Microdata: Outcomes from Vocational Education and Training in Schools, Australia

Facilitates detailed analysis of the longitudinal post school outcomes of participants in Vocational Education and Training in Schools

Introduction

The Outcomes from Vocational Education and Training in Schools Microdata Product comes from the 2006 Vocational Education and Training in Schools and 2011 Census of Population and Housing Integrated Dataset (the Integrated Data). The integration of this data enhances the evidence base available for analysis of the post school labour market and education outcomes of participants in Vocational Education and Training in Schools. The Integrated Data is only released in the ABS Data Laboratory, however, a Test File is also available to help users become familiar with the structure of the data before undertaking an ABS Data Laboratory session.

Data on Vocational Education and Training in Schools was supplied to the ABS by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research. More information on this data can be found via the Explanatory notes section. The Census of Population and Housing is conducted every five years and aims to measure accurately the number of people and dwellings in Australia on Census Night (9 August for the 2011 Census).

Microdata products are the most detailed information available from a Census, survey, or administrative sources and generally include confidentialised unit record level information such as responses to individual questions on a questionnaire. They also include derived data from responses for two or more variables and are released with the approval of the Australian Statistician.

Available products

A Test File is available on the Data downloads section for understanding the structure of the data and to test code. This file does not contain real data and cannot be used for analysis. The Integrated Data is available through the ABS Data Laboratory, which enables in-depth analysis using a range of statistical software packages. Further information about the ABS Data Laboratory, and other information to assist users in understanding and accessing microdata in general, is available from the Microdata Entry Page.

To apply for access to the Integrated Data in the ABS Data Laboratory, please contact Microdata Access Strategies via microdata.access@abs.gov.au.

Information on access can be found on the How to Apply for Microdata page on the ABS web site.

Further information

For further information about data sources, data scope, linkage methodology and results, weighting methodology, and data quality see the information available in the Explanatory Notes section.

For further information about the data structure and available data items see the Data Items section. A Data items list is also available from the Data downloads section.

For further information about the Test File see the Test File section. The Test File is available from the Data downloads section.

Support

For support in the use of this product, please contact Microdata Access Strategies on 02 6252 7714 or via microdata.access@abs.gov.au.

Data available on request

Customised tables are available on a fee-for-service basis. A consultancy service is available for complex analysis and modelling. Contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.

Acknowledgments

ABS releases draw extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated: without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act 1905.

The ABS gratefully acknowledges the co-operation and technical advice provided by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research.

Inquiries

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070, or email client.services@abs.gov.au. The ABS Privacy Policy outlines how the ABS will handle any personal information that you provide to us.

Data items

Data items list

A complete list of data items included on the Integrated 2006 Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Schools and 2011 Census of Population and Housing (the Census) dataset is provided in an Excel workbook that can be accessed from the Data downloads section.

All data items are created at the person level. This includes data items relating to the family and household of the person from the Census. For ease of use, these data items have been divided into Person, Dwelling, Household, Family, Spouse Related, and Male and Female parent related groupings.

Users intending to apply for access to the ABS Data Laboratory should ensure the data they require, and the level of detail required, are available and applicable for the intended use.

Weighting

Weighting is the process of adjusting a sample to infer results for the relevant population. To do this, a 'weight' is allocated to each sample unit - in this case, student records. The weight can be considered an indication of how many students in the relevant population are represented by each person in the sample. Weights were created for linked records to enable population estimates to be produced.

Estimates from this dataset should be obtained by summing the weights assigned to each linked record, using the variable called WEIGHTS. The weight is a value which indicates how many student population records are represented by the linked record. Weights aim to adjust for the fact that the linked student records may not be representative of all the student records. Weighting should be used to ensure better representation of population sub-groups and to enhance the reliability of linked education data for longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis. Note that only weighted counts will produce an estimate of the total number of persons with the specified characteristic.

Not applicable categories

'Not applicable' categories occur when an item on the Census form or VET in Schools administrative forms do not apply to the respondent. Not all data items in the Integrated Data include a 'Not applicable' category.

