SCOPE AND COVERAGE
1 The 2001 Census of Population and Housing was held on 7 August 2001. Australia's first national Census was held in 1911 and since 1961 a census has been taken every five years, a frequency which is specified in the Census and Statistics Act 1905. The objective of the Census is to count the number of people in Australia on Census Night, identifying their key characteristics and those of the dwellings in which they live.
2 The Census aims to count every person who spent Census Night in Australia. This includes Australian residents in Antarctica and people in the territories of Jervis Bay, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island. The other Australian External Territories, Norfolk Island and minor islands such as Heard and McDonald Islands, are outside the scope of the Australian Census. The only people in Australia on Census Night who are excluded from the Census are foreign diplomats and their families.
3 The Census includes people on vessels in or between Australian ports, on board long distance trains, buses or aircraft and on oil or gas rigs off the Australian coast. People entering Australia before midnight on Census Night are counted while people leaving an Australian port for an overseas destination before midnight on Census Night are not. Visitors to Australia are included regardless of how long they have been in the country or how long they plan to stay. However, for people who intend to be in Australia less than one year, only basic demographic data are available. The Census includes homeless people and people camping out.
4 All occupied dwellings are counted in the Census with the exception of diplomatic dwellings. Unoccupied private dwellings are also counted with the exception of unoccupied dwellings in caravan parks, marinas and manufactured home estates, and units in accommodation for the retired or aged (self-care). Unoccupied residences of owners, managers or caretakers of such establishments are counted.
5 Details about the 2001 Census content, collection operations, confidentiality and privacy protection, processing and evaluation activities are contained in 2001 Census of Population and Housing: Nature and Content (cat.no.2008.0).
STATISTICAL LOCAL AREA BOUNDARIES
6 The boundaries of Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) are revised from time to time to accord with changes to Local Government Area (LGA) boundaries and to meet needs for small area information. The boundaries shown in this publication are those applying at the time of the 2001 Census. Further information on geographic classifications is contained in Statistical Geography: Volume 1-Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC), 2001 (cat.no.1216.0).
BASIC COMMUNITY PROFILE TABLES B22 to B33
7 Tables numbered B22 to B33 contained in this publication are from the Census of Population and Housing: Basic Community Profile (cat.no.2001.0). These tables are available in hardcopy or electronic format for all standard census geographic areas. For more information about the Community Profiles please refer to the Appendix.
ABS POPULATION ESTIMATES
8 This publication contains population counts based on a 'place of enumeration' basis. 'Place of enumeration' means where the person was counted on Census Night. The Census can provide person counts based on 'place of usual residence' for Collection Districts (CDs) and aggregations of CDs.
9 The Estimated Resident Population (ERP) is the official Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimate of the Australian population. The ERP is based on results of the Census of Population and Housing. It is compiled as at 30 June of each census year and updated quarterly between censuses. The intercensal estimates of the resident population are revised following the next census.
10 The ERP is derived from census usual residence counts, by making the following three important adjustments:
11 ABS population estimates are published in Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0), produced quarterly, and in Population by Age and Sex, Australian States and Territories (cat. no. 3201.0) produced annually. ERPs for SLAs are published in Regional Population Growth, Australia and New Zealand (cat. no. 3218.0).
12 The ABS also provides projections (based on different assumptions as to future fertility, mortality and migration) of the resident population of Australia, states and territories. These projections are published every two years in Population Projections, Australia (cat. no. 3222.0).
13 Census data are subject to a number of inaccuracies resulting from errors by respondents or mistakes in collection or processing. Whilst many of these are corrected by careful processing procedures, some still remain. The effect of the remaining errors is generally slight, although it may be more important for small groups in the population. The main kinds of error to keep in mind are:
- An adjustment for census net under enumeration (or undercount). The level of under enumeration is derived from the Post Enumeration Survey which is conducted soon after the Census, and from estimates based on demographic analysis.
- The inclusion of an estimated number of Australian residents who are temporarily overseas on Census Night and are therefore not covered by the Australian Census. The number of such people is estimated from statistics on overseas arrivals and departures.
- The third adjustment occurs because the Census does not fall on 30 June. For example, the 2001 Census was held on 7 August. Back dating of population estimates from 7 August to 30 June is accomplished using data from birth and death registrations, overseas arrivals and departures, and estimates of interstate migration, for the period 1 July to 7 August.
