3412.0 - Migration, Australia, 2002-03

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/04/2004

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Explanatory Notes Glossary Abbreviations Data Source	Australian resident For migration statistics, Australian resident is self-defined as reported by travellers when completing an Incoming or Outgoing Passenger Card. For estimated resident population statistics, the census year population estimates classify a person as an Australian resident if the person has (in the 1996 Census) reported a usual address in Australia where the person has lived or intends to live for six months or more in 1996. The post-censal estimates, while based on the census data, are updated with international migration data that have a criterion of one year or more of intended stay in or departure from Australia. In the 2001 Census, persons who usually live in another country and who are visiting Australia for less than a year, were classified as living in another country. Category jumping Category jumping was the name given to the adjustment made to the components of net overseas migration, when these were applied, up until the year ending 30 June 1996. Category jumping was set to zero for the years ending 30 June 1997 to 2001. With the new method of adjusting these components, this adjustment is now known as overseas migration adjustment. Category jumping was the term used to describe changes between intended and actual duration of stay of travellers to/from Australia, such that their classification as short-term or as long-term/permanent movers is different at arrival/departure from that after twelve months. For more information, see Chapter 6, 'Special article: Adjustments to overseas migration estimates'. Category of movement Overseas arrivals and departures are classified according to length of stay (in Australia or overseas), recorded in months and days by travellers on passenger cards. There are three main categories of movement: permanent movements long-term movements (one year or more) short-term movements (less than one year). A significant number of travellers (i.e. overseas visitors to Australia on arrival and Australian residents going abroad) state exactly twelve months or one year as their intended period of stay. Many of them stay for less than that period and on their departure from, or return to, Australia are therefore classified as short-term. Accordingly, in an attempt to maintain consistency between arrivals and departures, movements of travellers who report their actual or intended period of stay as being one year exactly are randomly allocated to long-term or short-term in proportion to the number of movements of travellers who report their actual length of stay as up to one month more, or one month less, than one year. Country of residence Country of residence refers to the country in which travellers regard themselves as living or as last having lived. Estimated resident population The official measure of the population of Australia is based on the concept of (ERP) residence. It refers to all people, regardless of nationality or citizenship, who usually live in Australia, with the exception of foreign diplomatic personnel and their families. It includes usual residents who are overseas for less than twelve months. It excludes overseas visitors who are in Australia for less than twelve months. Intercensal discrepancy Intercensal discrepancy is the difference between two estimates at 30 June of a census year population, the first based on the latest census and the second arrived at by updating the 30 June estimate of the previous census year with intercensal components of population change which take account of information available from the latest census. It is caused by errors in the start and/or finish population estimates and/or in estimates of births, deaths or migration in the intervening period which cannot be attributed to a particular source. Long-term arrivals Long-term arrivals comprise: overseas visitors who intend to stay in Australia for twelve months or more (but not permanently) Australian residents returning after an absence of twelve months or more overseas. Long-term departures Long-term departures comprise: Australian residents who intend to stay abroad for twelve months or more (but not permanently) overseas visitors departing who stayed twelve months or more in Australia. Main destination Australian residents travelling overseas are asked on departure for the name of the country in which they intend to spend most time. Marital status Two separate concepts of marital status are measured by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These are registered marital status and social marital status. Registered marital status refers to formally registered marriages and divorces. Registered marital status is a person's relationship status in terms of whether he or she has, or has had, a registered marriage with another person. Accordingly, people are classified as either 'never married', 'married', 'widowed' or 'divorced'. Social marital status is the relationship status of an individual with reference to another person who is usually resident in the household. A marriage exists when two people live together as husband and wife, or partners, regardless of whether the marriage is formalised through registration. Individuals are, therefore, regarded as married if they are in a de facto marriage, or if they are living with the person to whom they are registered as married. Under social marital status, a person is classified as either 'married' or 'not married' with further disaggregation of 'married' to distinguish 'registered married' from 'de facto married' person. Median value For any distribution the median value (age, duration, interval) is that value which divides the relevant population into two equal parts, half falling below the value, and half exceeding it. Where the value for a particular record has not been stated, that record is excluded from the calculation. Migration adjustment The ABS applies a number of adjustments to overseas arrivals and departures data in order to produce estimates of NOM. These mainly comprise adjustments designed to reflect differences between stated travel intentions and actual travel behaviour, but (in the case of revised NOM estimates) also include adjustments to transform numbers of overseas movements into numbers of travellers. Until recently, adjustments used by ABS to produce NOM estimates were collectively referred to as 'category jumping adjustments'. They are now referred to more simply as 'migration adjustments'. Natural