CIV Newsletter - April 2008

A range of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data and information resources of interest to users of small area information (particularly users from Local Government) have recently been released.  They are listed here for the information of CIV users.

Recent Small Area Releases

2006 Socio-Economic Indexes For Areas (SEIFA)

The Socio-Economic Indexes For Areas (SEIFA), together with an information paper and detailed technical paper were released on 26 March 2008.  SEIFA is a suite of summary measures created from 2006 Census information.  The indexes can be used to explore different aspects of socio-economic condition by geographic area.  For each index, every geographic area in Australia is given a SEIFA score which shows how disadvantaged that area is compared with other areas in Australia.  The four indexes in SEIFA 2006 are:

Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage:  focuses primarily on disadvantage, dervied from variables like low income, low educational attainment, unemployment, and dwellings without motor vehicles.

Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage:  a continuum of advantage (high values) to disadvantage (low values), derived from variables of both advantage and disadvantage.

Index of Economic Resources:  focuses on financial aspects of advantage and disadvantage, using variables relating to residents' incomes, housing expenditure and assets.

Index of Education and Occupation:  includes variables relating to educational attainment, employment and vocational skills.

2006 Census Social Atlas Series

Melbourne ... A Social Atlas, 2006 was released on 17 March 2008 and presents colour maps based on 2006 Census data that highlight key social, demographic and housing characteristics of Melbourne and Geelong.  Maps highlight the diversity across these cities, and commentary explains the main features of each map.  Maps cover population, cultural diversity, education, labour force, income, families, households and dwellings.

Colour maps for these and other geographic areas are also available via MapStats on the ABS website.

Estimated Resident Population - June 2007

Regional Population Growth, Australia 2006-07 was released on 31 March 2008.  The estimated resident population of the Melbourne Statistical Division (SD) was 3.8 million at June 2007.  This represents an increase of 61,700 people (1.6%), which was the largest growth of all capital cities in Australia, and equivalent to an extra 1,200 persons each week.  Sydney SD had the second largest growth, increasing by 52,000 people.  Victoria as a whole grew by 1.5% which was the same as the annual growth for Australia.

The largest and fastest growth continued to occur in outer fringe local government areas (LGAs) of Wyndham, Casey, Melton, Cardinia and Whittlesea.  These strong growth patterns are consistent with patterns observed over the past five years.  The City of Melbourne also showed strong growth with the fourth largest population increase and the second fastest growth of all Victorian LGAs.

The estimated annual population growth outside of metropolitan Melbourne increased by 1.1% (which is about 15,200 people) in the year ending 30 June 2007.  The largest growth occurred in the LGAs of Greater Geelong, Greater Bendigo and the City of Ballarat as well as the City of Latrobe and the Rural City of Mildura.  The rate of growth, however, was faster on the coast, with the shires of Surf Coast, Bass Coast and the City of Warrnambool all in the top five fastest growing LGAs in regional Victoria.  The Shire of Mitchell, which is still within commuting distance of Melbourne, was the second fastest growing LGA outside the Melbourne SD.

ABS Website Resources

Help for Local Government on the ABS website

Local Government users of the ABS website can now access information designed to help find data and other resources of interest to Local Government.

New Services We Provide to Local Government information pages have been released to the ABS website, and include:

• How to find data for Local Government Areas (LGAs)
• How to keep informed about ABS releases and developments
• Information about resources and services available to help you use data

The pages include ABS releases that contain data at LGA level, and information about ABS training available to Local Government clients.

The pages are the latest in a series of help pages aimed at assisting ABS client groups - other Services We Provide pages on the ABS website are targetted at State/Territory Government, Small Business and Universities.

A link to the 'Services We Provide to Local Government' information pages is also contained on the Useful Links page of the CIV website.

Events

NatStats 08 Conference

The NatStats 08 Conference will be held at the Crown Promenade, Melbourne from 19-21 November 2008.  NatStats08 aims to bring together decision makers from across Australia to address a range of issues regarding national statistics.  This is a unique opportunity for all users and producers of statistics to be involved in improving statistics for the nation.

The conference program has been designed with policy and decision makers in mind.  Senior staff from policy departments, academia and the private sector, as well as overseas speakers, are being invited to help elevate thinking to a national perspective.  The conference will be divided into three main themes: Informing the Nation; Measuring the Progress of Society; and Informing the Environment Debate.  There will also be a showcase session that will demonstrate Information Platforms and State planning initiatives.

The NatStats08 web site provides detailed information about all aspects of the conference.  The web site will be updated on a regular basis to provide access to the latest program information as soon as it becomes available.

If you would like to talk about the conference program, please contact Mark Lound (email inquiries@nss.gov.au or phone 02 6252 6325).

To register your interest in the conference, please contact Conference Solutions at natstats@con-sol.com.

2006 Census Product Information Sessions - For Librarians, Research and Reference staff

The ABS Victoria Information Skills Program is offering librarians, research and reference staff the opportunity to attend free ABS 2006 Census Product Information Sessions throughout 2008.  The sessions will be held at the ABS Victorian Office, 485 Latrobe St, Melbourne from 2-4pm on 22 May, 24 June, 17 July, 21 August, 23 October and 18 November.  For further information or to book a place, please contact Heather Burns (email vic.client.services@abs.gov.au or phone 03 9615 7535).

2006 Census Information Sessions in Regional Victoria

The ABS will be conducting a series of free information sessions in regional Victoria that will demonstrate through the use of case studies how community groups, not-for profit organisations, local councils, businesses, community educators and other service providers can make use of ABS data.  Sessions will be held in:  Whittlesea (6 May, 10am-12pm), Geelong (21 May, 1.30-3.30pm), Horsham (27 May, 10am-12pm & 2-4pm), Mildura (11 June, 10am-12pm), Bairnsdale (18 June, 1-3pm) and Wodonga (26 June, 10am-12pm).  In addition, a session will be held on 15 July from 2-4pm at the ABS Victorian Office to primarily cater for local council staff in the Melbourne metropolitan area.  For further information or to book a place, please contact Heather Burns (email vic.client.services@abs.gov.au or phone 03 9615 7535).

ABS Statistical Training

The ABS conducts a range of statistical training courses.  Upcoming courses in the ABS Victorian Office are:

• Introduction to Labour Statistics (5 May, 1 day, $450)
• Basic Survey Design (9-10 July, 2 days, $750)
• Making Quality Informed Decisions (14 August, 1 day, $450)
• Analysing Survey Data Made Simple (2-3 September, 2 days, $750)
• Turning Data Into Information (15-16 October, 2 days, $750)

For further information, please click on the link above or contact Alan Page (email victoria.statistics@abs.gov.au or phone 03 9615 7899).