14 Further information on data quality is provided progressively in Census Update and in 2001 Census Papers.
15 Overseas visitors are defined differently for the 2001 Census. For the 1996 Census overseas visitors were defined as any person who stated they would be in Australia for less than 6 months. For the 2001 Census they are defined as any person who stated they would be in Australia for less than 12 months. Data for overseas visitors are restricted to age, sex and marital status.
LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS
16 The labour force statistics collected from the Census are valuable in providing data for small groups of the population. They are not to be confused with the statistics from the monthly Labour Force Survey, which are only available at state, territory and capital city level.
17 Census figures differ from the survey figures because of differences in scope, questionnaire design and collection procedures. For more information refer to Census Working Paper 99/2-1996 Census: Labour Force Status and the 2001 Census Fact Sheet-Labour Force Status.
18 Official monthly labour force statistics are published in Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6203.0), produced monthly.
CALCULATIONS OF PROPORTIONS
19 When calculating the proportion of the population with a particular characteristic, 'Not stated' responses are included in the denominator. For example in table 4 the proportion of persons aged 15 years and over with qualification for each geographic area is calculated by dividing the number of persons who stated that they had a Non-School qualification by the total population of the geographic area and expressing the result as a percentage. The total population includes the category 'Not stated'.
20 For census variables which include data for overseas visitors i.e. age, sex and marital status, the category 'Overseas visitor' is also included in the denominator.
CALCULATION OF MEDIANS
21 A median is a measure of central tendency. It is a mid value which divides a population distribution into two, with half the observations falling below it and half above it. Unlike averages (means) medians are not usually skewed by extreme observations.
22 There are a number of issues to be aware of:
- Partial non-response: In some cases where an answer is not provided to a question an answer is imputed (often from other information on the form). In other cases a 'Not stated' code is allocated.
- Processing error: While such errors can occur in any processing system, quality management is used continuously to improve the quality of processed data, and to identify and correct data of unacceptable quality.
- Random adjustment: Table cells containing small values are randomly adjusted or suppressed to avoid releasing information about particular individuals, families, or households. The effects of these adjustments are statistically insignificant.
- Respondent error: Because processing procedures cannot detect or repair all errors made by people in completing the forms, some remain in final data.
- Undercount: Although the Census aims to count each person, there are some people who are missed and others who are counted more than once. The data in this publication are not adjusted for the net undercount.
23 'Median monthly housing loan repayments' is applicable to occupied private dwellings being purchased and includes dwellings being purchased under a rent/buy scheme.
24 'Median weekly rent' is applicable to occupied private dwellings being rented. It excludes dwellings being occupied rent free, Visitor only households and Non-classifiable households.
25 'Median weekly individual income' is applicable to persons aged 15 years and over.
26 'Median weekly family income' is applicable to families in occupied private dwellings. It excludes families where at least one family member aged 15 years and over did not state an income, and families where at least one family member aged 15 years and over was temporarily absent.
27 'Median weekly household income' is applicable to occupied private dwellings. It excludes households where at least one member aged 15 years and over did not state an income, and households where at least one member aged 15 years and over was temporarily absent.
28 'Mean household size' is applicable to occupied private dwellings. It is based on the number of persons usually resident in the dwelling. It includes partners, children, and co-tenants (in group households) who were temporarily absent on Census Night. A maximum of three temporary absentees can be counted in each household. It excludes Non-classifiable households.
29 The 1996 Census dollar values for 'Median weekly individual income', 'Median monthly housing loan repayments' and 'Median weekly rent' have not been adjusted into 2001 dollars.
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- The categories 'Not stated' and 'Not applicable' are not included in the calculation of medians.
- The category 'Overseas visitor', is excluded in the calculation of all medians in this publication.
- If a median falls into a category that has a text-only label, then a value of '0' is used for that category. For this publication this is only relevant to the calculation of median income, as the income classification includes categories 'Nil income' and 'Negative income'.
- When calculating a median on a classification containing ranges, the median may fall into a range which is open-ended. In this case, the median would be set to the number in the label. For example, in the calculation of 'Median weekly individual income', if the median was to fall in the last range $1,500 or more, then $1,500 would be allocated as the median.
- 'Median monthly housing loan repayment' and 'Median weekly rent' are based on the ranged variables HLRD01 and RNTD01 respectively. This is due to difficulties associated with the large number of small cells when using individual dollar values to perform these calculations. An adjustment has been made to HLRD01, with the range $1,500 and over changed to $1,500-$1,999 and an additional range $2,000 and over added.
This page last updated 20 June 2006