Australian Bureau of Statistics
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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) [link], 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.
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
See also
- ANZSIC - Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification - a classification scheme developed jointly with Statistics New Zealand
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
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