Review of 2021 Census Topics

Response 566281076

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Contact details

Who you are representing

Please select one item
(Required)
Commonwealth government department
State/territory government department
Ticked Local government
Business
Industry body/association
Community group
Educational institution
An individual
Other

Name of your organisation (if applicable)

Organisation
Darebin City Council

What is your submission about?

Please provide a brief summary of your submission

Topic name
City of Darebin is located in the inner north of Melbourne, Victoria with a diverse population of 158,553 residents. We provide services to our Indigenous population and we would like to see the ABS better engage with these groups so as to ensure better data integrity.

Choose your area of interest

Please select one item
(Required)
Population
Sex and gender
Households and families
Ticked Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Income and work
Unpaid work and care
Education and training
Disability and carers
Housing
Location
Transport
Cultural diversity
Religion
Other topic

Assessment Criteria 1

1. This topic is of current national importance.

National Importance
In terms of planning and effective response to local needs, population data of particular interest at the local level includes improved data on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
In the spirit of self-determination, Council considers that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations are best-placed to provide advice and guidance on how to improve collection rates and we encourage the ABS to partner with these organisations.
Council also encourages the ABS to partner with social welfare organisations specialised in homelessness (e.g. ACOSS/VCOSS, Jesuit Social Services, Brotherhood of St-Laurence, Tenants’ Union, etc.) to consider the best ways to gather data on homelessness and housing stress and increase response rates.

Assessment Criteria 2

2. There is a need for data from a Census of the whole population.

For whole population
Indigenous Australians are across Australia and data is needed for small population groups, particularly in an inner-city local government context where our Aboriginal population is relatively small, and yet we need to understand more information about them in order to provide culturally sensitive services.

Assessment Criteria 3

3. The topic can be accurately collected in a form which the household completes themselves.

Easy to answer
The questions around Indigenous status are appropriate; our recommendation is that the ABS partner with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and follow their advice and guidance on how to improve Census data collection rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Assessment Criteria 4

4. The topic would be acceptable to Census respondents.

Acceptable
Most, if not all, Australians are in favour of greater reconciliation efforts - and considering that Indigenous Australians were not included in the census until relatively recently, it is important that greater engagement efforts are made to include them.

Assessment Criteria 5

5. The topic can be collected efficiently.

Collected efficiently
As the question already exists in the Census form, there would be no further difficulties in coding/processing this information.

Assessment Criteria 6

6. There is likely to be a continuing need for data on this topic in the following Census.

Continuing need
Absolutely - much more work on reconciliation and 'closing the gap' is needed and the data helps.

Assessment Criteria 7

7. There are no other alternative data sources or solutions that could meet the topic need.

No alternatives
The Census is the main body of work that allows us to understand the circumstances of our Indigenous population.