Accessing Census Data 101

1
Accessing Census Data 101 Planned
Statistical Geography ImprovementsAlister
NairnDirector, Geography
2
Some Background
24.3 of the Australian resident population in
the 2006 Census were aged 55 years and older.
3
Census Topics
22.2 of Australians counted in the 2006 Census
were born overseas
4
2006 Topics

• Dwelling Structure, Internet Connection, No. of
  Vehicles, Mortgage Payments, Rent, Tenure Type,
  Usual Residence, Journey to Work, Industry,
  Employment
• Occupation, Income, Unpaid Work, Education,
  Religion, Language, Need for
• Assistance, Internal Migration, Usual Residence,
  Ethnicity, Indigenous Status, Citizenship,
  Immigration, Parent's Birthplace, Birthplace,
  Children, Relationships, Marital Status, Sex, Age,

568,230 Queensland residents performed voluntary
work for an organisation or group in the previous
12 months
5
Multi Modal Access

• New for the 2006 Census - Access barriers now
  largely removed!
• 2006 online delivery
• Data packs (tables)
• ABS Information Consultancy
• Intermediaries GIS users
• ESRI Arc Census
• MapInfo AnySite Australia
• SLIP Web trial
• Others

In Melbourne the most common occupations were
Professionals 22.6, Clerical and Administrative
Workers 15.9
6
Online demonstration
Between the 2001 and 2006 Censuses, the
Indigenous population increased by 11, or 45,000
persons.
www.abs.gov.au
7
Whats Still to Come?
In the 1947 Census, households were asked if they
had a toilet.
8
So, you need some data?

• Web www.abs.gov.au and choose Census
• Information Consultancy Ph 1300 135 070
• DataPacks Call NIRS on 1300 135 070

58 of households have an Internet connection.
9
Geographic InfrastructureImproving Small Area
Statistics
Bondi photo from www.whereis.com.au
10
Mesh block update

• Mesh Blocks 2006 Census Version released on
  Friday 29 February free online. Experimental
  for 2006 Census.
• GIS files (Shape and Mid/Mif files)
• Field Names in MapInfo Files
• MB_Code
• MB_Category (Residential, Commercial, Industrial,
  Agricultural, Parkland, Educational,
  Hospital/Medical, Transport, Water, Shipping,
  Nousualresidence and Other.
• Total_UR_Population_2006
• Total_Dwellings_2006
• MB_Imputation_Rate (None, low, med, high)
• MB_Date_Modified
• G-NAF will in future (May 08?) contain a MB Code

11
Mesh block update

• MB CD comparison is a bit like comparing
  Landsat with Quickbird imagery - almost 10X
  greater resolution

12
(No Transcript)
13
(No Transcript)
14
(No Transcript)
15
(No Transcript)
16
Mesh Blocks Monitoring Change -

• Start with 2006 Census
• Identifying Growth Areas
• G-NAF new address points
• CADLITE new subdivisions
• Monthly building approvals
• Imagery
• State govt reports
• MB numbering system can identify parent / child
• Intercensal release for comment mid 2009

17
ASGC Review

• Information paper (1216.0.55.001) proposed a new
  statistical geography
• Incorporates Mesh Blocks as the smallest
  geographic unit.
• Aim to stabilise the structure provide more
  flexibility to support other commonly used
  geographies

18
Problems with the ASGC

• CDs Collection vs Dissemination
• CDs too large for a building block
• SLAs not stable and vary in size too much
• Some of the units are no longer used

19
ABS Structures
Australia
State/ Territory
SA 4
Significant Urban Areas
Capital Cities
SA 3
SA 2
Endorsed Structures (Includes LGAs)
Remote- ness
Remote- ness
Rural/Urban
SA 1
Mesh Blocks
20
ASGC Review

• Outcomes of the ASGC Review (1216.0.55.002) will
  provide ABS responses to issues raised
• Expect publication late March 2008
• The new standard will be published by 2010
  Intention to implement in next census.
• Consultation through State offices

21
THANKS