Not stated categories

'Not stated' categories occur when no response has been provided for a data item. Some VET in Schools and all Census data items contain not stated categories except for age, sex, marital status and usual address, as this information is imputed for these items.

Visitors on Census night

Overseas visitors were excluded from the Census. However, the Census does include visitors from within Australia in 2011. These are people who were enumerated away from their usual residence on Census Night. Family information cannot be derived for these persons and as such all family, spouse, and male and female parent related data items are not applicable for visitors.

All dwelling related data items, however, have been made applicable to visitors. This information relates to their dwelling of enumeration on Census Night, not usual residence.

Most household data items are not applicable to visitors, however for four data items, visitors have been included in order to align to standard Census derivations of that data item. These comprise:

  • Total Household Income as stated (weekly) of household in which person was enumerated
  • Total Household Income (weekly) of household in which person was enumerated
  • Household Income Derivation Indicator of household in which person was enumerated
  • Household Composition of household in which person was enumerated.

Any applicable household information for a visitor relates to their place of enumeration, not usual residence.

Where a data item is applicable to visitors, the Usual Address Indicator on Census Night data item can be used to restrict the table to usual residents only.

Persons temporarily absent on Census night

The Census household form provides the opportunity to list up to three persons who were temporarily absent from the dwelling on Census Night. A limited amount of information is collected for these persons and it is used to better derive the family and household characteristics of the dwelling. In deriving family and household related data items for the Census data, information on persons temporarily absent was included where relevant and available.

Test file

A Test File has been created for the Outcomes from Vocational Education and Training in Schools Microdata Product. The purpose of the Test File is to allow researchers/analysts to become more familiar with the data structure and prepare code/programs prior to applying for, or commencing, an ABS Data Laboratory session. This aims to maximise the value of sessions by saving users time and resources once they enter the ABS Data Laboratory environment.

This Test File mimics the structure of the 2006 Vocational Education and Training in Schools and 2011 Census of Population and Housing Integrated Dataset in that it has the same data items and allowed values. All data on the file is false, created through a randomisation process. Proportions of values within data items in the Test File will be similar to those in the real data, however, relationships between data items will not be intentionally maintained. It is extremely unlikely that a record in the Test File would match with a genuine record in the real data.

The Test File is available as a free download through the Data downloads section. The Test File may also be available in other file formats on request. For further information users should email microdata.access@abs.gov.au or telephone (02) 6252 7714.

The Test File does not contain real data, and cannot be used for analysis.

Conditions of use

User responsibilities

The Census and Statistics Act 1905 includes a legislative guarantee to respondents that their confidentiality will be protected. This is fundamental to the trust that the Australian public has in the ABS and that trust is in turn fundamental to maintaining the quality of ABS information. Without that trust, respondents may be less forthcoming or truthful in answering our questionnaires. For more information, see 'Avoiding inadvertent disclosure and 'Microdata' on the web page How the ABS keeps your information confidential.

Conditions of sale

All ABS products and services are provided subject to the ABS DisclaimerABS CopyrightABS Privacy and ABS Conditions of Sale.

Any queries relating to these Conditions of Sale should be emailed to intermediary.management@abs.gov.au.

Price

Microdata access is priced according to the ABS Pricing Policy and Commonwealth Cost Recovery Guidelines. For details refer to ABS Pricing Policy on the ABS website. For microdata prices refer to the Microdata prices web page.

How to apply for access

To apply for access to the microdata, clients should read the How to Apply for Microdata web page.

Clients should familiarise themselves with the User Manual: Responsible Use of ABS CURFs before applying for access.

Australian universities

The ABS/Universities Australia Agreement provides participating universities with access to a range of ABS products and services. This includes access to microdata.

For further information, university clients should refer to the ABS/Universities Australia Agreement web page.

Further information

The Microdata Entry page on the ABS website contains links to microdata related information to assist users to understand and access microdata.

For further information users should email microdata.access@abs.gov.au or telephone (02) 6252 7714.

Data downloads

I-Note

Data files

Explanatory notes

Show all

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 4260.0.55.001.

Back to top of the page