompanies each map, highlighting the main features of the mapped characteristic. These characteristics are categorised into broad themes covering Population, Cultural Diversity, Education, Labour Force, Income, Families and Households, and Dwellings.

For further information on the Social Atlas series contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or email client.services@abs.gov.au.

ABS RELEASE INFORMATION

Information on all ABS future product releases can be accessed from ABS Release Advice. This web page also provides links to Previous Releases 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.