Australian Bureau of Statistics

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is the Australian government agency that collects and publishes statistical information about Australia.

Population and Housing

This agency also undertakes the Australian Census of Population and Housing. These are conducted every 5 years, in line with international statistical practice. The last Australian population census was in 2001, and the next one is scheduled for August 8, 2006.

Measuring Australia's Progress

As well as providing financial and economic statistics, the ABS has a strong interest in broader social indicators. The current Australian Statistician Dennis Trewin, was listed as one of Australia's Smart 100 in a 2003 poll run by the Australian magazine The Bulletin for his new suite of statistical indicators - in a publication titled "Measuring Australia's Progress" - which sets out and tracks key aspects of social progress in Australia.

Research and Development

The ABS collects R&D data from business enterprises, higher education institutions, government and private non-profit organisations. The results allow the nature and distribution of Australia's R&D activity to be monitored by government policy analysts and advisers to government, businesses and economists.

Survey Classifications

The survey reports research against the Australian Standard Research Classification (ASRC) ^*, which consists of Type of Activity (TOA), Research Field, Course and Discpline Codes classification (RFCD) and Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) classification. The ABS permits participants to report at a university or research centre level, however wherever possible the data must be provided on a project by project basis.

TOA - R&D activity is categorised according to the type of research effort:

pure basic research,
strategic basic research,
applied research and
experimental development.

RFCD - This classification allows both R&D activity and other activity within the higher education sector to be categorised. Prior to ASRC 1998, this information was collected using a different set of indicators called Field of Research. It has been expanded in order that it can be used within the higher education sector to classify courses, units of study and teaching activity to field. The categories in the classification include recognised academic disciplines and related major sub-fields taught at universities or tertiary institutions, major fields of research investigated by national research institutions and organisations, and emerging areas of study.

SEO - This classification allows R&D to be categorised according to the purpose of the R&D as perceived by the researcher. It consists of discrete economic, social, technological or scientific domains for identifying the principal purpose of the R&D. The attributes applied to the design of the SEO Classification comprise a combination of processes, products, health, education and other social and environmental aspects of particular interest.

Year Book Australia

ABS produces an annual year book for Australia, called the Year Book Australia, which is the principal reference work produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It provides a comprehensive and detailed statistical overview of various aspects of the economy and social conditions in Australia.

In addition, it contains descriptive matter dealing with Australia’s geography and climate, government, international relations, defence, education, and the health and welfare support systems.

Past Australian Statisticians

A full list is at Australian Statistician

External links

Australian Bureau of Statistics website
Year Book Australia, 2006. from Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Measuring Australia's Progress
October 22, 2003 Bulletin article on Dennis Trewin
SMART 100: Get smart from The Bulletin

Government of Australia | National statistical services | Demographics of Australia

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