The 14th national Census of Population and Housing was conducted on 7 August 2001 and received strong support from Local Governments throughout Australia. The information collected has now been processed and validated and the first detailed information is ready for use by government, business and the community.Census data is of great importance to Local Government, not only because it is used to assist in the distribution of federal and state funding but also because it is one of the few ABS collections that provides detailed demographic information at a small area level (Collection Districts). This information provides much needed detail for the planning and administration of Council areas.
The first release of information from the 2001 Census occurred on 17 June 2002, just 10 months after collection, with the release of the more complex variables, in terms of processing, being released from November 2002.
The requirements of Local Government for information can be serviced from an array of products and services from the 2001 Census. These range from free information available on the ABS website and hardcopy publications to customised data services and a suite of electronic products, including CDATA 2001. For Councillors or those involved in the daily administration of Local Government wishing to become familiar with census data, a visit to the ABS website at www.abs.gov.au/census is a useful first port of call.
For the 2001 Census, extensive use has been made of the Internet to disseminate data. The amount of data available free has been significantly increased, providing much greater accessibility to census information for the broader community. All Basic Community Profiles down to and including Statistical Local Area and Indigenous Profiles for selected geography are available, free of charge for the first time. Census Snapshots, narrative extracts from the Basic Community Profile and new for the 2001 Census, are also available free of charge down to Statistical Local Area level.
The Basic Community Profile provides detailed census data for small areas in 33 tables containing key census characteristics of persons, families and dwellings. The first 21 tables are now available from the ABS website, with the remaining tables becoming available in November. Basic Community Profiles for other census geography, such as Collection Districts and Postal Areas, are available for purchase via the website at a nominal price. The recent introduction of e-commerce by the ABS provides more convenient and timely access to these products. Basic Community Profiles can also be purchased for customised geography.
To enable clients to satisfy specific data needs which cannot be met from the standard product range, the ABS offers a Census Customised Table Service. This service may be of particular interest to some Local Governments as it allows maximum flexibility in the selection of census variables and geographic areas. The service aims to ensure that the data received is the exact content and format specified. It enables the cross classification of particular variables or data items not available through standard product releases.
Customised tables can be provided as printed reports (for small tables) or in electronic format, dispatched either via email or on a CD-ROM. A feature of this service, for data provided electronically, is the accompanying free software which allows purchasers of customised tables to further manipulate their data. The software enables clients to easily aggregate, print or export the data in the customised tables to standard spreadsheet packages. Customised Tables of first release data can now be ordered. ABS Information Consultants can assist in specifying tables to best suit individual needs. Orders for second release data can also be placed now but users of this data are advised to remember that the second release of 2001 Census data will not occur until November 2002.
CDATA 2001 is the ABS’ premier product for users of census data. This desktop package, developed jointly by the ABS and MapInfo Australia, combines the most recent, comprehensive information on Australian society from the 2001 Census of Population and Housing with powerful mapping software. CDATA 2001 enables detailed analysis of the demographic characteristics of the population. This analysis is integral to effective planning and vital for new businesses or those looking to expand or diversify, and for government agencies in establishing community services.
The package provides an array of data and reference information. It includes Basic Community Profiles for all standard Census Geography from Collection District level, which is the smallest level at which census data is aggregated. It provides data from the 1991 and 1996 Censuses to enable comparative analysis to be undertaken. Extensive and varied geographic classifications and census specific digital boundaries, including Electoral Divisions and Postal Areas, are available as part of this widely utilised electronic product.
Extensive user consultations undertaken by the ABS prior to the conduct of the 2001 Census have resulted in two CDATA options being developed.
These options are:
- CDATA 2001 – Full GIS which uses MapInfo Professional, Geographic Information System (GIS) as the mapping engine; and
- CDATA 2001 – Quickbuild which contains reduced GIS software functionality but still provides complete access to the same range of statistical and boundary data available in the Full GIS option.
CDATA 2001 satisfies a wide range of user requirements, offering different levels of functionality and flexible pricing. Further benefits of CDATA 2001 are the ability to upgrade Quickbuild to the Full GIS at any time and the availability of Add-On Datapacks which allow for greater value and flexibility to be built into the CDATA package.
Additionally, CDATA 2001 is the fourth generation of the product; it is accompanied by extensive free product support to clients through the ABS’ Census Technical Helpline; and guarantees access to expert personnel to discuss all aspects of the package from data to software.
Further support and information are available through the CDATA User Group which was established by the ABS to facilitate discussion of the product and applications. Participation in this forum is expected to assist users make more effective use of the CDATA package. Registration for this group is free and is available at www5.abs.gov.au/forums/registrations.nsf.
As many Local Governments have previously used CDATA, it is also worth mentioning that CDATA 2001 will incorporate a number of other significant enhancements when compared to CDATA96. These include further development of the Geography Hierarchy with simplified geography selection options; the introduction of a Cartographic Legend which creates a legend for all the visible Base Map layers displayed in the active map window; and Data Append and Data Sorting functions.
If you require more information on CDATA or of the other products and services described above, visit the ABS website at www.abs.gov.au/census, call the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or email client.services@abs.gov.au