increase Excess of births over deaths. Net interstate migration The difference between the number of persons who have changed their place of usual residence by moving into a given state or territory and the number who have changed their place of usual residence by moving out of that state or territory during a specified time period. This difference can be either positive or negative. Net overseas migration Net overseas migration is net permanent and long-term overseas migration, adjusted for change in traveller duration intention and multiple movement error. Occupation Refers to the usual occupation of each person aged between 15 years and 64 years as coded according to the ASCO—Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, Second Edition (cat. no. 1220.0). Overseas arrivals and departures (OAD) Overseas arrivals and departures (OAD) refer to the arrival or departure of persons, through Australian airports (or sea ports), which have been recorded. Statistics on OAD relate to the number of movements of travellers rather than the number of travellers (i.e. the multiple movements of individual persons during a given reference period are all counted). Overseas migration adjustment See Migration adjustment. Permanent arrivals (settlers) Permanent arrivals (settlers) comprise: travellers who hold migrant visas (regardless of stated intended period of stay) New Zealand citizens who indicate an intention to settle those who are otherwise eligible to settle (e.g. overseas-born children of Australian citizens). This definition of settlers is used by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA). Prior to 1985 the definition of settlers used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) was the stated intention of the traveller only. Numerically the effect of the change in definition is insignificant. The change was made to avoid the confusion caused by minor differences between data on settlers published separately by the ABS and the DIMIA. Permanent departures Permanent departures are Australian residents (including former settlers) who on departure state that they are departing permanently. Population turnover Population turnover is the sum of interstate arrivals and departures during a year expressed as a proportion of the resident population of the state or territory at mid-point of the year. Purpose of journey On arrival in, or departure from, Australia, all overseas visitors and Australian residents are asked to state their main purpose of journey. From September 1994, all statistics relating to purpose of journey have been published using the following categories: convention/conference business visiting friends/relatives holiday employment education other. In tabulations of data collected before September 1994, the 'Other' category includes 'In transit'. The 'Holiday' category includes both 'Student vacation' and 'Accompanying business visitor'. Rate of population growth Population change over a period as a proportion (percentage) of the population at the beginning of the period. Return migration Return migration is the emigration of former settlers to their country of birth. Short-term arrivals Short-term arrivals comprise: overseas visitors who intend to stay in Australia for less than twelve months Australian residents returning after a stay of less than twelve months overseas. Short-term departures Short-term departures comprise: Australian residents who intend to stay abroad for less than twelve months overseas visitors departing after a stay of less than twelve months in Australia. State or territory of clearance State or territory of clearance refers to the state or territory in which a passenger is cleared by Customs and Immigration authorities. Embarkation or disembarkation and clearance are usually, but not necessarily, in the same state or territory. State or territory of intended residence State or territory of intended residence is derived from the intended address given by permanent arrivals (settlers), and by Australian residents returning after a journey abroad. Particularly in the case of the former, this information does not necessarily relate to the state or territory in which a traveller will eventually establish a permanent residence. State or territory of intended address/where lived Overseas visitors are asked on arrival for the name of the state or territory of intended address. On departure from Australia overseas visitors are asked the state or territory where they spent most time. Australian residents are asked on departure for the state or territory in which they live/lived. Residents returning to Australia are asked for their state or territory of intended address. State or territory and Statistical Local Area of usual residence State or territory and Statistical Local Area (SLA) of usual residence refers to the state or territory and SLA of usual residence of: the population (estimated resident population) the mother (birth collection) or the deceased (death collection). In the case of overseas movements, state or territory of usual residence refers to the state or territory regarded by the traveller as the one in which he/she lives or has lived. State or territory of intended residence is derived from the intended address given by settlers, and by Australian residents returning after a journey abroad. Particularly in the case of the former, this information does not necessarily relate to the state or territory in which the traveller will eventually establish a permanent residence. State or territory of stay Overseas visitors are asked on departure for the name of the state or territory in which they spent the most time. For further information: Main Features: Australian Demographic Statistics, 3101.0 Overseas Arrivals and Departures 3401.0 International Migration Feature Article: Population Mobility Special Article: Long-Term Movement Time Series Spreadsheets (cost involved): Interstate Arrivals Interstate Departures Total Movement, Arrivals - Category of Movement Total Movement, Departures - Category of Movement Permanent Movement, Settlers - Country of Birth (Major Groups) Permanent Movement, Settlers - Country of Birth Publications (cost involved): Australian Demographic Statistics, 3101.0 Overseas Arrivals and Departures 3401.0 Statistical Concepts Library: Demographic Estimates and Projections: Concepts, Sources and Methods Catalogue: Migration, Australia (cat. no. 3412.0) Media Releases: Just the release for this pub (coming soon) Data Cubes (cost involved): Australian Historical Population Statistics - Migration Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window.